John Trapp on Job 42:11

Verſe 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren] Then; when God had begun to reſtore him. As his adverſity had ſcattered his friends, ſo his proſperity brought them together again. This is the worlds uſage. Dum fueris foelix multos numerabis amicos: Tempora ſi fuerint nubila, ſolus eris. Summer-birds there are not a few: Samaritans, who would own the Jewes whiles they flouriſhed; but otherwiſe diſavow them; as they did to Antiochus Epiphanes: Rich Job had many friends, Prov. 14.20. Qui tamen perſiſtebant amicitia ſicut lepus juxta tympanum, as the Proverb is. All this good Job paſſeth by, and forgetting all unkindneſſes, magnificently treateth them; as Iſaac in like caſe, had done Abimelech and his train, Gen. 26.30.

And did eat bread with him in his houſe] It's likely they came with their coſt to make Job a Feaſt of comfort, ſuch as were uſual in thoſe dayes, Jer. 16.7. Ezek 24.17. But whether they did or not, they were welcome to Job; who now never upbraids them with their forſaking of him in his diſtreſſe (which yet was then a great grief to him) but friendly re-embraceth them, and courteouſly entertaineth them. This is contrary to the practice of many fierce and implacable ſpirits in theſe dayes, whoſe wrath, like that of the Athenians, is [non-Latin text not transcribed], long-laſting; and although themſelves are mortal, yet their hearts are immortal.

And they bimoaned him] They condoled with him, and shook their heads, as the word ſignifieth; not by way of deriding him, as once they had done, chap. 16. but of ſorrow for their former deſerting him, and aſſurance that they would henceforth better ſtick to him in what eſtate ſoever.

And comforted him over all the evil &c.] So they ſhould have done long before: A friend is made for the day of adverſity; but better late then never. Nunquam ſane ſerò ſi ſeriò. See here. ſaith Brentius, the change of affaires, and the right hand of the Moſt High, and learn the fear of God; for as he frowneth or favoureth any man, ſo will the world do.

Every man alſo gave him a piece of money] Or, a Lamb to ſtock him againe. Beza rendreth it, Some one of his Cattle, and paraphraſeth thus: Yea, every one of them gave him either a ſheep or an Ox, or a Camel, and alſo an Ear-ring of gold; partly as a pledge of their good will and friendſhip renewed toward him, and partly in conſideration and recompence of that loſſe, which he had before by the will and fore-appointment of God ſuſtained. Honoraria obtulerunt, ſaith Junius, they brought him theſe preſents as Pledges of their love and obſervance; for ſo were great men wont to be ſaluted with ſome gift,Sen. Epiſt. 17. 1 Sam. 10.27. 2 Chron. 17.5. And the ſame cuſtome was among the Perſians and Parthians, whoſe Kings might not be met without ſome token of congratulation, and Symbol of Honour.

And every one an Ear-ring of gold] Inaurem auream, an Ear-pendant of gold, at the Receipt whereof, Job might well ſay as the Poet did,Theog. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. To thee this is a ſmall matter, but to me a great.