Chapter XXXIX
Ver. 1-30. 1. Even wild beasts, cut off from all care of
m.a:n, are cared for by Ood at their seasons of greatest need. Their instinct comes direct from Ciod, and guides them to help themselves in parturition: the very time when the herdsman is most anxious for his henls. wild goatsIbex (Psalm 101. 18; 1 Sumui i 24. 2). hinds—Fawns ; most timid and defenceless animals, yet cared for by God. ^
9. 18; Josliua 10. 11; Revelation 16.21 ; Isaiah 28. 17; Psalm
12, 13; Ilaggal 2. 17). 24. Ig . . . parted—Parts, so as to diffuse itself over the whole earth, though seeming to come from one point. Light travels from the sun to the lai th. iiinely millions of miles, in eight minutes, which kcat(ei-eth— lUither, "And by what way the east wind
Gud Shows His Power among the Animals. JOB XL. Job Humbleth hivisdf to God.
answers to her proudly "lifting up herself." 19. The allusion to "the hor.se," f. 18, suggests the description of him. Arab poets delight in praising the horse; yet it is not mentioned in the possessions of Job (chs. 1. and 42). _ It seems to have been atthe time chiefly used for war, rather than " domestic purposes." thnnder—poetically for, " he with arched neck inspires fear as //ii/Jidcr does." Trans-
Tlipy brins forth witli ease anil do not need to reckon the months of pregnancy, as tlie shepherd does in the case of
his tlocks. 3. " liow tlieniselves" in parturition; V>en(i on
their linees(l Samuel 4. 19). bring fortU—Lit., cause their
l/oiiiirj to cleave the u omh ami Irreak forth, sorrows—Their youna ones, the cause of their momentary pains. 4. are
ill i^oort llUiiig—In good condition, grow up strong, wltli lorii—Rather, in the field, without man's care, rctnrii imt— Heing able to provide for themselves. 5. %vlld ass —Two different Hebrew words are here used for the same
late, "Majesty." [Umbreit.] Rather "the trembling,
quivei-ing mane," answering to the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich (note 13) [Maurer]. Mane in Greek also is from a root meaning/e«7\ English Version is more sublime. 20, make . . . afraid—Rather, "canst thou (as I do) make him spring as the locust." So in Joel 2. 4 the comparison is between locusts and war-horses. The heads of the two are so like, that the Italians call the locusts
.minial, the ass of the woods and the wild ass. (Note fi. 5; ch.
11. 12; 24.5; Jeremiah 2. 21.) loosed tlie bands—Given its
lilierty to. Man can rob animals of freedom, but not, as Ood, give freedom, combined with subordination to fixed
laws. 6. barren-/i7., naif, i. e., unfruitful. (So Marffirt, Psalm 107.34.) 7. mnltitnde—Rather, din: he sets it at
cavalctta, "little horse." nostrils—Snorting furiously. 31. valley—Where the battle is joined, goeth on—Goetli forth (Numbers 1. 3; 21. 2.3). 33. qniver—lor the ai-roirs, which they contain, and which are directed "against him." glittering spear lit., glitlpring of the spear, like " lightning of the spear" (Habakknk3. 11). shield—Rather,
defiance, being far away from it in the freedom of the wil-
deiiiess. driver—who urges on the tame ass to work. The wild ass is the symbol of uncontrolled freedom in the
Knst ; even kings have, thei efore, added its name to them.
S. The range Lit., searching, "that which It finds by
lance. 34. swallowetli—Fretting with impatience, he draws the ground towards him wit h his hoof, as if he would swalloiv it. The parallelism shows this to be the sense; not as Maurer, "scours over it." neither believeth— For joy. Rather, "he will not stared still, when the note of the trumpet" (soundeth). 35. saith—Poetically applied to his mettlesome neighing, whereby he shows his \h\e of the battle, smelletli—Snutfeth ; discerneth (Margin,
searclilng is," &c. 9. nnleorn—Pliny, Natural History 8.
21, mentions such an animal; its figure is found depicted
in the ruins of Persepolis. The Hebrew reem conveys the idea of loftiness i\Yu\ power (cf. Ramah, Indian Ham, Latin
JiomitK The rhinoceros was perhaps the original type of the unicorn. The Arab rim is a two-horned animal. Sometimes " unicorn" or reem is a mere poetical symbol or abstraction ; hut the buffalo is the animal refenred to here, from the contrast to the lame or, used in ploughing, Ac. (v.
I.saiah 11. 3). thnnder—Thundering voice. 36. The instinct by which .some birds migrate to warmer climes before winter. Rapid flying peculiarly characterizes the whole hawk genus. 37. eagle—It flies highest of all birds
10,12). crib—(Isaiah 1.8.) abide JM., pass the ni(/ht. 10.
liis band—fastened to the horns, as its chief strength lies
in t he head and shoulders, after tliee—Obedient to thee; willing to follow, instead of being goaded on before thee.
thence called the bird of heaven. 38. abideth—Securely (Psalm 91. 1); it occupies the same abode mostly for life, crag lit., tooth (Margin, 1 Samuel 14. 5). strong place Citadel, fastness. 39. seeketh—Is on the lookout for. behold—the eagle descries its prey at an astonishing distance, by sight, rather than smell. 30. Quoted partly by Jesus Christ (Matthew 24. 28). The food of young eagles is the blood of victims brought Iry the parent, when they are still too feeble to devour flesh, slain—as the vulture chiefly feeds on carcasses, it is Included probably in the genus eagle,
11. tby labour—Rustic work. 12. believe—Trust, seed —Produce (1 Samuel 8. lo). into thy barn—Rather, gather
I'the contents of) thj/ threshinf/-floor [Maurer]; the corn threshed on it. 13. Rather, "the wing of the ostrich hen —(///., the (rri/ing bird ; as the Arab name for it means song ; referring to its night cries, ch. 30. 29 ; Micah 1. S) vibrates
.joyousl.\% Is it not like the quill and feathers of the pious bird" (i\\9 stork)? [Umisreit.] The vibrating, quivering
>vin!i, serving for sail and oar at once, is characteristic of the ostrich in full course. Its white and black feathers in the wing and tail are like the stork's. But, unlike that bird, the symbol of parental love in the East, it with seeming want of natural (pions) affection deserts its young. Both birds are poetically called by descriptive instead of their usual appellative names. 14. Yet (unlike the stork) she leaveth, &c. Hence called by the Arabs the impious bird. However, the fact is, she Lays her eggs with great care and hatches them, as other birds do; hut in hot countries tlie eggs do not need so constant incubation; she therefore often leaves them; and sometimes forgets the place on her return; moreover, the outer eggs, intended for food, she feeds her young with; these eggs, lying separate in the sand, exposed to the sun, gave rise to the idea of her altogether leaving them. God descril)es her as she seems to man; Implying, though she ma.v seem foolishly to neglect her young, yet really
CHAPTER XL. ,
Ver. 1-21. Gon's Second Address. He had paused for a reply, but .lob was silent. 1. the l>ord Hebrew, JehoVAlt. 3. he that contendeth—As Job had so often expressed a wish to do. Or, rebuketh. Poes Job now still
(after seeing and hearing of God"s nnijesty and wisdom) wish to set God right? answer It^—viz., tlie questions I have asked. 3. Irf>rd—Jehovah. 4. I am (too) vile (to reply). It is a very different thing to vindicate ourselves before God, from what It is before men. Job could do the
latter, not the former, lay . . . hand upon . . . niontli — I have no plea to oft'er (ch. 21. 5 ; Judges 18. 19). 5. Once
. . . twice Oflentiynrs, more than once (ch. 3;}. M, cf. with
29; Psalm 02.11): "I ha ve spoken," viz., against God. not answer—Not plead against thee. 0. theliOitl Jkiiovaii.
slie is guided by a sure instinct from God, as much as animals of instincts widely different. 10. On a slight nols<! often she forsakes her eggs, and returns not, as if she were "hardened towanls her young." Iier labonr In producing eggs, is j'n, vain (yet) she has no disr/uietiide (about her young); unlike other birds, who, if on(; egg and iinollx r are laken away, will goon layl ng t 111 their
7. (Note ;{8. 3.) Since Job has not only spoken against God, but accused Illm of injustice, (iod challenges lilm to
try, could he govern the world, as (Iod by His jiower dolli, and punish the proud and wicked (i'. 7-14). 8. Wilt tho\i not only contend with, but set aside my judgment or jus-
tice In the government of the world, eondemnDeela ro nn' unrighteous, In order that thou mayest be accounted righteous (innocent; undeservingly afflicted). O. arm God's omnlpotenc^e (Isaiah 53. I). tl>under— God's voice
full number is made up. 17. tvisdoin—such asGod gives to other animals, and to man (ch. .35. II). The Arab proverb Is, "foolish as an ostrich." Yet her very seeming wantof wislom is not without wise design of Ood, though man cannot see it; just as in the trials of the godly, wbleli seem so unreasonable to .lob, there lies hid a wise design. IH. Not wllhstanding her deticlenci(>s, she has<llst ingulshIng excellences, llftctlt . . . herself—for running; she cannot mount In the air. OrflSHNius translates, lashes her-
((!h. 37.4). 10. See, hast thou power and majesty like God's, to enable thee to judge and govern the world ? II. rn)'e—
Rill lu-r, pour out the redunilant floods of, Ac. beliold—'I'ry, canst thou, as God, by a mere glance abase the pi'ou<l ( I.saiah 2. 1'2, AO? Vi. proud—high ;i>anlel 4. ;t7). in this place—On the sjiot; suddenly, before they can move from their place (note 31. 2ti; .30. '20). 13. (Isaiah 2. 10.) Abase and remove them out of the sight of men. bind . . . faces-1. c.Shul up their pcrsoiu. [Mauker.] But it refers
self up to her course by flapping her wings. The old versions favour English Version, and the parallel "scorueth"
G<i<r« gieul Poiccr in Bclieniolh, JOB XLI. and in the Leviaf han.
Rather, a ring or hook. So wild beasts were led about when caught (Isaiah 37. 29; Ezekiel 29. 4); fishes also were secured thus, and thrown into the water to keep them alive. 3. soft words—That thou mayest spare liis life. No: he is unlamabie. 4. Can he be tamed for domeslio use(soch. 39. 10-12)? 5. a bird—That is tamed. G. Rather, part7iers (viz., in fishing), make a banquet—Tlio parallelism rather supports Umhiieit, " Do partners (in trade) desire to jiurchase h'Mnl (so X\w Hebrew, Deuteronomy 2.
rathi'f to the custom of binding a cloth oveithe faces of
pei-sotis aliout to be executed (ch. 9. 24; Esther 7.8). In secr«-t—Consign t)iem to darkness. 14. confess—Rather,
erlol: "I also," who now cctisiire thee. But since thou
(Siiist not Jo these works, thou must, instead of censuring, extol my government, fitlne own . . . hand . . . s»ve —(rsHlm4l.3.) So as to eternal salvation by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59. C:!. ol God shows that if Job cannot brins un^ler control tlie lower animals (of which he selects the two most striltinp;, beliemoth on land, leviathan iu the water ;, much less is he capable of governing the world. 15. bclicnioth—The description in part agrees with the
6). merchants Lit., Ciinaaiiile.i, who were great merchants (Hosea 12. 7, Margin). His hide is not penetrable, as that of tishes. 8. If thou lay, &c, thou wilt have reason ever to remember, &(:, and thou wilt never try it again. 8. the hope Of taking him. cast down—With fear "at the (mere) sight of him." 17. tierce—Courageous. If a man dare attiu-k one of my creatures (Genesis 49. 9 ; Numbers 24. 9), who will dare (as Jol) had wished) oppose himself (Psalm 2. 2) to me, the Creator? This is the main drift of the descrip! ion of leviatlian. 11. prevented—Done me a favour first: anticipated me with service (Psalm 21. 3). None can c;ill me to account ("stand before me," t'. 10) as unjust, because I have withdrawn favours from him (as in Job's case): for none has laid me under a prior obligation by conferring on me something wlilch was not already my own. What can man give to Him who possesses all, including man himself? Man cannot constrain the creature to be his "servant" (v. 4), much less the Creator. 13. I will not conceal—A resumption of the description broken otT l)y the digression, which formed an agreeable change. hU power Lit., the way, i. e., true proportion or expression of his strength ( so Hebrew, Deuteronomy 19.4). comely proportion Lit., the comeliness of his structure (his ajyparatus: so "suit of apparel " Judges 17. 10). [Maurer.] Umbreit translates, " his armour." But that follows alter. 13. discover—Rather, uncover the surface of his garment (skin, ch. 10. 11): strip off the hard outer coat with which the inner skin is covered, with—Rather, within, his double jarcs, lit., bridle: hence that into which the bridle is put, the double row of teeth; but "bridle" is used to imT>ly that none dare put his hand in to insert a bridle where
lii| i-op<)l.'irnus, in part with tlie elephant, but exactly iu
all delails with neitlier. It is rather a poetical personijica-
lioii of the (freal Parh,i/dei ma(a, or Herl/ivora (so " he eateth grass," &<:), the idea of the hippopotamus Ixnng predominant. In 0. 17, " the tail like a cedar," hardly applies to the latter fso also i-. 20, 23, "Joi'dan," a river which elephants alone could reach, but see note 2:1). On the other hand, 2!, 22 are characteristic of the amphibiouis river-
hoi-se. So leviathan (the twisting animal), ch. 41. I, is a geiwrolized t4n-m fur celucea, pythons, saurixins of the neiglil)Ouring seas and rivers, including the crocodile, which is the most proi\iinent,and isoften associated with the ri verliorse V>y old writei-s. " Behemoth" seems to be the Eg.vp- (ian rehcmoiit, " water-ox," Hebraized, so tailed as being like an ox, whence the Italian " Vjombarino." Vfilh tree —As I ma<le thyself. Yet how great the difference! The manifokl wisdom and power of God! lie eatctli grass Marvellous in an animal living so much in the water; also strange, tliat such a monster should not be carnivorous. 16. navpl—llather, niK«cks of 1) is belly; the weakest point of the elephant, therefore H is not meant. 17. like a cedar—As the tempest bends the cedar, so it can move
its smooth thick tail. TUmbkeit.] But the cedar implies straightness and lengtli, such as do not apply K) the riverhorse's short tail, l)Ut perhaps to an extinct species of animal (see note u. 15). stones—Rather, Wiif7/i.s. wrapped —Firmly tmisted together, like a thick rope. 18. strong pieces—Rather, <i(6e« of copper. [Umbreit.] 19. Chief of the works of God; so "ways" (ch. 26. 14; Proverbs 8. 22). can make his sword to approacli—Rather, has furnished him tcilh his sword (harpe), viz., the siekle-Ulce teeth with which he cuts down grain. English Version, however, is
in other animals it is placed (v. 4; ch. 39. 10). 14. doors of . . . face—His mouth. His teeth are sixty in number, larger in proportion than his body, some standing out, some serrated, fitting into each other like a comb. [BoCHART.] 15. Rather, his furrows of shields (as " tubes," " channels," Note 40. 18), are, &c., i. e., the rows of scales, like g/iieids covering him: he has seventeen such rows, shut up—Firmly closed together. A musket ball cannot penetrate him, save in the e.ve, thi-oat and belly. 18. Trans-
It7. right. 20. The mountain is not his «*Ma? haunt. BoCH Aiicsays it is sometimes found there(?). beasts . . . play —A graphic trait : though armed with such teeth, he lets the beasts play near him unhurt, for his food is grass. 31. Ileth—He leads an inactive life, shady trees—Rather, lotus biishes; as v. 22 requires. 33. Translate, lotus buslies; 33. Rather, "(Though) a river be violent (overflow), he treinbleth not;" (for though living on laiid, he can live in the water too), he is secure, though a Jordan swell up to his mouth. "Jordan" is used for any great river (consonant with the " behemoth"), being a poetical generalization (note 15). The author cannot have been a Hebrew as UmBKKiT asserts, or he would not adduce the Jordan, where there were no river-hoi-ses. He alludes to it as a name (or any river, but not as one known to him, except by hearsay. 3*. Rather, "will any take him by open force (<t<., before his eyes), or pierce his nose with cords?" No; he ean ouly be taken by guile, and in a pitfall (ch. 41. 1, 2).
late, " his sneezing causeth a light to shine." Amphibious animals, emerging after having long held their breath under water, respire by violently expelling the breath like one sneezing: in the effort the eyes which are usually directed towards the sun, seem to flash fire; or it is the expelled breath that, in the sun, seems to emit light, eyelids of morning—The Egyptian hieroglyphics paint the eyes of tlie crocodile as the symbol for morning, because the eyes appear the first tiling, liefore the whole body emerges from the deep. [HOR. Hiekog., 1. Go. Bochart.] 19. burning lamps Torches, viz., in respiring (v. 18), seem to go out. 30. seething—Boiling: lit.., blown under, under which a flre is blown. 31. kindleth coals—Poetical imagery (Psalm 18. 8). 33. reinaineth—Abideth permanently. His chief strength is in the neck, sorrow—Anxiety or dismay personified. Is tnrned into joy—Rather, danceth, exulteth ; wherever he goes, he spreads terror " before him." 33. flakes—Rather, dewlaps. That which falls down {Margin). They are "joined" fast and firm, together, not hanging loose, as in the ox. are Arm Umbreit and Maurer, "Are spread." In themselves— Rather, upon him. 34. heart Bochart, " in large beasts which are less acute in feeling, there is great firmness of the lieart, and slower motion." [Bochart.] The nether millstone, on which the upper turns, is especially hard. 33. he—The crocodile: a type of the awe which the Creator inspires wlien He rises In wrath, breakings—viz., of the mind, i.e., terror, purify themselves—Rather,