Job 29:18-25

c. The honor that was his (Job 29:18-25)

TEXT 29:18-25

18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest,

And I shall multiply my days as the sand:

19 My root is spread oat to the waters,

And the dew lieth all night upon my branch:

20 My glory is fresh in me,

And my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,

And kept silence for my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again;

And my speech distilled upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the ram;

And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter ram.

24 I smiled on them, when they had no confidence;

And the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief,

And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.

COMMENT 29:18-25

Job 29:18Praised and honored by both God and man, Job felt secure in the blessings of prosperity. He thought that he would live to a ripe old age and die surrounded by his children (in my nest)Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 16:2. By a hyperbolic phrase, Job declares that his clan would be as the sand, i.e., emphasizing longevity and numerous members of the family.[299]

[299] G. R. Driver, Palestinian Exploration Quarterly, 1955, pp. 138ff; P. P. Saydon, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1961, p. 252; and M. Dahood, Biblica, 1967, pp. 542ff.

Job 29:19Prosperity is expressed by images of a treeJob 8:16 ff. The tree is green and full of life; water (long root systems, and dew on the branches) is everywhere abundantPsalms 1:3; Psalms 80:12; Jeremiah 17:8; Ezekiel 31:7.

Job 29:20His respect and social rank (Heb. kobadglory) will continue undiminished.[300] His bow, a symbol of strength, is ever in his hands. A broken bow is a symbol of impotenceGenesis 49:24; Psalms 46:9; Jeremiah 49:35; and Hosea 1:5. Job never anticipated anything like his present situation.

[300] Though it does yield a parallel with line two, Mansoor's suggestion that glory should be emended to kidon or victory is dubious, Revue de Qumran, 1961-2, p. 388.

Job 29:21Beginning with this verse and continuing to Job 29:25, Job speaks of the response which others afforded him when he spoke (cf. Job 29:7-10respect he received when he arrived at the gate). Before his present condition destroyed his prestige, his words brought comfort and hope to those who heard.[301]

[301] In order to maintain parallelism with the preceding verse, G. R. Driver transposes the verbs waited and kept silence, which is not impossiblesee Vetus Testamentum, III, 1955, 86.

Job 29:22His words were accepted as an oracle. After passing his judgment, nothing remained to be said. The image used here with regard to how his words were received is a term describing a refreshing rain (A. V. droppedDeuteronomy 32:12). His words were life-giving drops from heavenProverbs 16:15; Hosea 6:3; and Deuteronomy 11:14.

Job 29:23His hearers drank up his words as the parched ground absorbed the rainPsalms 119:131; the word here signifies the spring rain so vital to the cropsJeremiah 2:3; Joel 2:23; and Zechariah 10:1, cf. you are my disciples if you abide in my word, Jesus.

Job 29:24Even a smile from Job was considered an undeserved reward. The A. V. rendering of they had no confidence should read they did not believe, which is the common meaning of the verb. The second line means that the despondency of others never destroyed Job's cheerfulness.

Job 29:25Whenever Job gave directions, they were immediately carried out, as a prince (A. V. chief-king) directs his army. If the text is accepted as it stands, then Job's consolation of mourners is emphasized. Dhorme makes a good case for a different sense in the difficult third line as he renders it where I led them, they were willing to go[302] (A. V. like one who comforts mourners). Though the text makes sense as it stands, it makes the parallelism more difficult. But now all the nobodys to whom he had been so gracious despise him.

[302] For required emendation and justification, see Dhorme, Job; and Pope, Job.