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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 29:4

Job 29:4. As I was in the days of my youth In my former and flourishing days; when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle When there was a secret blessing of God upon me and my family, succeeding us in all our affairs; and when God conversed freely with me, as one bosom friend with another; when I knew his mind, and was not in uncertainty respecting it, as I have been of late. It may be proper, however, to observe, that the word סוד , sod, here translated the secret, signifies not... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 29:1-25

Past glory; present humiliation (29:1-30:31)Since the three friends have nothing more to say, Job proceeds to show that in the past he had indeed tried to fear God and avoid wrongdoing. So close was his fellowship with God in those days that he could call it friendship (29:1-4). He was blessed with family happiness and prosperity (5-6). He was one of the city elders and was highly respected by the whole community (7-10).Most rulers were corrupt, favouring the rich and oppressing the poor, but... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 29:4

youth = autumn's prime, or maturity. secret = counsel. tabernacle = tent. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 29:4

Job 29:4. As I was in the days of my youth— The word חרפי chorpi, signifies the winter, or rather, more precisely, the wet season, such as prevails in the eastern countries. Oh that I were as in months past, says Job, as I was in the days of my winter; in the days of his moist time; that is, when, as he expresses it in the 19th and 20th verses, my root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch, &c. Not as in the days of his disgrace then, the days in which he... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 29:4

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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 29:1-25

Job’s past blessedness ch. 29"Chapter 29 is another classic example of Semitic rhetoric with all the elements of good symmetrical style. . . . The pattern is as follows:"Blessing, Job 29:2-6Honor, Job 29:7-11Job’s benevolence, Job 29:12-17Blessing, Job 29:18-20Honor, Job 29:21-25 . . ."Job in asserting his benevolence places a description of it in the climatic position in this oration, with the key line (Job 29:14) in the exact middle of the poem." [Note: Smick, "Architectonics, Structured . .... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 29:1-40

2. Job’s defense of his innocence ch. 29-31Job gave a soliloquy before his dialogue with his three friends began (ch. 3). Now he concluded that dialogue with two soliloquies (chs. 28 and 29-31). In this second of the bracketing two, Job longed for his past state of blessedness (ch. 29), lamented his present misery (ch. 30), and reaffirmed his innocence calling on God to vindicate him in the future (ch. 31). This whole discourse is a kind of concluding summary of his case, and he delivered it as... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 29:1-25

Job’s Past Greatness and HappinessJob mournfully recalls the days of God’s favour, and the prosperity and honour he once enjoyed. In this chapter we have the picture of a great and worthy chieftain looked up to and respected by all. It confirms the description of Job’s importance in Job 1.3. Candle] RV ’lamp’; a figure of God’s favour. 4. Days of my youth] RV ’ripeness of my days.’ Secret] RM’ friendship.’ Tabernacle] RV ’tent.’6. A figure of prosperity: cp. Deuteronomy 33:24.7. Through the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 29:1-40

These chapters form a section by themselves, in which Job reviews his life. He first of all draws a picture of his past prosperous career, when he was happy and respected (Job 29). With this he contrasts his present condition, when men he once despised now hold him in contempt, and he is in pain and sorrow and disgrace (Job 30). Finally, he reasserts his innocence of wickedness in any form (Job 31). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 29:4

(4) In the days of my youth.—Literally, my autumn: i.e., in the ripeness, maturity of my days. He was then in the depth of winter. (Comp. the words “in which it seemed always afternoon.”) Some suppose, however, that as with the ancient and modern Jews the year began with the autumn, it is used much in the same way as we use spring.The secret of God.—Or, the counsel of God. read more

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