Job, Sodom, Wealth and Wickedness

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Abstract In its discussion of the men of Sodom, who have no share in the world to come, the Babylonian Talmud (bSan. 109a–b) frequently cites the Book of Job. The context for these citations is presented and the possible reasons for their inclusion are discussed. Two reasons in particular are suggested. The first is that both the story of Sodom and the Book of Job are major foci for the issue of theodicy (literally, ‘judging God’; more generally, questioning God's actions). The second is that Sodom presents a subtle critique of Job. This relates to the question of what true justice is and how it should be administered. I conclude that Job failed to administer justice in a spirit of understanding the poor and that in being forced to suffer their fate, he is being punished for this.