| Job 29:1
| Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
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| Job 29:2
| Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
| Me. Job perceiving that his friends made no reply, (Calmet) and yet did not appear satisfied, (Haydock) explains how he had behaved in prosperity, in answer to the insinuations of Eliphaz; (chap. 22:5.) and what miseries he now experienced; though he maintains these were not inflicted on account of his sins. He continues this discourse in the two next chapters. (Calmet) --- He wishes to be restored to his former state, for his own vindication, (Haydock) and that he might exercise the works of mercy. (Ven. Bede)
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| Job 29:3
| When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?
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| Job 29:4
| As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?
| Youth. Hebrew, also "autumn or winter," which are seasons of repose, when people enjoy the fruits of their labours. --- Tabernacle, and all consulted me as an oracle. (Calmet) -- Septuagint, "when God made the visit of my house," (Haydock) and filled it with blessings, like that of Obededom, 2 Kings 6:12.
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| Job 29:5
| When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
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| Job 29:6
| When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
| Butter. Many understand "cream." But butter was used to anoint the body, as well as oil. Non omittendum in eo (butyro) olei vim esse, et Barbaros omnes infantesque nostros ita ungi. (Pliny, [Natural History?] 9:41.) --- Oil. These hyperbolical expressions denote the utmost fertility, Genesis 49:11. (Calmet) --- Septuagint have "milk." On all sides, Job could behold his rich pastures and cattle, (Haydock) so that he might have washed his feet in butter and milk. The rocks also were covered with olive trees; (Menochius) or the stone used for a press made the oil gush forth. (Cajetan) (Sa)
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| Job 29:7
| When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
| To the gate. Septuagint, "early." --- Chair, or throne, where Job sat in judgment. (Haydock) --- It appears evident that he was the prince in his city. Idumea had at first several petty kings at the same time, Genesis 36:15. (Calmet) --- But Job had several princes (ver. 9.; Haydock) under him. (Pineda)
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| Job 29:8
| The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
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| Job 29:9
| The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
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| Job 29:10
| The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
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| Job 29:11
| The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave witness to me:
| Gave. Septuagint, "winked," through approbation. (Calmet)
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| Job 29:12
| Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.
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| Job 29:13
| The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
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| Job 29:14
| I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment as with a robe and a diadem.
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| Job 29:15
| I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
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| Job 29:16
| I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
| Diligently, not passing sentence at random. I also endeavoured to do justice to those who durst not make any complaint. The prince ought to have an eye to all things. (Calmet)
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| Job 29:17
| I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
| Prey, which he had extorted from the poor. (Menochius)
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| Job 29:18
| And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm-tree shall multiply my days.
| Nest, in security, and among my children. (Calmet) --- Palm-tree. Septuagint, "But I said, my youth shall grow old like the shoot of the palm-tree: I shall live a long time." This is clearly the meaning of this version, (Haydock) as appears from the word stelechos, "a shoot (Calmet) or trunk." (Menochius) --- Yet as phoinix, signifies also "a Phoenician, and the phoenix," some have explained this passage of the latter, which seems agreeable to the mention of a nest. Many fabulous accounts have been given of this bird, of which only one is supposed to exist at a time, rising from its parent's ashes; which, if true, (Calmet) would have been very (Haydock) beautifully applicable to a future resurrection. (St. Clement, ep. 1 Cor.; St. Ambrose, de fide Res. 2:59, etc.) See Solin, xlii.; Tacitus, Ann. vi. This uncertain bird may have been confounded with the bird of Paradise. Palm-trees live a long time, and multiply shoots all round them surprisingly. (Pliny, [Natural History?] 13:4., and 16:44.) --- Yet the Scripture never elsewhere uses the term éul for this tree. The moderns generally translate, "I shall multiply my days like the sand," which is a very common expression. (Calmet, Diss.) --- The following verse seems, however, favourable to the sense of the Septuagint and Vulgate, though the heavy nature of sand, which "remains" in its place, might serve to express the confidence which Job had of continuing for a long time in the midst of prosperity. (Haydock)
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| Job 29:19
| My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
| Harvest. Protestants, "branch." (Psalm 1:3., and Isaias 18:4.) (Haydock)
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| Job 29:20
| My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
| Bow, strength. I thought my glory would never end. (Menochius)
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| Job 29:21
| They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
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| Job 29:22
| To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
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| Job 29:23
| They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
| Shower, in autumn, at which season only, and in spring, it rained in those countries. (Calmet) (Deuteronomy 11:14.) (Menochius) --- It would, of course, be very acceptable after the drought of summer, Proverbs 16:15.
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| Job 29:24
| If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on the earth.
| Earth, with neglect. (Calmet) --- My attendants could scarcely believe their own eyes, through joy, (Haydock) when I assumed a more familiar air with them. (Calmet) --- They still revered my authority. (Menochius)
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| Job 29:25
| If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.
| With. Hebrew, "in his army, like one comforting people in mourning." (Haydock) --- Job was not merely as, or like a king, but also one in effect; exercising the power, (ver. 7.) and wearing the royal robes, ver. 14. (St. Isidore; Ven. Bede, etc.) (Worthington)
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