N4mddissent
Active Member
- Sep 30, 2008
- 878
- 140
- 28
But then, I talked to a Jewish scholar once who had a completely different view of Satan. It means adversary, and he used Job as an example demonstrating that satan was a bit like a prosecutor working for god. Job is a fascinating book. You see in it, clear indications that there were some in the faith rejecting the quid pro quo covenant relationship demonstrated under Moses. Those views were that god punishes the wicked and rewards the good. God basically says in Job that he's god and he'll punish and reward whoever he wants. Ecclesiastes also states that the wicked are rewarded and good punished sometimes. Going through the destruction of the temple and being conquered by Babylon and later Rome, it's easy to see how the stage was set for a new interpretation- one in which good is rewarded and evil is punished in some unseeable afterlife.
That's the beauty of Judaism... they say if you ask three rabbis a question, you get six different answers.... hence talmudic study eventually giving rise to the socratic method of study by questioning....
I'm afraid I'm far from a scholar, but I always find these subjects intersting. I've never heard that view of Ecclesiastes. Nor have I ever heard Satan described in the manner you told. That doesn't mean there aren't some who believe that. Obviously things like that vary greatly. It does make sense though that there would be some means of addressing the "bad things happen to good people thing". But I hate to think that G-d is so actively random in his acts.
Frankly, I don't think he's much of a micromanager anymore.
It wasn't so much a view of Ecclesiastes as it's what is stated in Ecclesiastes
Ecc 2:16
For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, (Y) since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool? 17 Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Ecc 3:16
I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. (Q) 17 I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, (R) since there is a time for every activity and every work." (S) 18 I said to myself, "This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals." (T) 19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. (U) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals, for everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. (V) 21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities, (W) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies? (X) [f]
Ecc 8:14
14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, (P) and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. (Q) I say that this too is futile. 15 So I commended enjoyment, because there is nothing better for man under the sun except to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, (R) for this will accompany him in his labor during the years of his days that God gives him under the sun.