Job Speaks: The Cry from the Ash Heap: "Why?"
Questions for Study 2

Job 2:11-3:26
Key Verse: 3:26

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I. Job's Three Friends (2:11-13)

1. Who are Job's three friends? Where are they from? (Jer. 49:7; Gen. 4:22, 25:2; Josh. 15:41, Lam. 4:21) Refer to Genesis chapter 10 and the table of ancient nations when studying the book of Job. A fourth man is there, Elihu, is not mentioned because he was not part of the three who journeyed together.

2. When they heard of what happened to Job, what did they do? (12) Why? What does this show about them and their relationship with Job?

3. What does the fact that they could hardly recognize him show about Job's condition? (See Job's self description in 24 and 26.) How did they respond to Job's condition?

4. What did they do for seven days? (13) List their good "bed side" manners. How is saying nothing to someone hurting sometimes better than speaking?

II. Job Speaks (3:1-26)

Job's Death Wish (1-10)

5. Why might have Job spoke after seven days?

6. What is the first thing he wishes for? (1) What did the happy parents shout when he was born? (3, 7) What does his constant use of darkness reveal about his state of mind? (4-6)

7. Why does he say the day of his birth should not have been? (10) Even though Job had many good days earlier what did illness do to his view of life? Even though Job did not want to be born, what did he not do at this time? What does this reveal about his faith? His sincerity?

Job's Three Whys (11-26)

8. What is the first why that Job asked? (12) Was it wrong to ask this question?

9. What does Job see death as? (13-15) What fate does all have and Job envied? (14-19)

10. What is the second why that Job asked? (20-22) Was it wrong to ask this question?

11. What is the third why that Job asked? (23) Was it wrong to ask this question?

12. What does Job's confession in verse 25 reveal about why he lived a righteous life? How does this explain his current dilema? What emotion best describes Job in his words here?