And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain.
Opened ... mouth - panted for; Oriental image (Psalms 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between "the early" and "the latter rains," some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (Deuteronomy 11:14; James 5:7).