Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:32
The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveler.
32. to the traveller ] The word might mean to the way, the street; the general sense is the same. The verse confirms Job’s universal hospitality and liberality.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The stranger did not lodge in the street – This is designed to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, and to express his consciousness that he had showed the most generous hospitality.
But I opened my doors to the traveler – Margin, or way. The word used here ‘orach means properly way, path, road; but it also denotes those who travel on such a way; see Job 6:19, The troops of Tema looked, Hebrew teyma’ ‘orach – the ways, or paths of Tema; that is, those who traveled in those paths. Vulgate here, viatori. Septuagint, To everyone that came – panti elthonti. This was one of the methods of hospitality – the central and crowning virtue among the Arabs to this day, and among the Orientals in all ages. Among the boasts of hospitality, showing the place which this virtue had in their estimation, and the methods by which it was practiced, we may refer to such expressions as the following: I occupy the public way with my tent; that is, to every traveler without distinction, my tent is open and my table is spread. He makes the public path the place for the cords of his tent; that is, he fixed the pins and cords of his tent in the midst of the public highway, so that every traveler might enter. These examples are quoted by Schultens from the Hamasa. Another beautiful example may be taken from the same collection of Arabic poems. I give the Latin translation of Schultens:
Quam saepe latratum imitanti viatori, cui resonabat echo
Suscitavi ignem, cujus lignum luculentum
Properusque surrexi ad eum, ut praedae mihi loco esset,
Prae metu ne populus mens eum ante me occuparet.
That is, How often to the traveler, imitating the bark of the dog, and the echo of whose voice was heard, have I kindled a fire, the shining wood of which I quick raised up to him, as one would hasten to the prey, in fear lest someone of my own people should anticipate me in the privileges and rites of hospitality. The allusion to the imitation of the barking of a dog here, refers to the custom of travelers at night, who make this noise when they need a place of rest. This sound is responded to by the dogs which watch around the tents of their masters, and the sound is the signal for a general rush to show hospitality to the stranger. Burckhardt, speaking of the inhabitants of the Houran – the country east of the Jordan, and south of Damascus, says, A traveler may alight at any house he pleases; a mat will be immediately spread for him, coffee made, and a breakfast or dinner set before him. In entering a village it has often happened to me, that several persons presented themselves, each begging that I would lodge at his house. It is a point of honor with the host never to receive the smallest return from a guest. Besides the private habitations, which offer to every traveler a secure nights shelter, there is in every village the Medhafe of the Sheikh, where all strangers of decent appearance are received and entertained. It is the duty of the Sheikh to maintain this Medhafe, which is like a tavern, with the difference that the host himself pays the bill. The Sheikh has public allowance to defray these expenses, and hence a man of the Houran, intending to travel about for a fortnight never thinks of putting a single para in his pocket; he is sure of being every where well received, and of living better, perhaps, than at his own home. Travels in Syria, pp. 294, 295.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 32. The stranger did not lodge in the street] My kindness did not extend merely to my family, domestics, and friends; the stranger – he who was to me perfectly unknown, and the traveller – he who was on his journey to some other district, found my doors ever open to receive them, and were refreshed with my bed and my board.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The stranger; or, traveller as it follows.
Did not lodge in the street; but in my house, according to the laws of hospitality, and the usage of those times, when there were no public inns provided for the conveniency of such persons: see Gen 18:3; 19:2; Jdg 19:15,21.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
32. travellerliterally,”way,” that is, wayfarers; so expressed to include all ofevery kind (2Sa 12:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The stranger did not lodge in the street,…. By a stranger is not meant an unconverted man, that is a stranger to God and godliness, to Christ, and the way of salvation by him, to the Spirit of God and spiritual things, nor a good man, who is a stranger and pilgrim on earth; but one that is out of his nation and country, and at a distance from it, whether a good man or a bad man; these Job would not suffer to lie in the streets in the night season, exposed to the air and the inclemencies of it; see Jud 19:15;
[but] I opened my doors to the traveller; even all the doors of his house, to denote his great liberality, that as many as would might enter it; and this was done by himself, or, however, by his order; and some think that it signifies that he was at his door, waiting and watching for travellers to invite them in, as Abraham and Lot,
Ge 18:1; or his doors were opened “to the way” i: as it may be rendered, to the roadside; his house was built by the wayside; or, however, the doors which lay towards that side were thrown open for travellers to come in at as they pleased, and when they would; so very hospitable and kind to strangers and travellers was Job, and so welcome were they to his house and the entertainment of it, see Heb 13:2.
i “ad semitam seu viam”, Mercerus; “versus viam”, Piscator, Michaelis; , Ben Gersom.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(32) I opened my doors to the traveller.The manners of Gen. 19:2-3, Jdg. 19:20-21, if not the incidents there recorded, are here implied. The traveller is literally the road or way: i.e., the wayfarer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. To the traveller Literally, to the way. The Mishna has a precept, “Let thy house be open to the way, and may the poor be thy guests.” Christ was crucified near to the way. “Certainly the place of his execution was upon a frequented way.” (Meyer on Mat 27:39.) His heart is open for all wayfaring, sorrowing ones.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 31:32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller.
Ver. 32. The stranger did not lodge in the street ] Job was so far from liking and commending those enraged stomachs of his servants, that be would not suffer strangers to lodge abroad in the night season. Gregory noteth here, that he speaketh first of his pacific disposition toward his enemies, and then of his hospitality; because, saith he, the heart must first be freed from malice and wrath, and then charity is to be exercised, that we might be accepted. Abraham neither set up an altar to God nor showed himself forward to entertain strangers, till Lot and he were reconciled. Hospitality is commended to our practice, both by the prophet Isaiah, Isa 58:7 , by St Paul, Rom 12:13 Heb 13:2 , and by St Peter, 1Pe 4:9 . Of Cranmer, Tremellius testifietb, that he was homo F nec minus , humane and hospitable, after the example of Abraham and Lot, whom Synesius therefore calleth Y , God entertainers. Julian the apostate reckoneth the hospitality of the primitive Christians among those three things that caused their religion to be so generally embraced. Of the Waldenses also, those ancient Protestants in Germany, it is reported that they could travel from Colen to Milan in Italy, and every night lodge with hosts of their own profession, who would bid them heartily welcome (Chrys. in Joan. . Hinc tot olim Xenodochia ).
But I opened my doors to the traveller The stranger: Job 31:17, Job 31:18, Gen 19:2, Gen 19:3, Jdg 19:15, Jdg 19:20, Jdg 19:21, Isa 58:7, Mat 25:35, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:44, Mat 25:45, Rom 12:13, 1Ti 5:10, Heb 13:2, 1Pe 4:9
traveller: or, way
Reciprocal: Gen 19:1 – rose Exo 2:20 – call him Job 19:15 – count me Mat 10:11 – inquire
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge