We get a glimpse of Job's ultimate fate, and it’s quite a ride. It's a tale of forgiveness, restoration, and a little bit of divine fashion.
As Job continues to proclaim his innocence, his friends grow increasingly convinced that he's being punished for some hidden sin. They're ready to abandon him to his suffering. Elihu, particularly, stirred up by Satan himself, hurls insults at Job, criticizing his unwavering faith in God.
But then, the tables turn. God appears! First, to Job, revealing that Elihu was wrong, that his words were indeed inspired by Satan. Then, God addresses Eliphaz and delivers a strong rebuke: "Thou and thy friends Bildad and Zophar have committed a sin, for ye did not speak the truth concerning my servant Job… Only for his sake do I refrain from destroying you." Strong words, right?
God instructs them to have Job offer a sin offering on their behalf. And here's the amazing part: God accepts the sacrifice! Eliphaz, overwhelmed with gratitude, sings a hymn of thanksgiving, praising God for pardoning them and condemning Elihu, whom he now recognizes as Satan's instrument.
Then, God appears to Job again, bestowing upon him a special gift: a girdle made of three ribbons. As soon as Job puts it on, all his pain vanishes, even the memory of it! But that's not all. God grants him the ability to see everything that ever was and everything that ever will be. After suffering sevenfold for seven years, Job is finally restored to his former strength.
Job returns to the city with his three friends, and the people celebrate his return with a grand festival, all in honor of God. Even his former friends rejoin him, and he resumes his work of caring for the poor, gathering resources from the community. He asks them to give generously, providing sheep for clothing and silver or gold coins for their other needs.
And God, in turn, blesses Job abundantly. His wealth doubles in a matter of days. His wife, Zitidos, having passed away during his trials, he marries again, this time to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. She bears him seven sons and three daughters. Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg) emphasizes that Job never had more than one wife at a time, reasoning that if God intended Adam to have multiple wives, He would have given them to him.
When Job feels his end approaching, he gathers his ten children and recounts the story of his life. He then imparts some final wisdom: "Forsake not the Lord, be generous toward the poor, treat the feeble with consideration, and do not marry with the women of the Gentiles." He divides his possessions among his sons, but to his daughters, he gives something far more precious: each receives one of the ribbons from the celestial girdle.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, these ribbons possess a magical virtue. As soon as the daughters tie them around their waists, they are transformed into higher beings and begin to sing hymns like angels.
For three days, Job lies in bed, sick but without pain, thanks to the girdle. On the fourth day, he sees angels descending to take his soul. He rises, hands a cithern (a type of stringed instrument) to his eldest daughter, Jemimah ("Day"); a censer (a container for burning incense) to his second, Keziah ("Perfume"); and a cymbal to his third, Amaltheas ("Horn"). He asks them to welcome the angels with music. They play and sing praises to God in the holy tongue. Then, He who sits in the great chariot (a reference to God) appears, kisses Job, and departs, carrying his soul eastward. Only Job’s daughters witness this event.
The people, especially the poor, widows, and orphans, are overwhelmed with grief. They leave Job's body unburied for three days, unable to bear the thought of separation.
Job's name, because of his piety, will be remembered forever, and his friends are rewarded for their sympathy. Their names are preserved, they are spared from hell, and the holy spirit is poured out upon them. But Satan, the cause of Job's suffering, is cast down from heaven, defeated by Job's unwavering faith and praise of God even in the midst of his agony.
The Zohar tells us that even in the darkest moments, even when we feel abandoned and misunderstood, there's always the possibility of restoration, of forgiveness, and of a deeper connection with the Divine. Job's story reminds us that even after immense suffering, there can be joy, abundance, and a transformation beyond our wildest dreams.