Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, Perek 29. This is the 3^rd part of Iyov’s response to Bildad.

The perek opens with Iyov longing for the glorious days of his past.

Verse 2 says, “Mi yitneini k’yarchei kedem kimai Eloha yishm’reini – If only I were as in the former months, as in the days God protected me.”

The Malbim points out that Iyov is recalling both his spiritual and material success, when he felt Hashem’s light illuminating the darkness around him. Wherever he went, he commanded a sense of respect and awe. Elders would rise for him, while princes were silent in his presence.

In verses 11 through 17, Iyov recalls and enumerates his past good deeds of rescuing the poor, helping the orphan and making the widow happy. “I was the eyes of the blind, I was the feet of the lame.”

Verse 14 says, “Tzedek lavashti vayilbasheini kim’iel v’tzanif mishpati – I clothed myself in righteousness and it suited me. My justice was like a cloak or a turban.”

The Ramban explains that Iyov pursued righteousness and attained it.

A beautiful Yalkut Shemoni: Rav Chanina said there are those who fit their clothes, but their clothes don’t fit them. There are wealthy people whose reputation doesn’t match their wealth, poor people whose reputation doesn’t match their poverty, mighty people whose reputation doesn’t match their might, and weak people whose reputation doesn’t match their weakness. There are young men with ugly wives, and beautiful brides with ugly husbands. None of this was the case with Iyov. Righteousness suited him and he suited righteousness.

We see from here just how much of a tzaddik Iyov was. He was completely suited for righteousness, and righteousness was suited for him. It was a perfect match. Tzidkkis and Iyov were meant for each other.

In verses 18 through the end of the perek, Iyov explains how he was let down by his experiences and his hopes for the future were crushed. Iyov thought, when he was younger, that the rest of his life would play out in the same fashion.

Iyov recounts that people listened to his advice and never questioned anything that he would say. Iyov would “sit at the head of the table,” and people would listen to him as carefully as they would to a mourner.

The Malbim explains that Iyov was pointing out that people obeyed him out of love, and not fear. Anyone will listen to someone who inspires fear, but in Iyov’s case people followed him because of their love for him.

It’s amazing to realize Iyov’s former magnetism towards people. They really felt compelled to listen to his words. This is in contrast to the way we only typically think of him as someone who suffered enormously.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. Iyov is going to contrast his past experience of life with his current one.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.