Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 29:23

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.

And they waited for me as for the rain – That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain. This is a continuation of the beautiful image commenced in the previous verse, and conveys the idea that his counsel was as necessary in the assemblies of people as the rain was to give growth to the seed, and beauty to the landscape.

And they opened their mouth wide – Expressive of earnest desire; compare Psa 119:131 : I opened my mouth and panted.

As for the latter rain – The early and the latter rains are frequently spoken of in the Scriptures, and in Palestine and the adjacent regions are both necessary to the harvest. The early, or autumnal rains, commence in the latter half of October, or the beginning of November, not suddenly, but by degrees, so as to give the husbandman an opportunity to sow his wheat and barley. The rains come mostly from the west, or southwest, continuing for two or three days at a time, and failing especially during the nights. During the months of November and December, they continue to fall heavily; afterward they return only at longer intervals, and are less heavy; but at no period during the winter do they entirely cease to occur. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March, but it is rare after that period. The latter rains denote those which fall in the month of March, and which are so necessary in order to bring forward the harvest, which ripens early in May or June. If those rains fail, the harvest materially suffers, and hence, the expressions in the Scriptures, that the husbandman waits for that rain; compare Jam 5:7; Pro 16:15. The expression, the early and the latter rain seems, unless some material change has occurred in Palestine, not to imply that no rain fell in the interval, but that those rains were usually more copious, or were especially necessary, first for sowing, and then for bringing forward the harvest. In the interval between the latter and the early rains – between March and October – rain never falls, and the sky is usually serene; see Robinsons Bibl. Researches, vol. ii. pp. 96-100. The meaning here is, that they who were assembled in counsel, earnestly desired Job to speak, as the farmer desires the rain that will bring forward his crop.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. They waited for me as for the rain] The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters.

They opened their mouth wide] A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought.

The latter rain.] The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to impregnate and swell the seed, and moisten the earth to produce its nourishment.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

As for the rain; as the earth or the husbandman waiteth for the rain, to wit, the former rain, of which see Deu 11:14, because the

latter rain is here opposed to it: see Jam 5:7.

They opened their mouth to receive my words, and therewith to satisfy their thirst, as the dry and parched earth gapes or opens its mouth to receive the rain.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

23. Image of Job29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the drysoil does for the refreshing rain.

opened . . . mouthpantedfor; Oriental image (Ps119:131). The “early rain” is in autumn and onwards,while the seed is being sown. The “latter rain” is inMarch, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June.Between the early and latter rains, some rain falls, but not in suchquantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls(Deu 11:14; Jas 5:7).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And they waited for me as for the rain,…. The former rain, as appears by the following clause, which fell in autumn, about October, after seedtime, in order to nourish and cherish it, and bring it up; now as the husbandman waited for this, was in daily expectation of it, and greatly desired it, and longed for it; see Jas 5:7; so the people waited for Job, for his coming into their public assemblies, whether civil or religious, and longed to hear him speak, for their counsel and instruction, for their comfort and direction in all things they stood in need of:

and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain; which fell in the spring about March, in the time of harvest, which was of use to fatten the kernals of grain, and make them fuller, and the flour finer; now Job’s hearers opened their mouths, as the dry and parched earth gapes for rain; or the husbandman, or the gardener, as the Targum, opens his mouth, and asks and prays for rain; or as a hungry and thirsty man opens his mouth to take in refreshment, or expresses thereby his desire of it; or as persons somewhat deaf open their mouths to hear the better, there being a way through the mouth to the internal ear, as anatomists h observe; which lies through the Eustachian tube, out of the palate, to the internal cavity of the ear, called the “concha”; wherefore such persons naturally open their mouths when they would hear attentively; all which expresses the eager desire of Job’s hearers after his doctrine, which, like the rain, would be useful, profitable, and edifying to them; their view was not to indulge their curiosity, to please their ears, but to affect their hearts, and instruct their minds.

h Scheuchzer, ut supra. (Physic. Sacr. l. vol. 4. p. 759.)

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

23. The latter rain Falls in the months of March and April, and is quite indispensable for the ripening of vegetation.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 29:23. They waited for me as for the rain Among the Egyptians, the heavens pouring down rain or dew, was a hieroglyphic of learning and instruction. See Horapollo on Hieroglyph. l. 1. sect. 35 and Heath.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.

Ver. 23. And they waited for me as for the rain ] Which in those hot countries was highly prized, and dearly longed for.

And they opened their mouth wide ] Stupebant, me loquente, et ore hiabant; they gaped, as if they would have eaten my words; they listened as for life.

As for the latter rain ] A rain which came very seldom in that country, saith Diodati; but was much desired for the refreshing and nourishing of the grain and other fruits and benefits of the earth, Pro 26:1 Zec 10:1 . Merlin collecteth from this text that Job came not into the public assemblies there to speak, and give counsel, but upon deliberate premeditation. Demosthenes would not be drawn to speak extemporarily to an audience. Aristides being by the emperor put upon such a task, answered, Propound today, and I will answer tomorrow; for I am not of those that spit or vomit out my conceptions; but of those that weigh things before I utter them, and polish before I publish them, . Mr Bradshaw was called the weighing divine; and Melancthon took time to answer Eckius’s cavils, though by him and his Popish party he was jeered for so doing. It must be an elaborate speech that shall persuade or prevail much. Among the Romans the prince was not to be treated with otherwise than by writing. Caesar brought in this custom, that he might have time to consider that which was demanded, and what answer to return. Augustus sermones libello habuit, ne plus minusve loqueretur, Augustus had his speeches set down in a book, lest he should say more or less than what he thought of (Sueton.).

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

as for the rain: i.e. the early rain, which is sometimes so late as to cause anxiety.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

as for the rain: Psa 72:6

the latter rain: Hos 6:3, Zec 10:1

Reciprocal: Deu 32:2 – drop Job 32:11 – I waited for Pro 16:15 – the light

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide {p} [as] for the latter rain.

(p) As the dry ground thirsts for the rain.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes