Job 29:18

“Then I said, I shall die in my nest, etc.] Job, amidst all his prosperity, knew he should die, death and the grave being appointed for all men; and he often thought of it, and of the manner of it; but he concluded that death was as yet some distance from him, as appears from the following clause; and that, when the time was come, he should not die on the ground, but in the city in which he lived f1032, in his house, and on his bed; that he should die with all his children about him, like a bird in its nest full of young; whereas now he was stripped of them all, and likely to die childless; that he should die amidst all his outward enjoyments, in an affluence of good things, in honour,…”

“I said--in my heart (Psa 30:6). in--rather, "with my nest"; as the second clause refers to long life. Instead of my family dying before me, as now, I shall live so long as to die with them: proverbial for long life. Job did realize his hope (Job 42:16). However, in the bosom of my family, gives a good sense (Num 24:21; Oba 1:4). Use "nest" for a secure dwelling. sand-- (Gen 22:17; Hab 1:9). But the Septuagint and Vulgate, and Jewish interpreters, favor the translation, "the phÅ“nix bird." "Nest" in the parallel clause supports the reference to a bird. "Sand" for multitude, applies to men, rather than to years. The myth was, that the phÅ“nix sprang from a nest of myrrh, made by his father…”

“Then I said - So prosperous was I, and so permanent seemed my sources of happiness. I saw no reason why all this should not continue, and why the same respect and honor should not attend me to the grave. I shall die in my nest - I shall remain where I am, and in my present comforts, while I live. I shall then die surrounded by my family and friends, and encompassed with honors. A “nest” is an image of quietness, harmlessness, and comfort. So Spenser speaks of a nest: Fayre bosome! fraught with virtue’s richest tresure, The neast of love, the lodging of delight, The bowre of bliss, the paradise of pleasure. Sonnet LXXVI The image here expresses the firm hope of a long life, and of a peaceful…”

“Multiply - See how apt even good men are, to set death at a distance from them! Job 29:20”

“29:18 after a long, good life (literally after I have counted my days like sand): Job thought the length of his years would signify God’s blessing, like the great number of Abraham’s offspring (Gen 15:5; 32:12) or the abundance of Joseph’s supplies in Egypt (Gen 41:49).”

“I shall die: Psa 30:6, Psa 30:7; Jer 22:23, Jer 49:16; Oba 1:4; Hab 2:9 multiply: Job 5:26, Job 42:16, Job 42:17; Psa 91:16 as the sand: Gen 32:12, Gen 41:49 Job 29:19”

“18 Then I thought: With my nest I shall expire, And like the phoenix, have a long life. 19 My root will be open for water, And the dew will lodge in my branches. 20 Mine honour will remain ever fresh to me, And my bow will become young in my hand. In itself, Job 29:18 might be translated: "and like to the sand I shall live many days" (Targ., Syr., Arab., Saad., Gecat., Luther, and, among moderns, Umbr., Stick., Vaih., Hahn, and others), so that the abundance of days is compared to the multitude of the grains of sand. The calculation of the immense total of grains of sand (atoms) in the world was, as is known, a favourite problem of antiquity; and in the Old Testament Scriptures, the…”