5 GOD’S ANSWER AND JOB’S RESPONSE IV. Meteorology and Astronomy YHWH asks, “Does the rain have a father?” and “From whose womb did ice come forth?” (38,28-29). Tsevat rephrases these queries as a taunt: “How do rain, ice, and frost come into being? Give a realistic answer. Do not give Me myths for facts” 14. But the distinction between myths and facts is anachronistic. Those who believe in myths consider them factual. In any case, real knowledge of meteorology is irrelevant, and the questions in 38,28-29 are not hard to answer. They are a way of pointing to the rain’s true creator and hence his graciousness. Of course the rain has no mother or fa- ther. Yet it exists and is a great blessing of which YHWH is creator. The question evokes awe and gratitude, not a feeling of stupidity. God asks Job if he ever commanded the morning or informed the dawn star of its place (38,12). The answer is obvious: “Of course not; but you, God, have”. The rhetorical question is a way of underscoring the fact that YHWH does manage the world, and Job knows it. The only answer to the question “Have you come to the stores of snow, or seen the stores of hail?” (38,22) is, “Of course not”. But this is so obvious that no answer is called for. The real purpose of the question is implied in the relative clause, “which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war” (v. 23). Job is reminded that YHWH is a war god with hidden armories at his call. The enemies for whom the weapons are held in readiness are not specified, but surely Job is not among them, because no such weapons are needed to de- feat him. Job sometimes imagined himself as God’s enemy (10,17; 16,9-14; 19,10-12), but was certain that God was exaggerating Job’s menace (7,12). All the meteorological phenomena mentioned demonstrate God’s skills in creation and management. Mankind, although not men- tioned, is obviously among the beneficiaries. According to Tsevat, rain in the desert (38,25-27), is “wasted on land uninhabited and un- inhabitable” and thus has no moral purpose 15. Yet rain benefits not only desert animals but also humans, because the rbdm is grazing- land essential to the human economy 16. To be sure, the verse says TSEVAT, “Meaning”, 86. 14 TSEVAT, “Meaning”, 100. 15 As noted by CLINES, Job 38-42, 74. 16 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati