Job 41

Job 41:1-10

We have here a large description of Leviathan, before whom now can safely stand, much less before God, vers. 1—10. His general perils are described, vers. 11—24. The terrible things said of him, and done by him, vers. 25—34. 1. CANST thou draw out Leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord unkide thou I tremble down? 2. Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3. Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak for word unto thee? 4. Will he make a covenant with thee? will thou take him for a servant for ever? 5. Will thou play with him, as much a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6. Shall the companions make a banquet of him? Shall they part him among the merchanes? 7. Canst thou fill his firm with barbed irons? or his head with fish-spaces? 8. Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Shall not say be cast down, even at the sight of him? 10. None is so fierce that dare flir him up: ‘who then is able to stand before me? The learned are divided about Leviathan, whether the whale or crocodile be meant; some parts of the description seeming most adapted to the one, some more peculiar to the other, and some appear not to agree with either. The whale in general, ardent terms best to suit the subject, being peculiarly mentioned in the creation, as displaying his maker’s glory, Gen. i. 21. and being a sea animal, v. 31, which the crocodile is not. Whatever animal be meant, the design is evidently to show Job’s weakness and God’s power. He is represented here as not to be caught with a hook or bait, or carried as the other lesser fish, strung on a thorn, v. 1, 2. not to be terrified or ramed, v. 3, 4, 5. his flesh unite for food, v. 6. and if the whale be meant, as it then made no part of merchandise, men had not learnt the methods of taking them, that have since been dilouvered, and which are still attended with so much danger, with barbed irons and spears, v. 7. It was at his peril who approached him, he would cause himself for battle, therefore it were wise not to meddle with him, v. 8. To hope to take him, as a fish in a net, were calm; the very sight of him was terrible, v. 9. The behold dare not provoke him; and if a creature thus immediate us from approaching him, and so surpass our strength, who thus is able to stand before God, to contend with the Almighty, and to impeach his proceedings, or awaken his wrath? 11. ‘Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him?’ ‘whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely

ly proportion. 13. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him? with his double bridle? 14. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15. His scales are his pride, that up together as with a close seal. 16. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be fondred. 18. By his ceilings a light dash shine, and his eyes are like the eye-lids of the morning. 19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22. In his neck remaineth strength, and his bosom is turned into joy before him. 23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves, they cannot be moved. 24. His heart is as firm as a shore, yes, as hard as a piece of the nether mill-flame. 25. When he raised up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26. The sword of him that laveds at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the hangergeon. 27. He esteemed iron as straw, and brats as rotten wood. 28. The arrow cannot make him flee: fling-floors are turned with him into stubble. 29. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30. A sharp floors are under him: he spearedeth sharp pointed things upon the mite. 31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32. He maketh a path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary. 33. Upon earth there is not his like: who is made without fear. 34. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of a pride.

Job 41:11-34

1. God challenges the universal property of all things; none ever made him their debtor, whilst every creature avers from him life and breath, and every thing conducive to the comfort or preservation of it. Note, (1.) The hell services we can render God, lay no obligation on him; the favour is done us, that he enables us to serve him, or accepts our humble duty. (2.) If God giveth not an account to us of his matters, have we the shadow of right to question him? may he not do what he will with his own?

2. He describes the several parts of this terrible animal levitation. None dare approach him, to flea his skin, or open those devouring jaws, to look on which only, were enough to make the beholder tremble, v. 13, 14. His scales, which are his strength and pride, like a coat of mail, shut close over each other, to defend him, v. 15, and are so near each other, that even the air cannot come between, v. 16, 17. This, done interpret the teeth, instead of scales, which the whole has not; but there is one species of them tumbled with teeth, that shut close in corresponding cavities, in the upper jaw. From his nesting, a light shines, and his eyes are bright and sparkling as the eyelids of the morning, v. 17. His breath is like the smoke of the furnace, and hot, like the steam of the boiling caldron; coals are ready to kindle from his nostrils, v. 19—21. Strong and fierce, he fears no sorrow, v. 22. His flesh, firm as a rock, defies all the instruments of death, v. 24, 26—29. When he lifts up himself, in terrors the mighty purify themselves, as dying must fly to their prayers, v. 25. He makes his bed on the hind sharp pointed floors, v. 30. Before him the boiling deep smacks; behind him, the white foam marks his shining path as if the ocean was hoary-headed grown, v. 31, 32. Upon earth there is not his equal, scarlets of danger, v. 33. With contempt he beholds the vessels falling by, v. 34, and is a king over the children of pride, greater than the greatest of them, in magnitude and bodily strength. Or this is spoken of God, who beholdeth all these stupendous creatures; and all the children of pride, whether devils, men, or the most lawless animals, must submit to his government. Highly then it becomes Job to bow, to humble himself under God’s mighty hand, and own the transcendent glory, greatness, and unfeasibleness of all his works and ways.