1.
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Moreover = And.
continued his parable: i.e. again took up his impressive discourse. This is Job's last address, corresponding with his first. See the Structure on p. 669.
2.
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
I. Note the frequency of "I" (self-occupation). In Job 29 , the "I" of prosperity; in Job 30 , the "I" of adversity; in Job 31 , the "I" of self-righteousness. Contrast the "I" of Job 42:2-6 , the "end".
3.
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
candle = lamp.
4.
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
youth = autumn's prime, or maturity.
secret = counsel.
tabernacle = tent.
5.
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4 .
children = youths.
6.
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
rivers = divisions. Hence the little channels made in garden irrigation. See note on Psalms 1:3 , and Proverbs 21:1 .
7.
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
street = broad or open place.
8.
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9.
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
laid their hand, &c. In token of silence and submission.
10.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11.
When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
poor = wretched. Hebrew. 'anah . See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
13.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16.
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
17.
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
wicked. Hebrew. 'avvil . App-44 . See note on Job 18:21 .
18.
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
die in my nest. The Septuagint reads "grow old as a palm trunk".
as the sand. A note in Codices (No. 1 in King's Lib., British Museum) states that the Western School points this to mean "as a phoenix". The Vulgate reads "as a palm".
19.
My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20.
My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21.
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
as for the rain: i.e. the early rain, which is sometimes so late as to cause anxiety.
24.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.