Upon my right hand. This circumstance is noted, either because this was the place of adversaries or accusers in courts of justice, Psalms 109:6 Malachi 3:1; or to show their boldness and contempt of him, that they durst oppose him even on that side where his chief strength lay. Rise, to wit, in way of contempt and opposition, or to accuse and reproach me, as my friends now do; as one who by my great, but secret, wickedness have brought these miseries upon myself. The youth, Heb. young striplings, who formerly hid themselves from my presence, Job 29:8. They push away my feet; either,
1. Properly, they trip up my heels Or rather,
2. Metaphorically, they endeavour utterly to overwhelm my goings, and to cast me down to the ground. The ways, i.e. causeways, or banks; so it is a metaphor from soldiers, who raise or cast up banks against the city which they besiege. Or, they raise up a level, or smooth the path by continual treading it; they prepare, and contrive, and use several methods to destroy me. Of their destruction; either,
1. Passively; so the sense is, they raise or heap upon me, i.e. impute to me, the ways, i.e. the causes, of their ruin; they charge me to be the author of their ruin. Or rather,
2. Actively, of that destruction which they design and carry on against me; which best suits with the whole context, wherein Job is constantly represented as the patient, and wicked men as the agents.