Job 9:5

Which removeth the mountains,.... This and what follow are instances of the power of God, and are full proofs of his being mighty in strength; and may be understood, either literally, not only of

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

He proccedeth to give particular evidences of the Divine power and wisdom, which he mentioned . And they know not, i.e. suddenly and unexpectedly, ere they were aware of it. They, i.e. the mountains, to which he ascribes sense and knowledge figuratively, as hath been oft noted. In his anger; in token of his displeasure with men that lived upon them, or near them.

Job 9:5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.Ver. 5. Which removeth the mountains, and they know not] For further proof of God’ s power first (and then afterwards of his wisdom) Job produceth divers particular acts of his upon the creatures, both unreasonable and reasonable. Eliphaz had said somewhat to this purpose, Job 4:1-21, sed hic admirandus est Iob, saith Mercer, Job doth it admirably; his tongue, like a silver trumpet, sets forth the high praises of God far more plainly, plentifully, and magnificently than any of his friends, who yet have done it very well too. God, to show his power, removeth the mountains, saith Job, sc. by stupendous earthquakes, and otherwise, at his pleasure, Nahum 1:5 Psalms 97:4-5 Isaiah 40:15, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing, he can remove mountains with a wet finger, as we say, though so mighty in bulk, and strongly founded. Dionysius thinketh, that in thus speaking, Job aimeth at that which was done in the time of Noah’ s flood, when the waters with their mighty force galled and bare down many great mountains, but that is uncertain. Great things God will do by the fire of the last day, when mountains shall melt, rocks rend, and the earth, with the works therein, shall be all burnt up, 2 Peter 3:10. And what desolations he hath made in sundry parts of the earth by terrible earthquakes, as at Antioch often (which was therehence called Yεοπολις, because so visited by God), in divers places of Italy, Sicily, Burgundy, Helvetia, and here in Herefordshire, mention is made in Pliny, Stumpfius, Jovius, and other historians, all making good this of Job, and that of the psalmist, The mountains will skip like rams, and the little hills like lambs, when the Lord is displeased, Psalms 114:4. And they know it not] Dicto citius, it is done with a trice, speedily and secretly, before the mountains (if they could at all know) could know what is done to them; or before the mountaineers or the neighbourhood could foresee and avoid the danger of being overwhelmed and buried alive. Which overturneth them in his anger] Or, that he overturneth them in his anger. Men are not sensible of God’ s anger for sin, no, not in the greatest commotions, such is their stupidity; but will needs swelter and pine away in their iniquities, as if nothing could awake them, Leviticus 26:39.

Verse 5. Removeth the mountains, and they know not] This seems to refer to earthquakes. By those strong convulsions, mountains, valleys, hills, even whole islands, are removed in an instant; and to this latter circumstance the words, they know not, most probably refer. The work is done in the twinkling of an eye; no warning is given; the mountain, that seemed to be as firm as the earth on which it rested, was in the same moment both visible and invisible; so suddenly was it swallowed up.

5–10. Description of God’s omnipotent power as it displays itself in the material world. they know not] Suddenly and unexpectedly, Psalms 35:8; Jeremiah 50:24.

Which removeth the mountains - In order to show how vain it was to contend with God, Job refers to some exhibitions of his power and greatness.

Strophes b and c, three verses each — Job, having once conceived the power of God, becomes fascinated by the very tremendousness of it; the invincible might of his and man’s adversary charms his eye,