JOB CHAPTER 29 Job's former prosperity in God's favour, JOB 29:1. His honour and repute, JOB 29:6, for his charity, JOB 29:12, and punishing the wicked, JOB 29:17. His hope herein, JOB 29:18. His glory and honour repeated, JOB 29:19. No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
To wit, from all those miseries which now I feel. This he desires, not only for his own ease and comfort, but also for the vindication of his reputation, and of the honour of religion, which suffered by his means: for as his calamities were the only ground of all their hard speeches and censures of... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CANDLE, i.e. his favour and blessing, oft signified by the name _light_; as his displeasure and a state of affliction is frequently called darkness. _Upon my head_, or, _over my head_, to comfort and direct me. The ground of the expression is this, that lights used to be carried and set on high,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH, i.e. in my former and flourishing days, which he calls the DAYS OF YOUTH, because those are commonly the times of mirth and comfort, as old age is called _evil days_, ECCLESIASTES 12:1; when there was a secret blessing of God upon me and my family, protecting, directing, and... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ME, i.e. on my side; whereas now he is against me, and hath forsaken me. MY CHILDREN, or _servants_, or both; and therefore he useth this word, which comprehends both.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. When I abounded in all sorts of blessings; which is oft signified by this or the like phrases, as GENESIS 49:11 DEUTERONOMY 33:24 JOB 20:17 PSALMS 81:16; when I had such numerous herds of cattle, and consequently such plenty of butter, that if I had needed it, or been pleased so to use it, I mi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WENT OUT FROM MY DWELLING TO THE GATE, to wit, of the city, as the following words show; to the place of judicature, which was in the gates, as hath been oft observed. THROUGH THE CITY; through that part of the city which was between my house and the gate. Or, _to the city_, i.e. the gate bel... [ Continue Reading ]
HID THEMSELVES; either out of a profound reverence to my person and dignity, or out of a conscience of their own guilt or folly, which they supposed I might either understand by information from others, or discover by their countenances or carriages in my presence, for which they knew I would reprov... [ Continue Reading ]
REFRAINED TALKING; either fearing that I should discern their weakness by their words; or desiring to hear my words and sentence, which they readily approved of, and fully assented to. Such an opinion had they of my wisdom, and did not think me such a foolish, erroneous, and impertinent person as yo... [ Continue Reading ]
It lay as still as if it had done so, and they could not have spoken.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT BLESSED ME, i.e. pronounced me to be a man blessed of God with eminent gifts and graces; or heartily prayed for God's blessing upon me, because of that wisdom and integrity which they saw in all my actions, and of the satisfaction which I gave to all, and the relief which I gave to the oppressed,... [ Continue Reading ]
I DELIVERED FROM HIS POTENT OPPRESSOR. They did not honour me for my great wealth or power, but for my impartial justice and pity to the afflicted, and courage in maintaining their cause and right against their mighty adversaries. NONE TO HELP HIM; none that would own or help them, partly because th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLESSING, wherewith both he and others for his sake blessed me, and begged that God would bless me. TO PERISH; to lose his life or estate by the malice and tyranny of wicked men. THE WIDOW'S HEART; who are the common objects of injuries and oppressions, because for the most part they are unable,... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CLOTHED ME: as a garment covers the whole body, and is worn continually all the day long; so I was constantly just in the whole course of all my administrations, public and private, and never put off this garment out of a partial respect to myself, or to the persons of other men, as the manner of... [ Continue Reading ]
EYES, i.e. instead of eyes, to instruct, and direct, and assist. TO THE BLIND; either, 1. Corporally. Or rather, 2. Spiritually; such as through ignorance or weakness were apt to mistake, and to be seduced or cheated by the craft and artifices of evil-minded men. These I cautioned, and advised, an... [ Continue Reading ]
A FATHER, i.e. had the care and bowels of a father to them. THE CAUSE WHICH I KNEW NOT; either, 1. Those which were not brought to my knowledge or tribunal, either through neglect, or because the injured persons durst not complain, I diligently inquired after. Or, 2. Those which were hard and diff... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JAWS; or, _the jaw-bones_; or, _the grinders_, the sharpest and strongest teeth in the jaw, i.e. their power and violence wherewith they used to oppress others. It is a metaphor from wild beasts, which break their prey with their teeth. Compare PSALMS 3:7, PSALMS 57:4 58:6. PLUCKED THE SPOIL OUT... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I SAID, i.e. I persuaded myself, being thus strongly fortified with the conscience of my own universal integrity, and with the singular favour of God, and of all men. But although this was sometimes Job's opinion, yet at other times he was subject to fears, and expectation of changes, as appear... [ Continue Reading ]
I was continually watered by Divine favour and blessing, as a tree which is constantly supplied with moisture, both in its root and branches, and consequently must needs be fruitful and flourishing.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY GLORY WAS FRESH; the reputation which I had gained by my just and virtuous life was not decaying, but growing, and every day augmented with the accession of new honours. IN ME, Heb. _with me_. MY BOW, i.e. my strength, which is signified by a bow, GENESIS 49:24 1 SAMUEL 2:4, because in ancient ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Expecting till I spoke, and silently listening to my counsel, which they were confident would be like the oracle of God, wise, and just, and good, and preferring it before their own judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MY WORDS THEY SPAKE NOT AGAIN; either to confute them as false, or to add to them as lame and imperfect. DROPPED UPON THEM, to wit, as the rain, as the next verse explains it, which when it comes down gently and droppingly upon the earth, is most acceptable and beneficial to it; not so when it... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THE RAIN; as the earth or the husbandman waiteth for the rain, to wit, the former rain, of which see DEUTERONOMY 11:14, because the LATTER RAIN is here opposed to it: see JAMES 5:7. THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH to receive my words, and therewith to satisfy their thirst, as the dry and parched eart... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I LAUGHED ON THEM, or sported or jested with them, i.e. carried myself familiarly and pleasantly with them. THEY BELIEVED IT NOT; it was so acceptable to them to see me well-pleased with them, that they could scarce believe their eyes and ears that it was so: compare GENESIS 45:26 PSALMS 126:1. T... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHOSE OUT THEIR WAY; they sought to me for my advice in all doubtful and difficult cases, and I chalked out their path, and directed them what methods they should take to accomplish their desires. SAT, as a prince or judge, whilst they stood waiting for my counsel. CHIEF, or _head_; as their head... [ Continue Reading ]