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Response
Eliphaz the Temanite is first mentioned in Job 2:11. He is one of Job’s three friends and would-be comforters. However, Eliphaz, along with Bildad and Zophar, failed in his attempt to comfort his suffering friend. The sympathy shown to Job in Job 2:12–13 was soon overshadowed by accusations, unclear theology, and disputes over Job’s character.
After Job’s lament in Job 3, Eliphaz is the first of the friends to speak. Chapters 4—5 contain his initial speech, which centers on the concept of the innocent prospering. Essentially, Eliphaz believed that Job, who was evidently not prospering, must have committed some wrongdoing. According to Eliphaz, no one experiencing such suffering can be considered innocent.
Following Eliphaz’s speech, Job responds by affirming his innocence. Eliphaz delivers a second speech in Job 15, claiming that Job lacks fear of God. Eliphaz argues that if Job truly feared God, he would not be facing such suffering. Job retorts that his friends are “miserable comforters” «I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all. », (Job 16:2).
Eliphaz presents a third speech, documented in Job 22. This time, he accuses Job of significant wrongdoing: “Is not your wickedness great? / Are not your sins endless?” « Is not thy wickedness great? And thine iniquities infinite? », (Job 22:5). He then proceeds to enumerate all of Job’s alleged sins (verses 6–9). From Eliphaz’s viewpoint, God would only permit great misfortune to befall someone who had committed something very grave. Job responds by pleading for God to intercede on his behalf (Job 23).
God does intervene. God speaks in defense of Job and rebukes Job’s friends, stating, “My anger burns against you . . . for you have not spoken of me what is rig
ht, as my servant Job has” «And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. », (Job 42:7). Eliphaz and his companions are required to offer burnt offerings, and Job prays on their behalf. In the end, Job’s fortunes are restored (doubled), and he is blessed with new children in place of those who had died.
Eliphaz is an example of someone responding with the world’s wisdom to suffering. It made sense to Eliphaz that suffering was the consequence of sin and that if a person suffered, he was being punished by God. However, Eliphaz was wrong. Job’s life is a clear example of how sometimes the innocent suffer. God can use suffering as part of His divine plan to strengthen a believer’s life and to change the lives of others for His glory.
