ヨブ記 29:5-17 JC

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:6

When I washed my steps with butter . Trod, as it were, upon fatness, moved amid all that was gladsome, joyful, and delicious. And the rock poured me out rivers of oil . "The rock" is probably the ground, rugged and stony, on which his olives grew. "Olives," says Dr. Cunningham Geikie, "flourish best on sandy or stony soil" They brought him in so great a quantity of oil that the rock seemed to him to flow with rivers of it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:7

When I went out to the gate through the city ; rather, by the city , or over against the city. The "gate" was the place where justice was administered, and public business generally despatched. It would be "over against" the city, separated from it by a large square or place ( רְחוֹב ), in which a multitude might assemble (sue Nehemiah 8:1 ). Hither Job was accustomed to proceed from time to time, to act as judge and administrator. When I prepared my seat in the street. On such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:8

The young men saw me, and hid themselves ; retired, i.e. withdrew to corners, that they might not obtrude themselves on one so much their superior. Compare the respect paid to age by the Spartans. And the aged arose, and stood up. Here the respect paid was not to age so much as to dignity. Men as old as himself, or older, paid Job the compliment of standing up until he was seated, in consideration of his rank and high office. So. in many assemblies, as in our own courts of justice, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:8-12

The character that wins respect. Job paints a glowing picture of his honoured condition in past days. Then he was more than prosperous. He was treated with great deference. Let us gather up the traits of the character that wins respect, and in order to do so let us distinguish them from false grounds of deference. I. FALSE GROUNDS OF DEFERENCE . 1 . Power. Multitudes cringe before mere power, either in fear of giving offence or with a hope of gaining some advantage. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:9

The princes refrained talking . The other head-men of the tribe, recognizing Job's superior rank and dignity, refrained from words as soon as he made his appearance, and in silence awaited what he would say. Perhaps we are scarcely to understand literally the further statement that they laid their hand on their mouth, which is probably as much an idiom as our phrase, "they held their tongues "(comp. Job 21:5 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:10

The nobles held their peace . The other leading men followed the example of the "princes," and equally kept silence till Job had spoken. And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their month. A pleonastic repetition. The meaning is simply they said nothing, they stood in rapt attention. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:11

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me . Job, having described his reception by the nobles and chief men of the city, proceeds to speak of the behaviour of the common people. The former were respectful and attent, the latter rejoiced and made acclamation. Being of the class most exposed to oppression and wrong, they hailed in the patriarch a champion and a protector. They were sure of redress and justice where he was the judge. And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me . The eye of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:12

Because I delivered the poor that cried . And again the Inscription of Ameni-Amenemha: "No little child have I injured; no widow have I oppressed; no fisherman have I hindered; no shepherd have I detained; no foreman have I taken from his gang to employ him in forced labour" (ibid; vol. 12.63). And the fatherless, and him that had none to help him . Championship of the poor was anciently regarded as characteristic of the wise, good, strong ruler. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:13

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me (comp. Job 29:11 ). Oppression in the East sometimes drives its victims to actual starvation or to suicide. Isaiah calls the oppressors against whom he inveighs "murderers" ( Isaiah 1:21 ). These "perishing" ones Job often saved, and they "blessed" him. And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy . How cold are the words of Ameni, "No widow have I oppressed," compared with these! Job was not content with mere abstinence from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:13

The blessing of him that was ready to perish. I. WHY IT IS VALUABLE . We cannot but be struck with this beautiful trait in Job's autobiographical sketch. It is better than all renown. The clamours of the multitude are poor plaudits compared with the blessing of the poor. Many people may be indifferent to it. They may be satisfied if only they can grasp power, and compel the homage of the great, although their path is followed by "curses not loud, but deep." Cruel conquerors, ruthless... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:8-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:13

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