New Books Network Cooper Smith, "Allusive and Elusive: Allusion and the Elihu Speeches of Job 32-37" (Brill, 2022)
Oct 5, 2025
Join Cooper Smith, a PhD in biblical studies and author, as he delves into the enigmatic character of Elihu from the Book of Job. He explores why Elihu’s speeches spark such diverse interpretations and how they may serve as a vital lead-up to God’s own speeches. Discover Cooper's systematic analysis of 23 allusions within Elihu's dialogues that complicate our understanding of his character and arguments, shifting reader sympathy and challenging preconceived notions about suffering and righteousness.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Turn To Job In Suffering
- Cooper Smith first turned to Job during a personal time of intense suffering and loss.
- The book provided him a model of faithful endurance and hope that suffering can end.
Elihu's Mysterious Entrance And Exit
- Elihu appears abruptly in Job 32 and disappears in 37 without explicit evaluation at the end.
- That narrative silence creates interpretive divergence about his role and reliability.
Four Core Questions Framing Job
- Smith outlines four central questions of Job: how righteous followers should suffer, whether God is worthy of disinterested righteousness, how God relates to innocent suffering, and how to engage others' suffering.
- These questions shape the book's layered dialogue and practical resources for sufferers and communities.
