Job's Era before Moses
In the Bible, Job lived before the era of Moses, during the Patriarchal Period, likely around the time of Abraham (c. 2100-1800 BCE), in a pre-Mosaic society where familial, livestock-based wealth was measured and direct patriarchal sacrifices to God were common, placing him after the Flood but before the Exodus. While Moses is traditionally seen as the author, Job's life predates the Mosaic Law, aligning with the ancient customs of the early patriarchs.
Evidence placing Job before Moses:
- Longevity: Job lived to be 140 years old after his trials (Job 42:16), similar to the long lifespans of patriarchs like Abraham (175 years).
- Wealth & Sacrifice: His wealth was measured in livestock (sheep, camels, oxen), and he acted as his family's priest, offering sacrifices (Job 1:3; 42:8), customs seen in Genesis before Moses' time.
- Socio-Cultural Clues: Mentions of nomadic tribes (Sabeans, Chaldeans) and the specific Hebrew word for "piece of silver" (qesitah) found only with Jacob (Genesis 33:19) point to the patriarchal era, notes Verse by Verse Ministry.
- Knowledge of God: Job and his friends knew God by names like El Shaddai, similar to Abraham, but the broader revelation of the name Yahweh (Jehovah) came later, as Quora users note.
The Author vs. The Subject:
- Moses as Author: Tradition, including the Talmud, suggests Moses wrote the Book of Job.
- Moses' Context: If Moses wrote it, he recorded events from a period significantly earlier, just as a Quora discussion suggests, making Job a figure from the past, a story preserved before the Exodus.
