Chapter 1
| Collection: | The Book of Job and 42 Paintings |
| Author: | Fr. Antonio Oteiza |
| Type: | Painting |
| Location: | Cataloguing Room |
| Characteristics: | Acrylic paint on cardboard |
| Artwork: |
Click to enlarge |
| Description: |
Prologue on Earth Once there was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was just and upright, God-fearing and kept away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a large number of servants. He was the richest man among the people of the East. His sons used to hold feasts, each in his own house on an appointed day, and they would invite their three sisters to eat with them. When the days of feasting were over, Job would summon them to purify them. Early in the morning he would offer a burnt offering for each of them, in case they had sinned and cursed God in their hearts. This was what Job always did. Prologue in Heaven One day the angels came and presented themselves before the Lord; Satan also came among them. The Lord asked him: –Where have you come from? He replied: –From roaming throughout the earth. The Lord said to him: –Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth: he is a just and upright man, God-fearing and far from evil. Satan replied: –And do you think his faith is without self-interest? Have you not surrounded and protected him, his household and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his flocks have spread throughout the land. But reach out your hand, strike his possessions, and I wager that he will curse you to your face. The Lord said to him: –Do whatever you wish with his possessions, but do not touch him. And Satan departed. Job's Trials One day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking at the house of the eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said: –The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were grazing beside them when the Sabeans attacked. They killed the servants with the sword and carried off the livestock. I alone escaped to tell you. He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived and said: –Lightning fell from heaven and burned up your sheep and shepherds. I alone escaped to tell you. He had not finished speaking when another arrived and said: –A band of Chaldeans divided into three groups, fell upon the camels and carried them away, killing the servants with the sword. I alone escaped to tell you. He had not finished speaking when another arrived and said: –Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking at the house of their eldest brother when a mighty wind swept across the desert and struck the house from all four sides. It collapsed upon them and killed them. I alone escaped to tell you. Then Job rose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and said: –Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord! Despite everything, Job did not sin or accuse God of wrongdoing. |
