Job 40

Job is again reproved by the LORD, because he had not yet fully acknowledged the righteousness and power of God v.1. etc. Gods might is described, by comparing it with Jobs weakness, 4. Ironically set before his ability in the executing of the same.5. as also by the description of Behemoth; 10. And of the Leviathan both created by God, 20.

1. And the LORD answered Job out of a tempest. [See above chap.38.on v.1.] and said:

2. Gird now thy lions as a man. [See above chap.38.on v.3.] I shall ask thee, and instruct thou me. [see the foresaid place.]

3. Wilt thou also bring to nought my judgement? [Understand the right God had in punishing of Job; the meaning is, wilt thou undertake not only to maintain thy own uprightness, but likewise speak to the prejudice of my righteousness?] Wilt thou condemn [See of this word, Deut.25.on v.1.] me, that thou mayst be righteous?

4. Hast thou an arm like God [i.e. the like strength and might as God hath. So Exod.15.16. Deut.33.27. Psa.79.11. and 89.14. and 136.12.] and canst thou thunder with the voice like he?

5. Adorn thy self now with excellency, and highness, and cloth thy self with Majesty and glory, [viz. As I am adorned and clothed with the same. See Psal.39.1. and 96.6. and 104.1. Isa.51.v.9. God is said to be decked and clothed with them, forasmuch as they do appear and shew forth themselves in all his works and judgements; which Job is willed here to imitate, if he had a mind to enter into debate with God. Compare above 29.14. and the annot.]

6. Scatter forth the indignations of thy wrath; [Understand a most fierce and extream anger which is ascribed unto God here, according to the manner of men; as also above chap.21.30. Psa.78.49. The meaning is, that Job had not the power, to quell and suppress his enemies and adversaries which God had, and that therefore he ought not to have set himself against God, with intent and purpose to maintain his cause against him, against his adverse party. See above chap.13.22. and 16.21. and 23.3,4,5,etc.] and look on every high minded and humble him [i.e. look scornfully and with contempt upon him, shew him a grim and threatening countenance; and so in the verse following, and below chap.41.25.]

7. Look upon every high minded (and) bring him down, and crush the wicked in their place, [viz. Where they are exalted and magnificent; where they have all their state and wealth and power, and exercise their insolence.]

8. Break them together in the dust; [the wicked namely, in the dust, i.e. into the grave, where they are turned into dust, i.e. put them to death, destroy them, compare the manner of speaking with Psa.22.16.] bind up their faces in the covert, [i.e. make or cause them to be no more seen in this world, for they used to cover and bind up the faces of the dead with certain cloths and kerchiefs. Compare Prov.10.6. and the annot. John 11:44. and 20.7.]

9. Then shall I also praise thee, because that thy right band shall have delivered thee [i.e. that thou are self-sufficient, as I am, to compare thy self with me in judgement. Thy right hand, i.e. thy own power and strength. So also Psa.89.43. Isa.41.13.]

10. Behold now, Behemoth, [this word is by many wondered Elephant. Others take it to be a general name, comprehending all terrestrial brute Creatures, both tame and savage, being vast and great of Body, among which the Elephant is one of the Principal. The word is set down in the plural number, thereby to set out the huge bigness of those Beasts; thus wisdoms; for the chiefest and highest wisdom, Prov.1.20.] whom I have made beside thee, [i.e. as well as thee: or together with thee, viz. On the same sixth day of the Creation, when I made the first man and woman, and thy self originally in them. Oth. That he should dwell with thee upon Earth] he eateth hay like an Oxe [which is a token and testimony of Gods providence and power, whereby the greatest and strongest beasts are tamed and subjected to man.]

11. Behold now his power is in his lions, and his might in the navel of his belly, [The meaning is, that he is very strong; not only in his lions, or the upper parts of his body, but also in the lower parts (which use to be but weak) as in the belly and navel, etc.]

12. When it pleaseth him, his tail is like a Cedar tree: [Oth. He stirreth, or erecteth his tail up, as a, etc. Viz. So bolt upright, and so immoveable as a Cedar] the sinews of his privy [Heb. Stones] are plighted [or complicated, interwoven, wounded up drawn one through another.]

13. His bones are (like) firm [or massy] copper. [Heb. Strengths of copper or steel] his bones are like iron hand-bars.

14. He is a chief-piece of the ways of God, [i.e. the chief and principal piece of Gods works, among the four footed beasts; in regard of his greatness and strength] he that made him, hath joined his sword (unto him) [those which take Behemoth here to be the Elephant, do understand by his sword his long snout or huge tusks forth his mouth, whereby he maketh shift to held himself as with hands and weapons, and is able to perform mighty feats. Oth. Can join his sword unto him, viz. For to put him to death, i.e. is able to kill and destroy him.]

15. Because the hills do bring him forth jodder, therefore all the beasts of the field play there, [viz. In the same place where he feedeth: the sense is, in regard he liveth not on prey, but feeds on grass and herbs, that growth upon the hills, thence it is, that other beasts are not afraid of him, but freely feed and disport themselves in his presence, without any care or trouble. Oth. When the hills, &c. Then play, &c.]

16. He lieth down under shadowing trees, [i.e. such as yield great and thick shadows from them, and so in the next verse] in a lurking-place of the reed and of the mire, [viz. Where he seeketh to cool and refresh himself against the great and fierce heat of the Sun.]

17. The shadowing trees do cover him, every one with its shadow: [Or (for) his shadow, i.e. to make shadow for him] the brook-willows encompass him.

18. Behold he forceth the River, [viz. When he goeth into the River for to drink, then doth he hinder the stream or course of it. Or he swilleth the River in with force; the meaning whereof is that he suppeth up so much of the water, one would think he might go neer to swallow up all. These are poetical & hyperbolical expressions] and doth not over haste himself [viz. In drinking being not afraid of the streams violence, or that any man or beasts should disturb or let him, so as they write that other beasts drink of the River Nilus with great deal of fear and anxiousness, least the Crocodile should snatch and swallow them up. Oth. That she, viz. The River cannot hasten her self, viz. To run on freely in her course] he trusteth that he shall be able to draw in that Jordan into his mouth, [of this River see Gen.14.10.]

19. Should one be able to take him before his eyes? [So that he is aware of it, by meer force, and not by slight or stratagem] should one be able to bore his nose through with halters?

20. Canst thou draw the Leviathan with the angle? [i.e. think to take him, and to draw him to the boat or shoar, after that he hath taken the angle or fish-hook, even as other fish are taken. He will say; not thou not sure, for he is too strong and great thus to be taken. By the Leviathan is understood a great and terrible Sea-monster, which is called Leviathan, according to some opinions, from the Hebrew word Lavah, signifying to add or adjoin, in regard that his body is covered with abundance of scales, which are joined and fastened together very close and strongly. Some do understand a Sea-dragon, Compare Isa.27.1.] or his tongue with a cord (which) thou lettest sink down? [Oth. And shalt thou pill down his tongue with a coard. Viz. After thou shall have laid hold thereof with the angle or fish-hook.]

21. Canst thou put him a rush into the nose? [Understand here an iron hook, having the shape of a bending bull-rush. The sense is that a man should not be able to keep or curb the Leviathan with such an instrument, although he had taken him, notwithstanding other creatures can be held and tamed thereby] or bore his jaws through with a thorn? [or a hook of thrones, or made in the shape of a thorn.]

22. Will he make many supplications to thee? [viz. For to be let loose again out of thine hand, after thou hast taken him, and to enjoy his former liberty. Spoken of brute Creatures, according to the manner of men. Compare above chap.39.on v.21.] will be smooth, or discourses, such as is used by them, that hope and endeavour to obtain something by humble and submissive language.]

23. Will he make a covenant with thee? Canst thou take him for an everlasting slave? [Heb. For a slave, or servant of eternity, i.e. for a slave, to serve and be subjected to thee for ever.]

24. Canst thou play with him as (with) a little bird? [See of the Hebrew word, Gen.7.on v.14. and Lev.14.on v.4.] or canst bind him for thy young daughters? [viz. That they may disport themselves with him, and make him their pastime.]

25. Shall the companions, [i.e. the fishers, such a society or company of them in common adventure, and having lighted on and caught such a fish once.] prepare a feast over him? [for joy over their draught, whereby they may have, or hope to take him] shall they divide him among the Merchants? [Heb. The Canaanites, so the merchants were called, by reason that the ancient inhabitants of the land of Canaan, did much negotiate, the country being very commodiously situated for it, along the Mediterranean-sea. The word is likewise so taken, Prov.31.24. Isa.23.8. Hos.12.7.]

26. Canst thou fill his skin with hook? [i.e. lay hold on him of all sides, and pierce him all over, for to take him sure and hold him fast] or his head with a fishers hook? [which fishers use to strike, hold fast and take their fish with.]

27. Lay thine hand upon him; [viz. To stroke him, and sport with him, and so to make him familiar to thee. Oth. Doest thou lay thy hand upon him? Viz. To lay hold on him by force and so to take him] remember the combate, [viz. Which thou shalt be sure to undergo, if thou go any way about to seize on him, for to take him] do it no more, [i.e. go about it, or adventure no more, to come so neer him, for fear of the hurt thou mayest have by him, Oth. Do not remember (the combat) more.]

28. Behold, his hope [his namely, that would take him, and for that end layeth hand on him. Oth. The hope of him, viz. Of taking him] shall fail: [Heb. Become lying, i.e. altogether vain and idle, inasmuch as he shall not be able to take him, for all his pains and hopes] shall he also [the Leviathan namely] be cast down [dejected, dismayed, viz. For fear of him, that goeth about to take him] for his sight [i.e. because of his presence that would take him.]