---
title: "Clarke"
description: "the poor, and repressing the wicked, 11-17; his confidence, general prosperity, and respect, 18-25. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX Verse Job 29:2. O that I were as i"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/job/29"
---

*the poor, and repressing the wicked*, 11-17;
*his confidence, general prosperity, and respect*, 18-25.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX

Verse [Job 29:2](../../../kjv/job/29/2). ***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 [Job 29:3](../../../kjv/job/29/3). ***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 [Job 29:4](../../../kjv/job/29/4). ***The days of my youth*** — The original word rather means *in* *the days of my winter*, חרפי charpi, from חרף *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*** — בסוד אלוה *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 סוד *sod* is the *Arabic* [Arabic] *sud*, "a barrier or fortification." Either will make a good sense.

Verse [Job 29:6](../../../kjv/job/29/6). ***Washed my steps with butter*** — [Job 20:17](../../../kjv/job/20/17).

Verse [Job 29:7](../../../kjv/job/29/7). ***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 [Job 29:8](../../../kjv/job/29/8). ***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 [Job 29:9](../../../kjv/job/29/9). ***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 [Job 29:10](../../../kjv/job/29/10). ***The nobles held their peace*** — PRINCES שרים *sarim*, and NOBLES, נגידים *negidim*, must have been *two* different classes of the great men of Idumea. שר *sar*, PRINCE, *director*, or *ruler*, was probably the *head of a township*, or what we would call a *magistrate* of a particular district. נגיד *nagid*, a NOBLE, or one of those who had the privilege of standing *before*, or in the *presence* of, the chief ruler. The participle נגד *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 [Job 29:11](../../../kjv/job/29/11). ***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 [Job 29:12](../../../kjv/job/29/12). ***Because I delivered the poor that cried*** — This appears to be intended as a *refutation* of the charges produced by *Eliphaz*, [Job 22:5-10](../../../kjv/job/22/5-10), to confute which Job appeals to *facts*, and to *public testimony*.

Verse [Job 29:15](../../../kjv/job/29/15). ***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 [Job 29:16](../../../kjv/job/29/16). ***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 [Job 29:17](../../../kjv/job/29/17). ***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 17:34-37](../../../kjv/1-samuel/17/34-37).

Verse [Job 29:18](../../../kjv/job/29/18). ***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 [Job 29:19](../../../kjv/job/29/19). ***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 [Psalms 1:3](../../../kjv/psalms/1/3); [Jeremiah 17:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/17/8).

Verse [Job 29:20](../../../kjv/job/29/20). ***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 [Job 29:21](../../../kjv/job/29/21). ***Unto me*****men*****gave ear*** — The same idea as in [Job 29:9-11](../../../kjv/job/29/9-11).

Verse [Job 29:22](../../../kjv/job/29/22). ***My speech dropped upon them.*** — It descended as *refreshing dew*; they were encouraged, comforted, and strengthened by it.

Verse [Job 29:23](../../../kjv/job/29/23). ***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 [Job 29:24](../../../kjv/job/29/24). ***I laughed on them, they believed*****it*****not*** — Similar to that expression in the Gospel, [Luke 24:41](../../../kjv/luke/24/41): *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.

Verse [Job 29:25](../../../kjv/job/29/25). ***I chose out their way, and sat chief - as a king in the**********a****rmy*] I cannot see, with some learned men, that our version of the original is wrong. I have not seen it mended, and I am sure I cannot improve it. The whole verse seems to me to point out Job in his *civil, military*, and *domestic* life.
As *supreme magistrate* he *chose out their way*, adjusted their differences, and *sat chief*, presiding in all their civil assemblies.
As *captain general* he *dwelt as a king in the midst of his* *troops*, preserving order and discipline, and seeing that his fellow soldiers were provided with requisites for their warfare, and the necessaries of life.
As a *man* he did not think himself superior to the meanest offices in domestic life, to relieve or support his fellow creatures; he went about *comforting the mourners*- visiting the sick and afflicted, and ministering to their wants, and seeing that the *wounded* were properly attended. Noble Job! Look at him, ye *nobles* of the earth, ye lieutenants of counties, ye generals of armies, and ye lords of provinces. Look at JOB! Imitate his active benevolence, and be healthy and happy. Be as guardian angels in your particular districts, blessing all by your example and your bounty. Send your *hunting horses* to the plough, your *game cocks* to the *dunghill*; and at last live like *men* and *Christians*.

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