Job 31:32

The stranger did not lodge in the street,.... By a stranger is not meant an unconverted man, that is a stranger to God and godliness, to Christ, and the way of salvation by him, to the Spirit of God

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. Traveller , [ 'orach (H734)] - literally, way - i:e., wayfarers; so expressed to include all of every kind (2 Samuel 12:4).

The stranger; or, traveller as it follows. Did not lodge in the street; but in my house, according to the laws of hospitality, and the usage of those times, when there were no public inns provided for the conveniency of such persons: see 19:2 ,21.

Job 31:32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller.Ver. 32. The stranger did not lodge in the street] Job was so far from liking and commending those enraged stomachs of his servants, that be would not suffer strangers to lodge abroad in the night season. Gregory noteth here, that he speaketh first of his pacific disposition toward his enemies, and then of his hospitality; because, saith he, the heart must first be freed from malice and wrath, and then charity is to be exercised, that we might be accepted. Abraham neither set up an altar to God nor showed himself forward to entertain strangers, till Lot and he were reconciled. Hospitality is commended to our practice, both by the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 58:7, by St Paul, Romans 12:13 Hebrews 13:2, and by St Peter, 1 Peter 4:9. Of Cranmer, Tremellius testifietb, that he was homo Fιλοξενος nec minus φιλολογος, humane and hospitable, after the example of Abraham and Lot, whom Synesius therefore calleth Yεουεστιατορας, God entertainers. Julian the apostate reckoneth the hospitality of the primitive Christians among those three things that caused their religion to be so generally embraced. Of the Waldenses also, those ancient Protestants in Germany, it is reported that they could travel from Colen to Milan in Italy, and every night lodge with hosts of their own profession, who would bid them heartily welcome (Chrys. in Joan. τηςπεριτουςξενουςφιλανθρωπιας. Hinc tot olim Xenodochia). But I opened my doors to the traveller] I bid the weary wayfaring man welcome to my house, and kept a good table for such. Mensa res sacra est, per quam Deus honoratur praeses amicitiae et hospitii. Job was known to be a good housekeeper, and was much resorted to; he set open his gate in the highway; so Beza, after Mercer, rendereth this text. It was his will, that that part of his house which bounded upon the highway side should always lie open, to harbour passengers, Jupiter φιλιος, τεκαιξενιος dicebatur. Ad viam, vel versus viam.

(32) I opened my doors to the traveller.—The manners of Gen 19:2-3, Judges 19:20-21, if not the incidents there recorded, are here implied. “The traveller” is literally the road or way: i.e., the wayfarer.

Verse 32. The stranger did not lodge in the street] My kindness did not extend merely to my family, domestics, and friends; the stranger - he who was to me perfectly unknown, and the traveller - he who was on his journey to some other district, found my doors ever open to receive them, and were refreshed with my bed and my board.

32. to the traveller] The word might mean to the way, the street; the general sense is the same. The verse confirms Job’s universal hospitality and liberality.

The stranger did not lodge in the street - This is designed to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, and to express his consciousness that he had showed the most generous hospitality.

32. To the traveller — Literally, to the way. The Mishna has a precept, “Let thy house be open to the way, and may the poor be thy guests.” Christ was crucified near to the way.