When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the open square!
Read Chapter 29
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
To the gate. Septuagint, "early. "
Chair, or throne, where Job sat in judgment. (Haydock)
It appears evident that he was the prince in his city. Idumea had at first several petty kings at the same time, Genesis xxxvi. 15. (Calmet)
But Job had several princes (ver. 9.; Haydock) under him. (Pineda)
It was the custom of the ancients that the elders should sit together in the gates and judge the cases of those entering in, so that the people of the city might be more peaceful. Now we in revering the sacred history hold it certain that this blessed Job did everything for the sake of the observance of just dealing. We are led further to investigate the mystery of the allegory.
What then is denoted by “the gate of the city”? It refers to every good action by which the soul enters into the company of the heavenly kingdom. Hence the prophet says, “You, who lifted me up from the gates of death, that I may declare all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion.” For “the gates of death” are bad actions that drag to destruction. But because Zion is the word for a viewing, “the gates of Zion” we interpret as good actions by which we enter into the country above, that we may view the glory of our King. - "Morals on the Book of Job 19.25"
25. It was the custom of the ancients, that the elders should sit together in the gates, and judge the cases of those entering in, that so the people of the city might be the more peaceful, in proportion as it was not allowed to those at variance to enter in. Now we in revering the sacred history hold it certain that all this blessed Job did for the sake of the observance of just dealing, and we are led to the investigating the mysteries of the allegory. What then is denoted by ‘the gate of the city’ saving every good action, by which the soul enters in to the company of the heavenly Kingdom? Hence the Prophet saith; Thou, that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may declare all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. [Ps. 9, 13. 14.] For ‘the gates of death’ are bad actions, which drag to destruction; but because ‘Sion’ is the word for ‘a viewing,’ ‘the gates of Sion ‘we interpret good actions, by which we enter into the Country Above, that we may view the glo...
