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CHAPTER XXIX

Job laments his present condition, and gives an affecting account of his former prosperity, having property in abundance, being surrounded by a numerous family, and enjoying every mark of the approbation of God, 1-6. Speaks of the respect he had from the young, 7, 8; and from the nobles, 9, 10. Details his conduct as a magistrate and judge in supporting the poor, and repressing the wicked, 11-17; his confidence, general prosperity, and respect, 18-25.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX

Verse 2. "O that I were as in months past " - Job seems here to make an apology for his complaints, by taking a view of his former prosperity, which was very great, but was now entirely at an end. He shows that it was not removed because of any bad use he had made of it; and describes how he behaved himself before God and man, and how much, for justice, benevolence, and mercy, he was esteemed and honoured by the wise and good.

Preserved me ] Kept, guarded, and watched over me.

Verse 3. "When his candle shined upon my head " - Alluding most probably to the custom of illuminating festival or assembly rooms by lamps pendant from the ceiling. These shone literally on the heads of the guests.

"By his light I walked through darkness " - His light-prosperity and peace-continued to illuminate my way. If adversity came, I had always the light of God to direct me. Almost all the nations of the world have represented their great men as having a nimbus or Divine glory about their heads, which not only signified the honour they had, but was also an emblem of the inspiration of the Almighty.

Verse 4. "The days of my youth " - The original word rather means in the days of my winter, yprj charpi, from Prj charaph, "to strip or make bare." Mr. Harmer supposes the rainy season is intended, when the fields, &c., parched up by long drought, are revived by the plentiful showers.

Mr. Good thinks the word as found in the Arabic, which means top or summit, and which he translates perfection, is that which should be preferred. Others think the autumnal state is meant, when he was loaded with prosperity, as the trees are with ripe fruit.

"The secret of God was upon my tabernacle " - hwla dwsb besod Eloah, "the secret assembly of God," meaning probably the same thing that is spoken of in the beginning of this book, the sons of God, the devout people, presenting themselves before God. It is not unlikely that such a secret assembly of God Job had in his own house; where he tells us, in the next verse, "The Almighty was with him, and his children were about him." Mr. Good translates differently: When God fortified my tent over me; supposing that the Hebrew dws sod is the Arabic (Arabic) sud, "a barrier or fortification." Either will make a good sense.

Verse 6. "Washed my steps with butter " - See the note on chap. xx. 17.

Verse 7. "When I went out to the gate " - Courts of justice were held at the gates or entrances of the cities of the East; and Job, being an emir, was supreme magistrate: and here he speaks of his going to the gate to administer justice.

"I prepared my seat in the street " - I administered judgment openly, in the most public manner, and none could say that I, in any case, perverted justice. Mr. Good translates: - "As I went forth the city rejoiced at me, as I took my seat abroad."

Verse 8. "The young men saw me, and hid themselves " - From all classes of persons I had the most marked respect. The YOUNG, through modesty and bashfulness, shrunk back, and were afraid to meet the eye of their prince; and the AGED rose from their seats when I entered the place of judgment. These were the elders of the people, who also sat with the judge, and assisted in all legal cases.

Verse 9. "The princes refrained talking " - They never ventured an opinion in opposition to mine; so fully were they persuaded of the justice and integrity of my decision.

Verse 10. "The nobles held their peace " - PRINCES µyr sarim, and NOBLES, µydygn negidim, must have been two different classes of the great men of Idumea. r sar, PRINCE, director, or ruler, was probably the head of a township, or what we would call a magistrate of a particular district. dygn nagid, a NOBLE, or one of those who had the privilege of standing before, or in the presence of, the chief ruler. The participle dgn neged is frequently used to signify before, in the presence of, publicly, openly. And on this account, it is most likely that the noun means one of those nobles or counsellors who were always admitted to the royal presence. Mr. Good thinks that renowned speakers or eminent orators are meant: and others have embraced the same opinion. Job here intimates that his judgment was so sound, his decisions so accredited, and his reasoning power so great, that every person paid him the utmost deference.

Verse 11. "When the ear heard me " - This and the six following verses present us with a fine exhibition of a man full of benevolence and charity, acting up to the highest dictates of those principles, and rendering the miserable of all descriptions happy, by the constant exercise of his unconfined philanthropy.

Verse 12. "Because I delivered the poor that cried " - This appears to be intended as a refutation of the charges produced by Eliphaz, chap. xxii. 5-10, to confute which Job appeals to facts, and to public testimony.

Verse 15. "I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. " - Alluding probably to the difficulty of travelling in the Arabian deserts. I was eyes to the blind-those who did not know the way, I furnished with guides. I was feet to the lame-those who were worn out, and incapable of walking, I set forward on my camels, &c.

Verse 16. "The cause which I knew not I searched out. " - When any thing difficult occurred, I did not give it a slight consideration; I examined it to the bottom, whatever pain, time, and trouble it cost me, that I might not pronounce a hasty judgment.

Verse 17. "I brake the jaws of the wicked " - A metaphor taken from hunting. A beast of prey had entered into the fold, and carried off a sheep.

"The huntsman comes, assails the wicked beast, breaks his jaws, and delivers the spoil out of his teeth. See the case 1 Samuel xvii. 34-37.

Verse 18. "I shall die in my nest " - As I endeavoured to live soberly and temperately, fearing God, and departing from evil, endeavouring to promote the welfare of all around me, it was natural for me to conclude that I should live long, be very prosperous, and see my posterity multiply as the sands on the seashore.

Verse 19. "My root was spread out by the waters " - A metaphor taken from a healthy tree growing beside a rivulet where there is plenty of water; which in consequence flourishes in all seasons; its leaf does not wither, nor its fruit fall off. See Psa. i. 3; Jer. xvii. 8.

Verse 20. "My glory was fresh in me " - My vegetative power was great; my glory-my splendid blossom, large and mellow fruit, was always in season, and in every season.

"My bow was renewed " - I was never without means to accomplish all my wishes. I had prosperity everywhere.

Verse 21. "Unto me men gave ear " - The same idea as in ver. 9- 11.

Verse 22. "My speech dropped upon them. " - It descended as refreshing dew; they were encouraged, comforted, and strengthened by it.

Verse 23. "They waited for me as for the rain " - The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters.

"They opened their mouth wide " - A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought.

"The latter rain. " - The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to impregnate and swell the seed, and moisten the earth to produce its nourishment.

Verse 24. "I laughed on them, they believed it not " - Similar to that expression in the Gospel, Luke xxiv. xl1: And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, he said -. Our version is sufficiently perspicuous, and gives the true sense of the original, only it should be read in the indicative and not in the subjunctive mood: I laughed on them-they believed it not. We have a similar phrase: The news was too good to be true.

"The light of my countenance " - This evidence of my benevolence and regard. A smile is, metaphorically, the light of the countenance.

"They cast not down. " - They gave me no occasion to change my sentiments or feelings towards them. I could still smile upon them, and they were then worthy of my approbation. Their change he refers to in the beginning of the next chapter.