<p>At best guess, there are no two more hotly contested, more thoroughly discussed books in the Christian bible than those of Job and Revelation.<supid="fnref:1revelation"><aclass="footnote-ref"href="#fn:1revelation">1</a></sup></p>
<p>Perhaps it is the dire nature by which both approach the world. Job takes a look at the world, heaves a weary sigh, and says, “I suppose this is it. This is the lot we have been given in life.” While Revelation looks at the world and growls deep in its through, a sound coming from the belly, and says, “This must not be it. This cannot be the ways in which the world works.”<supid="fnref:1works"><aclass="footnote-ref"href="#fn:1works">2</a></sup></p>
<p>Or perhaps it is the way in which they view death. While Job looks on death almost fondly, Revelation reiterates the Christian sentiment that death has been defeated. It is no more, and while there is everlasting life beyond it, it is worth considering, worth focusing on.</p>
<p>While doubtless Jews may have a dim opinion of Revelation, given its relative irrelevance in their lives, Job has been the subject of both rabbinical teaching and Christian exegesis for centuries now. This, perhaps is where it outstrips Revelation in its interest.</p>
<p>And what interest! As Alter says, “The book of Job is in several ways the most mysterious book of the Hebrew Bible.” \parencite[457]{alter}</p>
<p>I don’t care about the book itself, I should add. There is much that falls out of its existence that I care very much about. I care about the way it is used, and while I care about the way that Job is used, I also care about the text, which is not something I can say about Revelation. <aclass="footnote-backref"href="#fnref:1revelation"title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the text">↩</a></p>
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<p>A simplification, of course, but perhaps a good starting point. <aclass="footnote-backref"href="#fnref:1works"title="Jump back to footnote 2 in the text">↩</a></p>