Job 29
CHAPTER 29
1. Job pauses for a reply. None being made, he proceeds to illustrate the mysteriousness of God's dealings, as set forth ( Job 28:1-28 ) by his own case.
2. preserved me--from calamity.
3. candle--when His favor shone on me
darkness--By His safeguard I passed secure through dangers. Perhaps alluding to the lights carried before caravans in nightly travels through deserts [NOYES].
4. youth--literally, "autumn"; the time of the ripe fruits of my prosperity. Applied to youth, as the Orientalists began their year with autumn, the most temperate season in the East.
secret--when the intimate friendship of God rested on my tent ( Proverbs 3:32 , Psalms 31:20 , Genesis 18:17 , John 15:15 ). The Hebrew often means a divan for deliberation.
6. butter--rather, "cream," literally, "thick milk." Wherever I turned my steps, the richest milk and oil flowed in to me abundantly. Image from pastoral life.
When I washed my steps--Literal washing of the feet in milk is not meant, as the second clause shows; Margin, "with me," that is, "near" my path, wherever I walked ( Deuteronomy 32:13 ). Olives amidst rocks yield the best oil. Oil in the East is used for food, light, anointing, and medicine.
7-10. The great influence Job had over young and old, and noblemen.
through . . . street!--rather, When I went out of my house, in the country (see Job 1:1 , prologue) to the gate (ascending), up to the city (which was on elevated ground), and when I prepared my (judicial) seat in the market place. The market place was the place of judgment, at the gate or propylæa of the city, such as is found in the remains of Nineveh and Persepolis ( Isaiah 59:14 , Psalms 55:11 , 127:5 ).
8. hid--not literally; rather, "stepped backwards," reverentially. The aged, who were already seated, arose and remained standing (Hebrew) until Job seated himself. Oriental manners.
9. ( Job 4:2 ;
Refrained talking--stopped in the middle of their speech.
10. Margin, "voice--hid," that is, "hushed" ( Ezekiel 3:26 ).
Tongue cleaved, &c.--that is, awed by my presence, the emirs or sheiks were silent.
11. blessed--extolled my virtues ( Proverbs 31:28 ). Omit "me" after "heard"; whoever heard of me (in general, not in the market place, Job 29:7-10 ) praised me.
gave witness--to my honorable character. Image from a court of justice ( Luke 4:22 ).
the eye--that is, "face to face"; antithesis to
ear--that is, report of me.
12-17. The grounds on which Job was praised ( Job 29:11 ), his helping the afflicted ( Psalms 72:12 ) who cried to him for help, as a judge, or as one possessed of means of charity. Translate: "The fatherless who had none to help him."
13. So far was I from sending "widows" away empty ( Job 22:9 ).
ready to perish--( Proverbs 31:6 ).
14. ( Isaiah 61:10 , 1 Chronicles 12:18 ).
judgment--justice.
diadem--tiara. Rather, "turban," "head-dress." It and the full flowing outer mantle or "robe," are the prominent characteristics of an Oriental grandee's or high priest's dress ( Zechariah 3:5 ). So Job's righteousness especially characterized him.