Leviathan — Several particulars in the following description, agree far better with the crocodile, than the whale. It is highly probable, that this is the creature here spoken of. Cord — Canst thou take him with a hook and a line, as anglers take ordinary fishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thorn — Or, with an iron hook, or instrument as sharp as a thorn; wherewith thou usest to carry little fishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Supplications — Doth he dread thine anger or power? Or will he earnestly beg thy favour? It is a metaphor from men in distress, who use these means to them to whose power they are subject.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fill — A whale's you may: but the skin of a crocodile is so hard that an iron or spear will not pierce it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lay — Seize upon him, if thou darest. Battle — But ere thou attempt it consider what thou art doing, and with whom, thou art going to fight. Do no more — Proceed no farther, draw back thy hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hope — The hope of taking or conquering him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stand — To the battle. Me — To contend with me who created him?... [ Continue Reading ]
Prevented — Hath laid the first obligation upon me, for which I am indebted to him. Who can be before — hand with me in kindnesses, since all things under heaven are mine.... [ Continue Reading ]
Discover — Or, uncover, or take off from him. Face — The upper or outward part of his garment, or, the garment itself: the word face being often redundant. And by the garment is meant the skin which covers the whole body; who dare attempt to touch his very skin? Much less to give him a wound. His do... [ Continue Reading ]
Doors — His mouth. If it be open, none dare enter within, and if it be shut, none dare open it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shut — Closely compacted together, as things that are fastened together by a seal. This likewise is true of the crocodile, but the skin of the whale is smooth and entire without any scales at all.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sneesings — This the crocodile is said frequently to do. Eyes — To which they seem very fitly compared, because the eyes of the crocodile are dull and dark under the water, but as soon as they appear above water, cast a bright and clear light; like the morning light, suddenly breaking forth after th... [ Continue Reading ]
Lamps — This also better agrees with the crocodile, which breathes like the river — horse, of which ancient authors affirm, that his nostrils are very large, and he breathes forth a fiery smoke like that of a furnace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kindleth coals — An hyperbolical expression, denoting extraordinary heat.... [ Continue Reading ]
And sorrow — Sorrow is his companion and harbinger, which attends upon him wheresoever he goes. So anger and fear are said by the poets to accompany the God of war.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nether mill — stone — Which being to bear the weight of the upper, ought to be the harder and stronger of the two.... [ Continue Reading ]
Raiseth — Upon the top of the waters. Mighty — Even the stout — hearted. Breakings — By reason of their great danger and distress; which is expressed by this very word, Psalms 60:2; Jonah 2:4. Purify — Those who ordinarily live in the neglect of God, they cry unto God in their trouble, and endeavour... [ Continue Reading ]
Hold — Heb. cannot stand, cannot endure the stroke, but will be broken by it. The crocodile's skin, no sword, nor dart, nor musquet bullet can pierce.... [ Continue Reading ]
Turned — Hurt him no more than a blow with a little stubble.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stones — His skin is so impenetrable, that the sharpest stones or shells are as easy unto him as the mire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Boil — To swell, and foam, and froth by his strong and vehement motion, as any liquor does when it is boiled in a pot, especially boiling ointment. The sea — The great river Nile, is called a sea, both in scripture, as Isaiah 11:15, and in other authors, as Euphrates is called the sea of Babylon, Is... [ Continue Reading ]
Shine — By the white froth or foam upon the waters. The same may be observed in the wake of a ship by night.... [ Continue Reading ]
King, &c. — He can tame both the behemoth and leviathan, as strong and stout — hearted as they are. This discourse concerning them was brought in, to prove that it is God only, who can look upon proud men and abase them, bring them low, and hide them in the dust, he it is that beholdeth all high thi... [ Continue Reading ]