Job 1

The commentary treats this chapter together with chapter 39; the text below is that joint comment.

Chap. XXXIX. Ver. 1—30. The Almighty continues his interrogatories as to the animal creation.—This chapter should perhaps have commenced with the three last verses of the preceding, which relate to the lioness and her cubs, the raven and her young, and proceed with the rock-goat and deer, the wild ass, the ostrich, the horse, &c. Concerning each of these, we shall notice the most instructive and remarkable par- 1. The wild goat of the rocks, (Jael) or Ibex, (ver. 1.) is remarkable for fearing and climbing the highest precipices. ((1 Samuel 24:2); (Psalms 104:18).) 2. The hind, or roe, (ajaloh) the female of the stag. ((2 Samuel 22:34): (Psalms 18:33).) 3. The wild ass, (Heb. para) ver. 5. is a much handsomer creare than the common ass.

((Judges 5:10).) This animal roameth wild in the wilderness. h we have no doubt is the one- 5. 4. The unicorn (reem) whic horned rhinoceros. (See note on (Numbers 23:22).) 5. The ostrich—the habits and character of this bird are peculiar. _ It hatches its eggs in the sand, and often leaves them exposed to danger; three or four birds sometimes sit together (the male being one of them) to hatch a number of eggs, which when hatched form one family. The male bird is said to be a polygamist; and it does not appear that the female can distinguish its own offspring: it consequently has no more sympathy for them than it has for others. This bird is also resiarcable for its fleetness, in which it rivals both the horse and dromedary, and when its wings are expanded, it rather sails than runs.

(See note.) 6. The war-horse, of which the description here given has been universally admired, and never can be read, by any person of poetic taste, without strong emotions. 7. The hawk, which is a migratory bird; and the Hebrew term is thought to include the whole falcon family. 8. And the eagle, which is the king of birds, and delights in blood as much as be Almighty, in these chapters, collects around him all his gny oumpan rant.,: family of the brute creation, and calls upon the distressed patriarch to admire the manner in which he conducts the economy of this immense family—each species according to the instincts which he had implanted in them.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXIX. Ver. 1. Canst thou mark.—Scott renders it, ’’ Canst thou preserve the calving;” i. e. the hinds when they calve. Ver. 2. Canst thou nwinber, is equivalent to, Canst thou appoint the numper. See (Job 14:5). Ver. 4. They Srow up with corn.—Rather, “ in the desert.” Scott. im—Unto them.—That is, their parents. Ver. 5. Wild ass.—[ Heb. paire. in Arabic fara, the onager, or wild ass, is a taller, and much more dignified animal than. the common ass: its legs are more elegantly shaped; it bears its head higher; is distinguished by a dusky woolly mane; long erect ears; forehead highly arched; hair generally silvery white; upper part of the face, sides of the neck, and upper part of the thighs flaxen; forepart of the ar divided from the flank by a white line extending round the rump to — } stripe of waved, phe ath oot bushy hair “Who is father of the rain ?”"— along the top of the back; another stripe of the same —- the former at the shoulders; and two beautiful white Teen, which bound the dorsal band and and so bound together, as if its mane.

They are found in various parts of the East; and run so swiftly that they cannot be taken except by successive relays. ]|—Bagster. Ver. 13. “’ Gavest thou” is supplied, and that improperly. Heath and Scort (the poet) thus render it, “The wing of the ostrich is expanded.” The word here rendered “ peacock,” (rwmim) is ascertained to be one of the names of the ostrich, (for the peacock is not mentioned before the time of Solomon) and the ostrich is remarkable, as Dr. Shavo states, for its quivering, expanded wing, which it flaps perpetually, as it walks or runs.—Or wings, &¢e.—The margin reads, “ Or the feathers of the stork and ostrich,” but this also is incorrect, for the latter clause does not name the ostrich; but should be rendered eithet interrogatively, as by Scott, ‘Is it the pinion or feathers of the stork?”

or, as by Dr. Boothroyd, “ Her pinions and feathers are (like) those of the stor ide which seems justified by the account of Dr. Shaw, who ers the plumage upon the shoulders, the back, and some part of the wings, are black and white, like those of the stork. Ver. 16. Without fear.—Rather, “ through want of fear;” Boothroyd. The. want of fear here, cannot refer to courage, for she is very timid; but want of caution and prudence. - y