Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Job 29:23

23. 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 (Psa 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 latter rains, some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (De 11:14; Jas 5:7).