Blurb:

Job 29–30 reflects an imaginary memory of Job as an elder in a city gate, but in a world that in some respects is different from that of the intended audience. This article makes an attempt to mine this clearly artistic memory for any realistic reflections of social leadership of local elders in the world of the historical reader. Using comparative historical material and especially comparative social theory (Pierre Bourdieu and Fei, Xiaotong), the essay argues that the space for exerting leadership in a traditional local society was very structured and limited. Basically, and elder would lead by putting striking words and action to sentiments and opinions that were in accordance with the predominant local tradition and the local habitus.