Job 29:23

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

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain.

As for the rain; as the earth or the husbandman waiteth for the rain, to wit, the former rain, of which see , because the latter rain is here opposed to it: see . 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.

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, Proverbs 26:1 Zechariah 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, ουγαρεσμεντωνεμουντωναλλατωνακριβουντων. 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.).

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.

21–25. Return to the main thought of the passage, his place among men, his brothers.

And they waited for me as for the rain - That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain.

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