[2] Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Preserved — From all those miseries which now I feel.
[3] When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Darkness — I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common calamities.
[7] When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Seat — When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate.
Street — In that open place, near the gate, where the people assembled for the administration of justice.
[10] The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Cleaved — It lay as still as if he had done so.
[11] When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Witness — Gave testimony to my pious, and just, and blameless conversation.
[14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Put on, … — Perhaps he did not wear these: but his steady justice was to him instead of all those ornaments.
[18] Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Multiply — See how apt even good men are, to set death at a distance from them!
[20] My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Glory — My reputation was growing every day.
Bow — My strength which is signified by a bow, 1 Samuel 2:4, because in ancient times the bow and arrows were the principal instruments of war.
[22] After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Dropped — As the rain, which when it comes down gently upon the earth, is most acceptable and beneficial to it.
[24] If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Laughed — Carried myself so familiarly with them, that they could scarce believe their eyes and ears.
Cast not down — They were cautious not to give me any occasion to change my countenance towards them.
[25] I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
I chose — They sought to me for advice in all difficult cases, and I directed them what methods they should take.
Sat — As a prince or judge, while they stood waiting for my counsel.
A king — Whose presence puts life, and courage, into the whole army.
As one — As I was ready to comfort any afflicted persons, so my consolations were always welcome to them.
Job 29 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Preserved — From all those miseries which now I feel.
Verse 3
[3] When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Darkness — I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common calamities.
Verse 7
[7] When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Seat — When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate.
Street — In that open place, near the gate, where the people assembled for the administration of justice.
Verse 10
[10] The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Cleaved — It lay as still as if he had done so.
Verse 11
[11] When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Witness — Gave testimony to my pious, and just, and blameless conversation.
Verse 14
[14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Put on, … — Perhaps he did not wear these: but his steady justice was to him instead of all those ornaments.
Verse 18
[18] Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Multiply — See how apt even good men are, to set death at a distance from them!
Verse 20
[20] My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Glory — My reputation was growing every day.
Bow — My strength which is signified by a bow, 1 Samuel 2:4, because in ancient times the bow and arrows were the principal instruments of war.
Verse 22
[22] After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Dropped — As the rain, which when it comes down gently upon the earth, is most acceptable and beneficial to it.
Verse 24
[24] If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Laughed — Carried myself so familiarly with them, that they could scarce believe their eyes and ears.
Cast not down — They were cautious not to give me any occasion to change my countenance towards them.
Verse 25
[25] I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
I chose — They sought to me for advice in all difficult cases, and I directed them what methods they should take.
Sat — As a prince or judge, while they stood waiting for my counsel.
A king — Whose presence puts life, and courage, into the whole army.
As one — As I was ready to comfort any afflicted persons, so my consolations were always welcome to them.