John Trapp on Job 29:18

Verſe 18. Then I ſaid, I ſhall dye in my neſt] Heb. I ſhall expire and breath out my laſt, by a natural death in my houſe, and amidſt my people; as a bird dyeth in his neſt when he hath lived his utmoſt. Pollicebar mihi ſecuritatem; I promiſed my ſelf a proſperous and long life, all health and happineſſe.Brent. This ſome make to be a fault in Job, as it was likewiſe in David, when in his proſperity he ſaid, I ſhall never be moved. Pſal. 30.6. And indeed the holieſt hearts are apt in ſuch a ſtrait to grow proud and ſecure: like as wormes and waſps eat the ſweeteſt apples and fruits. But others are of judgement, That this was a commendable confidence in Job. grounded upon Gods Promiſes, and the conſcience of his own uprightneſs; an [non-Latin text not transcribed], a ſpiritual ſecurity, a bleſſed calme and compoſedneſſe, a Sabbath of Spirit, flowing from faith, and cauſing joy. This was all well, only that of Bernard muſt be carefully heeded and held to, Laeti ſimus non ſecuri, gaudentes in Spiritu ſancto, ſed tamen caventes à recidivo. Be merry we may, but not carnally ſecure; rejoycing in the Holy Ghoſt, but yet beware that we backſlide not. David by miſreckoning of a point miſſed the Haven, and ran upon the Rocks, Pſal. 30. And Job here ſeemeth to have been miſtaken, by taking the promiſes of outward happineſs with out exception of the croſs; for the which he is afterwards reproved by Elihu, and alſo by God himſelf.

And Shall multiply my dayes as the ſand] i.e. Very long, by a Scripture hyperbole, Gen. 22.17. and 32.12. and 41.49. The Septuagint read, As the Phoenix: The Vulgar Latine, as the Palm-tree, which is reckoned among the long lived trees, as is likewiſe the Phoenix among the longeſt lived creatures. R. Solomon ſaith he liveth a thouſand yeers, others five hundred, and then dyeth in his neſt, made of Frankinſence and Myrrhe, and other ſweet Odours, which being kindled by the heat of the Sun, he is burnt to aſhes, they ſay: out of which aſhes, a long time after, cometh another Phoenix. How true all this of the Phoenix is, I have not to ſay. Let them that will, reade more in Geſners Hiſtory of Birds: or let them look upon Lactantius his Poem called the Phoenix, with Betuleius his Comment.