Bildad

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Gustave Doré : Job in conversation with his friends.

Bildad is a friend of Job in the Old Testament .

etymology

The Hebrew personal name בִּלְדַּד bildad , German 'Bildad' is probably derived from the Akkadian Apil-Adda / Apil-Adad / Apla-Adad . It means "son of (god) Hadad". The Septuagint gives the name as Βαλδάδ Baldad , the Vulgate as Baldad .

Biblical narration

Bildad is the second of Job's friends after Elifaz and before Zofar and Elihu . He is therefore younger than Eliphaz and older than Zofar. His speeches at Job include Hi 8  EU , 15 EU and 25 EU . Bildad is called Schuchiter (resident of Schuach). A person named Schuach is the progenitor of an Arab tribe in Gen 25.2  EU . Schuach is probably the Suchu area, which is located on the central Euphrates , southeast of the mouth of the Chabur .

The speeches of Bildad

There are three speeches of Bildad in the Job Book. In comparison, these are shorter than Elipha's speeches.

The first speech (chap. 8)

It is a controversial and doctrinal speech. The focus of the speech is evidence of tradition in which Bildad performs the function of divine retribution. This is framed by the thesis that God does not bend the law and by addressing Job.

The second speech (chap. 18)

As with the first speech, it is a controversial and doctrinal speech. There is a strong similarity to the second speech of Eliphaz ( Hi 15  EU ). At its center is a description of the terrible fate of the wicked. Job himself is seen as such because of his suffering.

The third speech (chap. 25)

With just five verses, this speech is the shortest of all speeches by the friends of Job. A hymn-like predication of the Creator God is followed by the fundamental questioning of human justice because of the unworthiness of man. Since the third speech of Bildad is much shorter than that of Eliphas, while Zofar lacks a third speech, it is assumed that the third speech of Bildad is a later addendum. The third speech of Eliphaz would then be a conclusion to the speeches of the friends, in which he speaks as a representative of all friends.

Impact history

In the Septuagint , Bildad (Baldad) is referred to as a tyrant (sole ruler, with no negative connotation), just as the other friends are represented as kings. He is called the "sole ruler of the Saucheans". The designation of the friends as kings resulted from equating Job with the Edomite king Jobab mentioned in Gen 36.33  EU .

In the will of Job, Bildad is referred to as king. It tells how Bildad prevents Elifas from returning to his homeland when he is upset with Job. Bildad criticizes him for his speeches, saying that one cannot speak to a person "who is (so) badly troubled" (TestHi 35,1).

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