Job 39

Almighty instruct him?] Shall he that pleads against God’s proceedings teach Him how to govern the world better? “he that reproveth God, let him answer it.” Let him that censures God’s actions answer what has been already advanced. Clark, Dr. Durrell. The design of this and of the other chapters is, to shew us how little we understand of the works of God; and that therefore it is the highest presumption to question the reasons and justice of His providence. Bp. Wilson.

Job 39:5

5. Once have I spoken; &c.] I have spoken once and again foolishly, but I will not defend what I have unadvisedly said, nor proceed further in such presumptuous expressions and accusations of Thy providence. Clark. The confession which Job makes of his own vileness and presumption, should teach us what effect ought to be produced in our minds by the wonderful works of creation; namely, that they ought to convince us of our own weakness and ignorance, and so humble us before God, that we may never think or say any thing contrary to the profound submission which we owe Him. Ostervald.

Job 39:6

6. Then answered the Lord &c.] Then, the more to humble and convince him, the Divine Majesty spake again after the same manner as before. Bp. Patrick.

Job 39:7

7. Gird up thy loins &c.] See note on chap. xxxviii. 3.

Job 39:8

8. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? &c.] Is there any reason to suspect My care of mankind, who have shewn it so much about other creatures? Canst thou not defend thyself, but thou must also complain of Me? Must I be condemned that thou mayest be justified? Bp. Patrick. By “disannulling God’s judgment” is meant, “condemning God,” as the latter sentence explains it. Job’s complaints and manner of justifying himself amounted to charging God with injustice. Scott.

Job 39:10

10. Deck thyself now with majesty &c.] The magnificent scenery in this and the four following verses presents to us the Almighty arrayed in the splendours of Divine majesty, exerting His supreme dominion, and manifesting His righteous vengeance by thundering and lightning on the heads of haughty tyrants, and hurling

Job 39:19

19. Hast thou given the horse strength? &c.] It is very difficult to express violent motions, which are fleeting and transitory, either in colours or in words. In poetry it requires great spirit in thought, and energy in style, which we find more of in the Eastern poetry, than in either the Greek or Roman. The great Creator, who accommodated Himself to those He vouchsafed to speak to, hath put into the mouths of His Prophets such sublime sentiments and exalted language, as must abash the pride and wit of man. In the book of Job, the most ancient poem in the world, we have such paintings and descriptions in great variety. The description of the horse in particular, under all the disadvantages of having been written in a language little understood; of being expressed in phrases peculiar to a part of the world, whose manner of thinking and speaking seems to us very uncouth; and, above all, of appearing in a prose translation; is nevertheless so transcendently above all heathen descriptions, notwithstanding there are two very fine ones by Homer and Virgil, that hereby we may perceive how faint and languid the images are, which are formed by mortal authors, when compared with that which is figured, as it were, just as it appears in the eye of the Creator. In this description are all the great and sprightly images that thought can form of this generous beast, expressed in such force and vigour of style, as would have given the great wits of antiquity new laws for the sublime, had they been acquainted with these writings. I cannot but particularly observe, that whereas the classical poets chiefly endeavour to paint the outward figure, lineaments, and motions; the sacred poet makes all the beauties to flow from an in-

affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

Job 39:20

20. — The glory of his nostrils is terrible.] The disdainful snortings which he sends out of his nostrils in his pride and courage, are terrifying like thunder, ver. 19. Caryl. This is more strong and concise than that of Virgil, which yet is the noblest line that was ever written without inspiration; “And in his nostrils rolls collected fire.” Steele.

Job 39:24

24. He swalloweth the ground &c.] This expression intimates the rapidity and eagerness of the horse. He is described as rushing forward to battle, and, as it were, devouring the intermediate space; that is, traversing it with such speed, as to appear to swallow it down with one effort. Rosenmüller.

“He swalloweth the ground” is an expression for prodigious swiftness in use among the Arabians, Job’s countrymen, at this day. It is indeed the boldest and noblest of images for swiftness. Steele.

— neither believeth he &c.] Neither doth he conceive any terrour at the signal for battle, but believeth it not for joy. Bps. Hall and Stock.

“He rejoiceth in his strength;” “he mocketh at fear;” “neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet;” “He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha;” are signs of courage, as was before said, flowing from an inward principle. There is a peculiar beauty in his “not believing it is the sound of the trumpet;” that is, he cannot believe it for joy; but when he is sure of it, and is “amongst the trumpets, he saith, Ha, ha;” he neighs, he rejoices. Steele.

It is natural, that when things come to pass which are most of all agreeable to our wishes, but beyond our hopes, we scarcely believe our senses that they have happened. Job, speaking of God, says, “If I had called and He had answered me, yet would I not believe that He had hearkened unto my voice,” chap. ix. 16; whereby he at the same time intimates the Divine Majesty and awfulness, and his own humility and desperation. “If I laughed on them, they believed it not,” says Job of his dependents, chap. xxix. 24: magnifying hereby his own extreme dignity and authority, blended with condescension; and their unmilingled veneration towards him. By one and the same circumstance, applied to the war-horse, his ardour and eagerness and impatient thirst for the battle, are wonderfully depicted. “He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet: he saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smellett the

Job 39:26

26. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom.] It is by thy appointment that the hawk stretches her wings, to fly into the warmer climates of the south? Bp. Hall. Some of the genus of hawks are, as Bochart and others observe, birds of passage. The hawk therefore appears to be introduced here as a specimen of that astonishing instinct, which teaches birds of passage to know their times and seasons; when to migrate out of one country into another for the benefit of food, or a warmer climate, or both. The stork is of this kind, Jer. viii. 7. Scott, Parkhurst.

Job 39:27

27. Doth the eagle mount up at thy command.] Fly directly upward, which no other bird is able to do? Clark. Buffon observes, that the eagle is of all birds that which mounts to the greatest height. Parkhurst.

Job 39:28

28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock.] To illustrate this passage, it may be remarked from Buffon, that the eagle usually constructs its aiery, which is flat, and more properly a flooring of sticks and twigs than a nest, between two rocks, in a dry and inaccessible place. Parkhurst.

Job 39:29

29. From thence she seeketh the prey, &c.] The eagle is said to be of so acute a sight, that when she is so high in air that man cannot see her, she can discern the smallest fish under water. Dr. Young. The eagle has an excellent sight, but little smell in comparison of the vulture: he therefore hunts only by view. Buffon.

Job 39:30

30. Her young ones also suck up blood: &c.] The young eagle is wont (and who taught it him?) to suck in the blood of his prey; and where carcasses are, thither, by a strange sagacity of nature, he is drawn to resort. Bp. Hall.