When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
The great influence Job had over young and old, and noblemen.
Through ... street - rather, 'when I went out of my house in the country (see Job 1:1-22, prologue) to the gate, (ascending) up to х `ªleey (H5921)] (not through, as the English version) the city (which was on elevated ground), and when I prepared my (judicial) seat in the market-place' х rªchowb (H7339)]. The market-place was the place of judgment, at the gate or propyloea of the city, such as is found in the remains of Nineveh and Persepolis (Isaiah 59:14; Psalms 55:11; Psalms 127:5).
Verse 8 Hid - not literally, but withdrew, stepped backwards, reverentially. The aged, who were already seated, arose and remained standing until Job seated himself. Oriental manners.
Verse 9. (Job 4:2; note, Job 21:5.)
Refrained - stopped in the middle of their speech.
Verse 10. Margin, voice-hid: i:e., hushed (Ezekiel 3:26).
Tongue cleaved ... - i:e., awed by my presence, the emirs or sheikhs were silent.