Job Interpretation: Elizabeth Smith
Elizabeth Smith
(1776-1806)
Smith lived in poverty and lived as the ward of family and friends⁴ (pg452). She also lived during the time of the French Revolution (1789-1799). During this time, there was a lot of financial crisis, and Smith was able to get through that time by reading, learning, and being invested in her works. By teaching herself at least ten languages, she was able to gain knowledge through all kinds of books and broaden her horizon by interpreting these works in her own way. She immersed herself in all sorts of books and languages in her short life and was able to influence others during and after her life.After Louis XV, Louis XVI (1774-1793) ascended the throne of France. During that period, the economic condition of France became weak. Louis XVI was an innocent and simple man. But he was influenced by his queen Marie Antoinette who always interfered in the state affairs.¹
Out of frustration he uttered-“Oh! What a burden of mine and they have taught me nothing.” Marie Antoinette was the daughter of Marie Theresa, the Austrian Empress. She always felt proud as she was the daughter of Austrian Empress. She always enjoyed luxurious and extravagant life. She sowed seed of the French Revolution. Thus, the autocratic monarchy, defective administration, and extravagant expenditure formed the political cause of the French Revolution.¹
During the time of the French Revolution, the French monarchs declared themselves as a representation of God. They were able to have an influence on the people to make them think that the monarchy had all of the power.¹ Because of this influence, they would have wanted the representation of God to be positive. This religious political culture could have influenced Smith to interpret the book of Job in a way that shows how God positively. There are people who think God was cruel in Job for making Job suffer, but Smith interprets the reading in a way that shows how God did not have a choice but to test Job⁴ (pg452).
Along with this, she also defended Job’s wife and put her in a better light by changing one word in the interpretation. She changes what Job's wife says, “curse God” to “blessing God” and goes against what the traditional interpretation is⁴ (pg452). Also, as a strong woman during these times when women were trying to empower other women², she would have wanted to show how Job’s wife was not a negative influence on Job. Even though she had a short life, Smith was an influence during the time of the revolution because she was an educated woman and an example of piety and modesty³. These traits are exemplified by Harriet Martineau later in the 1800s when Martineau wanted to show an example of a woman who is a good role model to other women.
Smith was also born into the enlightenment. This was a time when people were starting to become more open to ideas that deviated from traditional doctrines, I believe this influenced her variation of the translation of the book of Job. Her ability to be self taught and to deviate from standards in the translation of the Book of Job and other aspects of her life show that she does not follow standards just because they are there. She was a woman who did not conform to social norms but did what she wanted to do even if her thoughts were not widely accepted. She was able to soften the harshness of the Bible with her translations and bring show people the kindness in what was widely known otherwise. While ideas of faith and ideals were expanding, Smith seemed to want to bring compassion into her work while there was so much suffering in her world.___________
Bibliography
- History Discussion - Discuss Anything About History. 2014. "Causes Of French Revolution: Political, Social And Economic Causes".
- Chnm.gmu.edu. 2015. "Chapter 5 Page 2".
- Major, Emma. 2012. Madam Britannia. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press.
- Taylor, Marion Ann, and Agnes Choi. 2012. Handbook Of Women Biblical Interpreters. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic.
