Another interpretation: “Why are you crying out to Me?” – that is what is written: “Have you composed your prayer [shuakha] with no trouble?”3Most translations translate shuakha as “your wealth” or something similar. The midrash understands it to mean “your prayer” or “your cry.” (Job 36:19). What is this? Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: The parable says: Honor your doctor before you need him.
Rabbi Shimon says: Compose your prayers before your Creator, so you will not have enemies on high. Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: When Israel departed from Egypt, Samael the angel arose to prosecute them. Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina explained it in the name of his father: This is analogous to a shepherd who was crossing his flock over a river. A wolf came to threaten the flock.
What did the expert shepherd do? He took a large ram and gave it to it. He said: Let him scuffle with it until we cross the river, then I will bring it. So, when Israel departed from Egypt, Samael the angel arose to prosecute them.
He said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Until now these were worshipping idols, and you are splitting the sea for them?’ What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He gave him Job, who was one of Pharaoh’s advisers, of whom it is written: “A wholehearted upright man” (Job 1:1). He said to him [Samael]: ‘Here he is, in your control.’
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘While he is busy with Job, Israel will enter and emerge from the sea, and then I will rescue Job.’ That is what Job said: “I was at peace and He crushed me” (Job 16:12). I was at peace in the world and He crushed me, “He took me by the nape and shattered me” (Job 16:12) in order to render me as protection [matara] for His people, as it is stated: “He established me as a target [matara]” (Job 16:12).
And it is written: “He has handed me over to an evil angel” (Job 16:11), He handed me into the hand of the accuser so that Israel would not emerge guilty at trial. That is why He cast me into his hands; that is: “He hast cast me into the hands of the wicked” (Job 16:11). At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘I handed Job to the accuser. What should you do? “Speak to the children of Israel and have them set forth.”’