Although the book of Job is near the center of the Old Testament books, it is considered by most scholars to be the oldest book in the Bible.  Although the book of Genesis speaks of earlier events than Job, the Lord gave Moses the knowledge to write Genesis through Deuteronomy…the first five books of the Bible.

We read in the Bible that it was after King Solomon’s death that the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. The division occurred when King Solomon sinned by not loving God with all his heart as we read in 1 Kings 11:9-13, “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.” Internal strife developed within the kingdom between Rehoboam and Jeroboam resulting in the nation being split. (Read 1 Kings 12:16-24). Therefore, descendants of Israel either lived in the Northern or the Southern kingdom.

The Southern Kingdom was called Judah and was made of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Northern Kingdom was called Israel and was made of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Dan, Asher, Naphtali and Gad.

The first time we read the word ‘Jews’ in the Bible is in 2 Kings 16:6 where we read, “At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the JEWS from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.”  The word ‘Jew’ literally means ‘a Jehudite or a Judaite.’  It refers to someone who is of the tribe of Judah…the kingly tribe.  So, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin become to be known as Jews.  Today, many think of the Jews as being the nation of Israel.  In the book of Esther, it seems the Jews are referred to as all the Israelites.  We read in Esther 8:17, “And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” 

So, we see that Job was not a Jew because he lived before the time of the split of the nation of Israel after the death of Solomon.  We believe that the book of Job was included in the Bible because the Lord inspired him to write the book that bears his name.  Job is mentioned in James 5:11 where James writes, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”  This statement acknowledges Job’s existence and assures us that his writings were authentic and accepted.  (CC)  (623.4)