Job 30:29. I am a brother to dragons, &c.— I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches. See Bochart Hieroz. lib. 2: cap. 14. The jackal and the female ostrich are both remarkable for their mournful cry, and for their inhabiting desolate places. read more
Job 30:30. My bones are burned with heat— My bones are dried up with heat or drought: Heath and Houb. Organ, in the next verse, should be read pipe. REFLECTIONS.—1st, We have here a long account of Job's distresses; among the chief of which he reckons the insults that he sustained from the vilest abjects around him. 1. He describes them as younger than himself, persons of the meanest extraction, whose parents were so despicable, that they were unworthy to be set over the dogs of his flock; yea,... read more
29. dragons . . . owls—rather, "jackals," "ostriches," both of which utter dismal screams (Micah 1:8); in which respect, as also in their living amidst solitudes (the emblem of desolation), Job is their brother and companion; that is, resembles them. "Dragon," Hebrew, tannim, usually means the crocodile; so perhaps here, its open jaws lifted towards heaven, and its noise making it seem as if it mourned over its fate [BOCHART]. read more
30. upon me—rather, as in :- (see on Job 30:3), "my skin is black (and falls away) from me." my bones— (Job 19:20; Psalms 102:5). read more
31. organ—rather, "pipe" (Job 21:12). "My joy is turned into the voice of weeping" (Job 21:12- :). These instruments are properly appropriated to joy (Isaiah 30:29; Isaiah 30:32), which makes their use now in sorrow the sadder by contrast. read more
Job’s present misery ch. 30"Chapter 29 speaks of what the Lord gave to Job and chapter 30 speaks of what the Lord took away (cf. Job 1:21)." [Note: Zuck, Job, p. 129.] Job was presently without respect (Job 30:1-15), disregarded (Job 30:16-23), and despondent (Job 30:24-31). He had formerly enjoyed the respect of the most respectable, but now he experienced the contempt of the most contemptible (Job 30:1-15; cf. Job 29:8; cf. Job 29:21-25). [Note: Andersen, p. 235.] "The lengthy description of... read more
Job’s Present MiseryJob bitterly contrasts his present with his past condition, as described in Job 29. It must be borne in mind that Job was now outcast and beggared.1-8. Job complains that he is insulted by abject outcasts, the class of broken men who are expelled from respectable tribes and live by thieving. They are common E. of Jordan in the nomadic regions.2b. RV ’Men in whom ripe age’ (or vigour) ’is perished.’3. Solitary] RV ’gaunt.’Flying, etc.] render, ’Fugitives in the desert on the... read more
(29) Dragons and owls are, according to some moderns, jackals and ostriches. read more
(31) My harp also is turned to mourning.—Or, Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of them that weep. The musical instruments here named, like those of Genesis 4:21, are respectively the stringed and wind instruments. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 30:1-31
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