Bible Question:
My question is, who was Elihu? I recently got into a discussion with someone who claimed Elihu was actually the Holy Spirit speaking to Job. When I expressed my disagreement with this take on Elihu (I believe he was as much in error in his rebuke of Job as Job's other "friends"), it was pointed out that God didn't rebuke Elihu in chapter 42 as he did the others. I did a little study on Elihu and was facinated to find commentaries that ranged from claiming Elihu to be the Holy Spirit, Satan, and just another of Job's so-called friends. So what do y'all think? Who was this guy Elihu? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Saved; I'm inclined to accept his identity as the bible presents it: a young man of the clan of Ram whose father was Barakel the Buzite. Given some idea of his age and ancestry, I think he's just an ordinary human. God didn't rebuke Job's wife either, despite her suggestion that Job just "curse God and die". Elihu at least tried to do a better job of defending God than Job's other friends did. Absent more compelling evidence (and there may be some; I've never looked), I'd say some commentators have w-a-a-a-y too much time on their hands. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |