Job 29 Commentary

“When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!”

To the gate. Septuagint, “early.” — Chair, or throne, where Job sat in judgment. (Haydock) — It appears evident that he was the prince in his city. Idumea had at first several petty kings at the same time, Genesis xxxvi. 15. (Calmet) — But Job had several princes (ver. 9.; Haydock) under him. (Pineda)

“When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:”

Gave. Septuagint, “winked,” through approbation. (Calmet)

“I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.”

Diligently, not passing sentence at random. I also endeavoured to do justice to those who durst not make any complaint. The prince ought to have an eye to all things. (Calmet)

“And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. the jaws: Heb. the jawteeth, or, the grinders plucked: Heb. cast”

Prey, which he had extorted from the poor. (Menochius)

“Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.”

Nest, in security, and among my children. (Calmet) — Palm-tree. Septuagint, “But I said, my youth shall grow old like the shoot of the palm-tree: I shall live a long time.” This is clearly the meaning of this version, (Haydock) as appears from the word stelechos, “a shoot (Calmet) or trunk.” (Menochius) — Yet as phoinix, signifies also “a Phœnician, and the phœnix,” some have explained this passage of the latter, which seems agreeable to the mention of a nest. Many fabulous accounts have been given of this bird, of which only one is supposed to exist at a time, rising from its parent’s ashes; which, if true, (Calmet) would have been very (Haydock) beautifully applicable to a future resurrection. (St. Clement, ep. 1 Cor.; St. Ambrose, de fide Res. ii. 59, &c.) See Solin, xlii.; Tacitus, Ann. vi. This uncertain bird may have been confounded with the bird of Paradise. Palm-trees live a long time, and multiply shoots all round them surprisingly. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xiii. 4., and xvi. 44.) — Yet the Scripture never elsewhere uses the term éul for this tree. The moderns generally translate, “I shall multiply my days like the sand,” which is a very common expression. (Calmet, Diss.) — The following verse seems, however, favourable to the sense of the Septuagint and Vulgate, though the heavy nature of sand, which “remains” in its place, might serve to express the confidence which Job had of continuing for a long time in the midst of prosperity. (Haydock)

“My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. spread: Heb. opened”

Harvest. Protestants, “branch.” (Psalm i. 3., and Isaias xviii. 4.) (Haydock)

“My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. fresh: Heb. new renewed: Heb. changed”

Bow, strength. I thought my glory would never end. (Menochius)

“And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.”

Shower, in autumn, at which season only, and in spring, it rained in those countries. (Calmet) (Deuteronomy xi. 14.) (Menochius) — It would, of course, be very acceptable after the drought of summer, Proverbs xvi. 15.

“If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.”

Earth, with neglect. (Calmet) — My attendants could scarcely believe their own eyes, through joy, (Haydock) when I assumed a more familiar air with them. (Calmet) — They still revered my authority. (Menochius)

“I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.”

With. Hebrew, “in his army, like one comforting people in mourning.” (Haydock) — Job was not merely as, or like a king, but also one in effect; exercising the power, (ver. 7.) and wearing the royal robes, ver. 14. (St. Isidore; Ven. Bede, &c.) (Worthington)