When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
Ver. 6. When I washed my steps with butter] When I had of everything God's plenty, as they call it. Butter enough to have washed my feet in, had I been so proud and profuse. And oil great store, insomuch as that rivers thereof seemed to flow for me from those rocks and craggy mountains in Arabia Petraea, where some say Job dwelt. Lavater, upon the text, tells us of rocks that yield oil, and of petroleum or petrelaeum, a sovereign ointment (very good against various diseases) that issueth out of rocks, whence also it hath its name (not unlike that berry which the French call, Uva de Spine, the grape of a thorn); but this whole verse seemeth to be a hyperbole (not unlike that of Zophar, Job 20:17, and that of Moses, Deuteronomy 32:13; confer Gen 49:11 Psa 80:15), importing the very great abundance of all outward comforts and contentments that Job once enjoyed. He had the reward of humility and the fear of the Lord, even riches, and honour, and life, Proverbs 22:4. Riches he had quantas optare nullus auderet (as Austin saith of Constantine the Great), more than heart could wish (De Civ. Dei, 1.5, c. 25). What honour he had with his wealth (and that is to be chosen before riches, Pro 22:1) he setteth forth at large in the following verses. And what long life he promised himself, not without the continuance of both the former, see Job 29:18,20; Job 42:12; Job 42:16,17 .