Thursday, January 24, 2013

An Armenian Commentary on the Book of Job



A short commentary on the book of Job is ascribed to Stepanos of Siunik, an 8th century Armenian biblical commentator. My translation of Stepanos' commentary on the Gospels is due to appear in print shortly. I've now moved on to the Job commentary. I offer here the first sentence of my translation of the commentary.


"There was a man in the land of Ausit by the name of Job" (1:1)

The blessed hero was a descendant of Abraham, third or fourth in line from Esau, alive in the time of Moses, for although Moses was fifth in line from Jacob, because of his longevity, Job survived into the time of Moses, perhaps even to the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.