I was just learning the story of the spies, and I read that Moshe instructed the spies to see if Iyov was still alive when they spied out the land of Canaan. This seemed to imply that Iyov was a Canaanite, was he?

Wasn't he also one of Pharoah's advisers?

Soem say that Iyov was married to Dina, the daughter of Yaakov. Is this true? If yes, where is the Mkor to this?

I've heard that the story of Iyov with the test that he received etc. was a parable.

B"H

Rebbe Sam,

Actually, the Gemara brings down two opinions. One says that Aiyov (Job) was a real person, and contemporary with Moses. He was one of the counsellors of Pharaoh.

Another says that he was not a real person, but that the story is brought down as a parable.

All agree, however, that Moses wrote the Book of Job (Heb. "Aiyov").

Sincerely,
David

The Gemara in BB 15a-b says and is paraphrased by kollel Iyun hadaf


2) WHEN DID IYOV LIVE?

(a) (Beraisa): Moshe wrote the Torah, including the Parshah of Bilam, and Sefer Iyov.

(b) This supports Rav Levi bar Lachma.

1. (Rav Levi bar Lachma): Iyov lived in Moshe's day -it says "Mi Yiten Efo", similar to what Moshe said, "Uba'Meh Yivada Efo".

2. Question: Why not say that he lived in the time ofYitzchak ("Mi Efo") or Yakov ("Efo Zos Asu") or Yosef ("Eifo Hem Ro'im")?!

3. Answer: It also says in Iyov, "...V'Yuchaku" -Moshe is called Mechokek.

(c) (Rava): Iyov was in the days of the spies - it says "B'Eretz Utz", similar to "Ha'Yesh Bah Etz".

(d) Objection: 'Utz' and 'Etz' are different!

(e) Answer: Moshe asked the spies to see if the one (Iyov) whose years are great as a tree and protects his generation as a tree is still alive.

(f) (A Chacham): Iyov never lived, Sefer Iyov is only a parable.

(g) Rejection (Rav Shmuel bar Nachmani): "Ish Hayah" - he did live!

1. Question: But "Kivsah Achas...va'Ychayeha" was only a parable!

2. Answer: If Iyov was only a parable, it would not give his name and his city's name.

(h) (R. Yochanan and R. Elazar): Iyov returned with the exiles from Bavel, his Beis Medrash was in Tiverya.

1. (Beraisa - R. Eliezer): Iyov was in the days of the Shoftim;

i. It says "Hevel Tehavlu" - this is the generation which judged its judges.

2. R. Yehoshua ben Korchah says, he was in the days of Achashverosh - "V'Lo Nimzta Nashim Yafos..b'Chol ha'Aretz";

i. In Achashverosh's day they sought the most beautiful women.

ii. Question: They also did in David's day!

iii. Answer: Then, they only searched in Eretz Yisrael, not in the whole world.

3. R. Noson says, he was in the days of Malkas Sheva - "Va'Tipol Sheva".

4. Chachamim say, he was in the days of Kasdim (Babylonians, i.e. Nebuchadnetzar) - "Kasdim...Hiku..."

5. Some say, he was in the days of Yakov, and married Dinah;

i. It says "K'Daber Achas ha'Nevalos", similar to "Nevalah Asah b'Yisrael" said regarding Dinah.

quote:

h) (R. Yochanan and R. Elazar): Iyov returned with the exiles from Bavel, his Beis Medrash was in Tiverya.

Other than in reference to Yaakov Avinu learning by Shem and Eiver (from before Avraham Avinu's time), do we ever see the term Yeshiva or Beis Medrash [properly] used by a goy?

According to this Shita, Iyov was a Jew (the gemara says that all the Shitos that he lived after Moshe he must have been a Jew, because there was no more Gentile prophets after that era.)