Job 41

Chap. XLI. Ver. 1—34. The power of God displayed in the leviathan.—The object of this, as well as of the preceding chapter, is evidently to convince Job, that he is not able to contend with certain creatures of the Almighty; much less with their Creator. The preceding instance is taken from the class of graminivorous animals, who do not prey upon flesh, which is true both of the elephant and the river-horse: but this animal is more terrible, as being carnivorous, and preying upon man. On the behemoth the learned are much divided; ably advocated the claims of the crocodile to this distinction, that few now dispute it. (See note, ver. 7.) _ Scott (the poet,) Good, and Boothroyd, in particular, are of this opinion. The description of this animal, affords a fine specimen of the terrific sublime.

He is so fierce, that none dare to rouse him; (see note on (Job 3:8).) and when roused, so terrible, that terror and dismay are poetically represented as dancing in the smoke and flame, that is, the burning breaths pouring from his mouth; and when he swims, he excites the same emotion as a sailing vessel. ‘‘When a crocodile, fifty feet in length, (says Scott, the poet,) dives to the bottom [of the Nile,] the violent agitation of the water is justly compared to liquor boiling in a caldron. The mud raised by that agitation, thickens the water, and gives it a consistency like that of ointment: ‘He maketh the sea (i.e. the Nile) to boil like a pot of ointment.’ When a crocodile, of the size above mentioned, is swimming upon or near the surface, he cuts the water like a ship, and makes it white with foam.

At the same time his tail like a rudder, causeth the waves behind him to froth and sparkle like a trail of light: ‘He maketh a path to shine after him,’” &c. And when he comes to land, such is the impene- _———$———— ET trability of his scales, that no weapon has been found to pene- trate them. He beholdeth with contempt the tallest and the largest animals; and seems to consider himself the sovereign of all the sons of pride and loftiness.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 20. The mountains bring him forth food.—Elephants graze upon the mountains; the hippopotamus on eminences (or islands) in the river, and on the higher grounds around. But, perhaps the expression means only that the animal devours a vast quantity of food. Ver. 23. Behold he drinketh up (“he oppresseth,” or presseth into) a river —And “hasteth not” to withdraw. But the learned Bochart renders it, ‘Behold, the stream may — (against him,) and he will not flee. Elephants will pass any river, and often swim; but water is the favourite element of the river-horse, who will walk under water, on the bottom of the river, as in a field. Draw up Jordan.—But did either of these creatures visit the Jordan?

It is probable that they might at an early period, and especially before the formation of the Dead sea, when the river might ran much further, and in a wider stream. See (Genesis 13:10). Ver. 24. He taketh it with his eyes.—‘Will (any) take him in his sight!’ or, ‘bore (his) nose with a gin?’ Boothroyd renders it, ‘‘Who can take him openly? or draw a cord through his nose?” Chap. XLI. Ver. 1, Canst thou draw out?—These questions strongly imply the impossibility of the thing mentioned —Leviathan. (See note ver. 7.) _ Ver. 3. Will he make many supplications? &c.—This language is strongly Ver. 7. Canst thou fill his skin, &c.—(The Leviathan described here, has been solidly proved by Bochart, to denote the crocodile; and the description suits no other species of amphibious animals.

It is a species of lizard with a two-edged tail, large oblong head, small, but vivacious eyes, short legs, and triangular feet, the fore ones having four, and the hinder ones five toes, armed with strong sharp claws. Its length is usually about 20 feet, and its circumference about five feet; it has, in proportion to its size, the largest mouth of all monsters; moves both its jaws equally, the upper of which is armed with not less than forty, and the under with thirty-eight sharp, strong, and massy teeth; its voice is a loud, hollow growling of the most terrific description; and is furnished with a coat of mail, so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket ball, in every part except under the belly; it is a natural inhabitant of the Nile, and other African and Asiatic rivers; is of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals with the most daring impetuosity; and when taken by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it.

Nothing that it once seizes can escape; and shaking its prey to pieces, it is swallowed without mastication. ]—Bagster. Ver. 8. Remember the battle.—Boothroyd, “The conflict.”——Do no more —That is, proceed no farther, < Ver. 9. Shall not (one) be cast down (faint) at the sight of him? Ver. 13. Who can discover the face of his garment?—Rather, “Uncover his mailed face?”—Schultens, Scott, &c. See ver. 15.—With his double bridle, —That is, to harness him. Ver. 15. His scales (‘Strong pieces of shields”) are his pride.—The back of the crocodile is covered with horny flakes, or scales, which no musket ball can pierce. (See note ver. 7.); Ver. 18. By his neesings, &c.—By the neesing of the crocodile, we are to understand the violent emission of water through his nostrils.

The eyes of the crocodile are not large nor sparkling; but they are the first thing seen of the animal when it rises above the water, on which account the Egyptians, in their hieroglyphical writing, designated the morning by a crocodile’s eye. Ver. 19. Burning lamps.—Boothroyd, “Fire-brands.” By the same figure of speech as the horse’s neck is said to be ‘clothed with thunder,” (ch. xxxix. 19.) the mouth of the crocodile when enraged is compared to a volcano, emitting flames and sparks. Ver. 22. In his neck remaineth strength.—This refers to its rigidity; the crocodile not being able to turn its neck without its body. Strength is therefore personified as residing in his neck.—Sorrow is turned into joy.—leb.

• Sorrow rejoiceth” before him, or more literally, ‘‘danceth before his face.” The noun rendered ‘sorrow” seems properly to mean that weakness resulting from terror, and is translated by Dr. Stocic, “‘swooning;” by Miss Smith, “fainting;” by Bate and Parkhurst, “languor;” but by Good and Scott “destruction.” This ‘‘sorrow,” or, &c. is here also personified, and supposed “to dance” or leap before him. Ver. 25. When he raiseth [up] himself—From the water, either to seize a boat or overturn it—or to go on shore—the mighty, &c.—By reason of breakings they purify themselves.—See (Jonah 1:5). But some think this refers to the terror inspired by his breaking all the weapons brought against him, as in the following verses.

Ver. 26. The habergeon.—Marzin, “Breast-plate.” But Bochart explains it of a javelin; it must mean some offensive weapon, Ver. 30. Sharp stones were under him.—See Margin. But Scott (the poet) explains it of the rugged rocks which in some parts form the bed of the river. Ver. 31. He maketh the deep to boil.—By the deep, or sea, is here meant the Nile, which is so called, (Isaiah 27:1). (Ezekiel 32:2). and Michaelis says, it is so called in the Koran. ‘When a large crocodile dives to the bottom, the violent agitation of the water may justly be compared to liquor boiling in a caldron; and his body being strongly impregnated with the scent of musk, the water is affected by it to a considerable distance.

]—Bagster.