After my words they spake not again - The highest proof which could be given of deference. So full of respect were they that they did not dare to dispute him; so sagacious and wise was his counsel that they were satisfied with it, and did not presume to suggest any other.

And my speech dropped upon them - That is, like the dew or the gentle rain. So in Deuteronomy 32:2 :

My doctrine shall drop as the rain;

My speech shall distil as the dew,

As the small rain upon the tender herb,

And as the showers upon the grass.

So Homer speaks of the eloquence of Nestor,

Τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή.

Tou kai apo glōssēs melitos glukiōn rēn audē.

"Words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd."

Pope

So Milton, speaking of the eloquence of Belial, says,

- Though his tongue

Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear

continued...

My speech dropped upon them - It descended as refreshing dew; they were encouraged, comforted, and strengthened by it.

After my words they spake not again,.... Did not or would not make any reply to them; they did not attempt to change and alter them, to add unto them, or take from them, or in any wise to correct them, and much less to contradict them, and treat them with contempt; or "differed not", as Mr. Broughton renders it; differed not from them, but agreed to them; and differed not among themselves, but united in what Job said, as being full to the purpose, after which nothing more could be said; see Ecclesiastes 2:12;

and my speech dropped upon them; his prophecy, as Jarchi, prophesying being expressed by dropping, Amos 7:16; his doctrine dropped from his lips like the honeycomb, and was sweet, grateful, and delightful to his hearers, as the church's lips, Sol 4:11; or rather like the rain, as in Deuteronomy 32:2, when it falls and drops gently and easily, and so penetrates and soaks into the earth, and abides and does good: in like manner, when good and sound doctrine drops upon the hearers, so as to enter into their hearts, and work effectually in them, it does them good, and they rejoice at it, and are far from having anything to say against it.

After my words they spake not again; and my speech {o} dropped upon them.

(o) That is, was pleasant to them.

29:22 Dropped - As the rain, which when it comes down gently upon the earth, is most acceptable and beneficial to it.

22. not again-did not contradict me.

dropped-affected their minds, as the genial rain does the soil on which it gently drops (Am 7:16; De 32:2; So 4:11).

29:18-25 Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a comforter. This he thought upon with pleasure, when he was himself a mourner. Our Lord Jesus is a King who hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes. To Him let us give ear.