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Job_29:6 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, Deu_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, Pro_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.