Job 39

God goeth on in the relating of his work, and maketh mention of his providence about the Lions, v.1. etc. The Ravens, 3. The rock-goats 4. The wild asses 8. The unicorn 12. The peacock, stork, and ostrich 16. The horse 22. The hawk, 29. The eagle, 30. God reproveth Job for his presumption 34. Job confesseth his fault 36.

1. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the old Lion? [viz. For him that hath but little strength left, to recover some prey for his sustenance. The meaning is, that the same is prepared for him by Gods providence, and not by the care or labour of man, Psa.104.21. for otherwise he might starve and perish, above 4.11.] or fill the greediness of the young Lion? [viz. When they are forsaken or forgotten by the old ones, Compare Psa.147.9. Heb. Fill the life etc. Whereby is to be understood the greedy desire and fiery appetite, which the young Lions have to their prey and food. The Hebrew word Chajah. Is sometimes of the same signification with the word Nephesh, soul, as may be seen, above chap.33.v.18.20,22. And Nephesh is sometimes as much as, and standeth for a desire or longing appetite for somewhat, as Psal.27.12. and 107.9. Prov.23.2. Isa.56.11. Oth. Fully supply the young Lions their food or sustenance.

2. When they bow down in the holes, (and sit in the den, [Heb. Hutt, or tent, i.e. hiding-place, cave or den] to lurk, [i.e. to spy out some beast or other, which they may take and tear and devour. Oth. In the lurking-place: viz. Out of which they do lurk. So above chap.37.8.]

3. Who prepareth the Raven her meat. [The Hebrew word doth properly signify such meat or food as is gotten by hunting. See Gen.27.3. and the annot.] when they cry in their nests for food; which is called a crying to God, because God taketh care to provide food for the young Ravens. They write that, having at first while down on them, they are forsaken by the old ones, till they grow black; and in the mean while wonderfully fed by Gods providence, by certain small worms, which grow in their own nests, out of their dung. Compare Psa.147.9.] (when) they stray, [viz. About the nest forsaken by the dam] because there is no meat.]

4. Knowest thou the time of the bringing forth of the Rock Goats: [Understand hereby the whole work and disposition of the engendering, propagation, breeding and bringing up of the wild beasts in general, which must solely be ascribed to Gods providence, and not any care of man. Of the sort of Goats here specified. See 1 Sam.21.on v.3.] hast thou taken notice of the travel of the hinds, [i.e. of the time when they use to be in labour, that thou mightiest afford them some help and assistance, when they are in danger and pain.]

5. Canst thou number the Months which they fill up, art thou able to calculate the minute of time wherein they conceive, and thereby know how long they are to go ere they bring forth their young ones. All these questions do strongly deny.]

6. When they know how themselves [to ease their travel in bringing forth their young] bring forth their young ones with splitting, cast forth their pains, [understand the pains of travel, which are very great in these beasts, and in which they are only helped and assisted by Gods providence. See Ps.29.9.]

7. Their young (ones) [Heb. Sons, see Lev.1.on v.14.] grow lively [i.e. recover strength, and vigour, though by reason of their difficult coming forth, they were at first very weak and tender] became great, by the corn, [the word Bar in the original tongue doth signicorn or wheat, which these kind of beasts love much to feed upon; But in the syriake, it signifieth ground or a field; as also doth the Chaldaick word Bara, Dan.2.38. and 4.12. which maketh some to render it likewise thus in this place] they go forth, and return not again to the same, [viz. To their dams that had cast, or brought them forth.]

8. Who hath sent the wild ass free away, and who hath loosened the bonds of the wild ass? [The meaning is, that the untameable and unbridled nature of the wild ass proceedeth only from Gods providence and disposing; the reason whereof man being not able to comprehend, how much less can he search and dive into other more deep and incomprehensible works of God.]

9. To whom I have appointed the desert for his house place [Oth. The plain field, etc. Whereby must be understood such, as lieth wild and wast indeed; but yet doth yield some fodder here and there growing out of the ground, though wild and rank, which relisheth well unto those savage Creatures.] and the brackish (ground) for his habitations [i.e. the dry: barren and uncultivated country. See Jud.9.on v.35. and Psal.107.34.]

10. He laughteth at the stir of the City, [i.e. he doth not care for multitudes of people, and the affairs and businesses of men, loving rather to live in the desert: or also, that he doth not fear, or is not frighted by the force, which many men might be ready to distress and borrowed speech from the manner of men, as below v.21,25,28. And chap.40.22,23. And 41.18,20.] be doth not hear the various clamour of the driver, [i.e. all those calls, cries and noises, which are used by them, that do urge and instigate, either men or beasts to their labour and working.]

11. That (which) he spieth out upon the hills, is his pasture: [Heb. The spying out, or the spied out (exploratum) i.e. that which he is continually seeking for upon the hills as grass and other green things, that is it he feedeth upon.] and he seeketh after all manner of green (things) [i.e. green herbs or bows such as grow in with places.

12. Shall the Unicorn be willing to serve thee: shall he lodge at thy crib? [Understand no, not at all; and that by reason of his undaunted and untameable strength and vigour. See Numb.23.on v.22.]

13. Shalt thou bind the Unicorn with a roap [viz. Whereby he might be tied fast to the Plough to draw the same] unto the furrows, [unto the raised ground, or ridges, that is upon the ploughed land, between two furrows, see above chap.31.on v.38. Yet here is to be understood the plough-work and drawing of it, whereby the furrows are made, in which regard the translation may run thus; bind the Unicorn with his rope to ploughing, i.e. for to plough] shall he harrow thee, the low grounds? [or depths, valleys, bottoms. Some do here understand again the furrows.]

14. Shalt thou confide in him, [i.e. he sure, that he shall do thy work i the field, as well as those other tame beasts, which are employed by men in their field service] because his force is great? And shalt thou leave thy labour, [i.e. the fruits which thou hast gotten by thy labour. Compare above 20.v.18.] upon him? [viz. To carry or draw them home unto thy barns? See the next verse.]

15. Shalt thou believe him, that he shall bring thy seed again, and gather (it to) thy threshing-floor, [i.e. that he shall make thee enjoy thy wished for fruits? Which must be brought to pass by ploughing and harrowing, or with carrying the fruits into the barn.]

16. Are the delightful wings of the Peacock [viz. Wherewith they delight and lift up themselves, or which men also take pleasure and delight and lift up themselves, or which men also take pleasure and delight in?] (from thee) or the feathers of the Stork. [See Lev.11.on v.19. Oth. Or the wings, and feathers of the stork. Or the wings of the Ostrich, and his Feathers, or plumes?] and of the Ostrich? [The Hebrew word Notsah doth signify indeed a plume; but the interpectors gathered out of the next following verses, that here is meant by this word the Ostrich, a fowl singularly well furnished with plumes; that which followeth can neither can neither be applied to the Peacock, nor to the Stork.]

17. That she [viz. The Ostrich] leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, [i.e. in the sand, viz. By letting the sun to shine upon them, that by the warmeth thereof the eggs may be hatched. For they write, that this fowl is very unkind, without any natural affection to her eggs, abandoning the same, and leaving the care to the warmeth of the Sun, without sitting over them.]

18. And forgetteth that the foot can press them [Heb. , i.e. every one of those eggs and so in the other member of the verse] and the beasts of the field can trample them.

19. She hardeneth her self against her young ones, [or her eggs, out of which her young ones are hatched in manner as was said in the former v. She dealeth very hard with them, against the nature of other birds, and that for the reason alledged before, of not hatching of her own eggs.] as if they were none of hers: her labour is in vain; [viz. That of laying her eggs, if God took not more care of the same then she doth her self.] (because) she is without fear. [viz. Of loosing her eggs, and of not getting young ones by them.]

20. For God hath deprived her of wisdom, [Heb. Hath made her forget the wisdom, i.e. given her no wisdom, or deprived her of it. Understand by the same, the natural inclination or instinct, which God hath infused into the rest of the Beasts, whereby they are given and know how to preserve, provide for and recover themselves out of danger.] and hath imparted to her nothing of understanding.

21. When it is time, [viz. When she is pursued by the hunter] she lifteth up her self on high; [viz. Some what above the ground, better to speed her running, and so escape the arrows and shootings; for by reason of the great bulk and weight of her body she is not able to lift up her self very high above the ground.] she laugheth at the horse and his rider. [i.e. she contemneth them since she is able by the readiness and nimbleness of running to get out of their reach. This is said of them according to the manner of men. See above on v.10.]

22. Canst thou give strength to the horse? Canst thou cloth his neck with thunder? [Understand hereby the neighing of the horse, together with his stirs and boisterousness; comp. Jer.8.6.]

23. Canst thou trouble it, like a Grasshopper? [i.e. s men are wont to fright and chase away the silly Grasshoppers.] the pride of his snuffing is a terrifying. [i.e. a cause to make one afraid.]

24. It diggeth into the ground, [The Hebrew word indeed doth commonly signify a valley, but it is taken for all manner of depths and bottoms; or how, hollow places, as above v.13. for the lowness of ground, or, the furrows, Prov.9.18. for the depth of the grave; and here for the hole, that is made into the ground, by the stamping of a stout horse.] and it is joyful in its strength: and draweth forth to meet the armed (man). [or armed, Hebr. Arms, or weapon.]

25. It laugheth at fear, [i.e. It contemneth those things, which use to make men afraid; as all manner of arms, weapons, and other furniture of War. Fear, for that which is to be feared. So Prov.1.26, & 10.v.24. Isaiah 66:4.] and is not dismayed, and returneth not because of the sword. [Heb. From the face of the sword.]

26. The quiver [viz. Of The armed man that rideth it] doth rattle against him; the flaming iron of the spear and of the lance; [Heb. The flame; but this word is likewise taken by way of comparison for the bright-shining iron of a Spear, Lance or Sword. See Gen.3.24. 1 Sam.17.7. Nah.3.3.]

27. With shaking and commotion doth it swallow up the earth, [i.e. doth run over it with that swiftness, and nimbleness; that it seemeth to swallow up all the way, making him that sitteth upon it, to loose the ground before him out of his sight, no otherwise, than if it were swallowed and gulfed up under him. Oth. Suppeth in; The dust namely, which it raiseth with its feet; or halloweth out.] and believeth not that it is the sound of the trumpet. [The meaning is; That the stout horses, do so run up and down in the battle, with that celerity, courage, and fiery eagerness to come to the battle or fight and medley, that they heed nothing, no not the shrill sound of the Trumpet; Or, they are so frolic when they hear the sound of the Trumpet, that in a manner, they can hardly believe it. Oth. Doth not hold it self firm, when the sound of the Trumpet goeth, Heb. The voice of the Trumpet.]

28. In the full resounding of the Trumpet, [Heb. In the sufficiency of the Trumpet, i.e. when the Trumpet sounds most shrill, clear, and full. Or, under the Trumpet.] it saith, Heaha: [This is a word or interjection, signifying, or expressing a sound of joyfulness or jollity; and sometime, of great courage and alacrity, in setting upon and daring the Enemy. Compare Psal.35.ver.21,25. And 40.16. Ezekiel 36:2.] and smelleth the war afar off, the thunder of the Princes, [understand the clamour noise and stir of the Commanders, wherewith they seek to daunt their enemy, at the joining of battle, and commencing the fight.] and the shouting.

29. Doth the Hawk fly [Oth. Plummet the Hawk, i.e. Doth she change her Feathers? Oth. Doth the Hawk use Feathers? i.e. Doth she fly?] by thine understanding. [i.e. by thy disposing, care and government?] (and) doth she spread forth her wings toward the south? [viz. For to shun the cold of winter, and by means of the warm sun, (as some conceive) to change her feathers.]

30. Is it at thy command [Heb. Mouth, i.e. command, change, see Gen.41.on verse 40.] that the Eagle doth mount aloft, and that he maketh his nest in the height?

31. He dwelleth and lodgeth in the stony rock, on the sharpness of the stony rock, [Heb. Upon the tooth. So the Hebrews call the most eminent heights of the rocks, being unapproachable. See 1 Sam.14.4.] and of the strong place.

32. From thence he spieth out the meat: his eyes see afar of. [The Naturalists ascribe unto the Eagle a most sharp, strong, and quick sight among the brutes; whereby he is able to spy his prey at a great distance, or afar off; and unto far distant places, as the Hebrew word implieth.]

33. His young ones also sup up blood, [viz. Out of the dead bodies of men, and of beasts, which the old ones prey for them, and bring unto the nest, either pierce meal, or entire, as they are able to carry it along] and where slain (ones) are, there he is. [Our Saviour Christ reflecteth upon this place, Matth. 24.28. Luke 17:37. to shew, that the children of God, through the enlightening and moving of his spirit, are gathering unto him, (who by his death and being slain, is become the true and onely food of their souls) from all parts and places, even as the Eagles by the directive help of their clear sight and exquisite scenting, do fly unto, and gather about the dead carcases, for their food and nourishment.]

34. And the LORD answereth Job, [viz. After he had paused a while, and given Job space to speak between and say, what he could for his own defence; But seeing Job was mute, God went on. So the speech, or the proceeding in the former discourse. See Jud.18.on verse 14.] and said:

35. Is the contending with the Almighty instructing? [i.e. Teaching him wisdom, and convincing him of unrighteous dealing?] he that reproveth God, [i.e. he that will speak against, or control his Judgement.] let him answer it.

36. Then answered Job unto the LORD and said:

37. Behold, I am too men, [Compare Genesis 32.verse 10. And the annotation] what should I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. [i.e. I am silent, can say nothing. See above, the 21. chapter And the fifth verse.

38. Once have I spoken; [Heb. One, viz. Time, i.e. once. See 2 Chron.9.on verse 21.] but will not answer: or twice, [a certain number for an uncertain] but shall not proceed. [Oth. Read the verse thus, Once have I spoken, and shall not answer, yet the second time shall I not go on.]