KNOWEST THOU, THE TIME WHEN THE WILD GOATS OF THE ROCK BRING FORTH? - That is, the particular season when the mountain goats bring forth their young. Of domestic animals - the sheep, the tame goat, etc., the habits would be fuIly understood. But the question here relates to the animals that roamed a... [ Continue Reading ]
CANST THOU NUMBER THE MONTHS ... - That is, as they wander in the wilderness, as they live in inaccessible crags and cliffs of the rocks, it is impossible for man to be acquainted with their habits as he can with those of the domestic animals.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BOW THEMSELVES - literally, they curve or bend themselves; that is, they draw their limbs together. THEY CAST OUT THEIR SORROWS - That is, they cast forth the offspring of their pains, or the young which cause their pains. The idea seems to be, that they do this without any of the care and att... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR YOUNG ONES ARE IN GOOD LIKING - Hebrew “they are fat;” and hence, it means that they are strong and robust. THEY GROW UP WITH CORN - Herder, Gesenius, Noyes, Umbreit, and Rosenmuller render this, “in the wilderness,” or “field.” The proper and usual meaning of the word used here (בר _bâr_) is... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH SENT OUT THE WILD ASS FREE? - For a description of the wild ass, see the notes at Job 11:12. On the meaning of the word rendered “free” (חפשׁי _chophshı̂y_), see the notes at Isaiah 58:6. These animals commonly “inhabit the dry and mountainous parts of the deserts of Great Tartary, but not... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE HOUSE I HAVE MADE - God had appointed its home in the desert. AND THE BARREN LAND HIS DWELLINGS - Margin, as in Hebrew “salt places.” Such places were usually barren. Psalms 107:34, “he turneth a fruitful land into barrenness.” Hebrew “saltness.” Thus, Virgil, Geor. ii. 238-240: _Salsa antem... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SCORNETH THE MULTITUDE OF THE CITY - That is, he sets all this at defiance; he is not intimidated by it. He finds his home far away from the city in the wild freedom of the wilderness. NEITHER REGARDETH HE THE CRYING OF THE DRIVER - Margin, “exacter.” The Hebrew word properly means a collector o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RANGE OF THE MOUNTAINS IS HIS PASTURE - The word rendered “range” יתור _yâthûr_, means properly a “searching out,” and then that which is obtained by search. The word “range” expresses the idea with sufficient exactness. The usual range of the wild ass is the mountains. Pallas, who has given a... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL THE UNICORN BE WILLING TO SERVE THEE? - In the previous part of the argument, God had appealed to the lion, the raven, the goats of the rock, the hind, and the wild ass; and the idea was, that in the instincts of each of these classes of animals, there was some special proof of wisdom. He now t... [ Continue Reading ]
CANST THOU BIND THE UNICORN WITH HIS BAND IN THE FURROW? - That is, with the common traces or cords which are employed in binding oxen to the plow. OR WILL HE HARROW THE VALLEYS AFTER THEE? - The word “valleys” here is used to denote such ground as was capable of being plowed or harrowed. Hills and... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU TRUST HIM? - As thou dost the ox. In the domestic animals great confidence is of necessity placed, and the reliance on the fidelity of the ox and the horse is not usually misplaced. The idea here is, that the unicorn could not be so tamed that important interests could be safely entrusted... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU BELIEVE HIM? - That is, wilt thou trust him with the productions of the field? The idea is, that he was an untamed and unsubdued animal. He could not be governed, like the camel or the ox. If the sheaves of the harvest were laid on him, there would be no certainty that he would convey them... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVEST THOU THE GOODLY WINGS UNTO THE PEACOCKS? - In the previous verses the appeal had been to the wild and untamable animals of the desert. In the prosecution of the argument, it was natural to allude to the feathered tribes which resided there also, and which were distinguished for their strength... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH LEAVETH HER EGGS IN THE EARTH - That is, she does not build a nest, as most birds do, but deposits her eggs in the sand. The ostrich, Dr. Shaw remarks, lays usually from thirty to fifty eggs. The eggs are very large, some of them being above five inches in diameter, and weighing fifteen pounds... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FORGETTETH THAT THE FOOT MAY CRUSH THEM - She lays her eggs in the sand, and not, as most birds do, in nests made on branches of trees, or on the crags of rocks, where they would be inaccessible, as if she was forgetful of the fact that the wild beast might pass along and crush them. She often w... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE IS HARDENED AGAINST HER YOUNG ONES - The obvious meaning of this passage, which is a fair translation of the Hebrew, is, that the ostrich is destitute of natural affection for her young; or that she treats them as if she had not the usual natural affection manifested in the animal creation. This... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE GOD HATH DEPRIVED HER OF WISDOM ... - That is, he has not imparted to her the wisdom which has been conferred on other animals. The meaning is, that all this remarkable arrangement, which distinguished the ostrich so much from other animals was to be traced to God. It was not the result of c... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT TIME SHE LIFTETH UP HERSELF ON HIGH - In the previous verses reference had been made to the fact that in some important respects the ostrich was inferior to other animals, or had special laws in regard to its habits and preservation. Here the attention is called to the fact that, notwithstandin... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU GIVEN THE HORSE STRENGTH? - The incidental allusion to the horse in comparison with the ostrich in the previous verse, seems to have suggested this magnificent description of this noble animal - a description which has never been surpassed or equalled. The horse is an animal so well known,... [ Continue Reading ]
CANST THOU MAKE HIM AFRAID AS A GRASSHOPPER? - Or, rather, “as a locust” - כארבה _kā'arbeh_. This is the word which is commonly applied to the locust considered as gregarious, or as appearing in great numbers (from רבה _râbâh_, “to be multiplied”). On the variety of the species of locusts, see Bo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PAWETH IN THE VALLEY - Margin, “or, His feet dig.” The marginal reading is more in accordance with the Hebrew. The reference is to the well known fact of the “pawing” of the horse with his feet, as if he would dig up the ground. The same idea occurs in Virgil, as quoted above: _caavatque_ _Tell... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MOCKETH AT FEAR - He laughs at that which is fitted to intimidate; that is, he is not afraid. NEITHER TURNETH HE BACK FROM THE SWORD - He rushes on it without fear. Of the fact here stated, and the accuracy of the description, there can be no doubt.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUIVER RATTLETH AGAINST HIM - The quiver was a case made for containing arrows. It was usually slung over the shoulder, so that it could be easily reached to draw out an arrow. Warriors on horseback, as well as on foot, fought with bows and arrows, as well as with swords and spears; and the idea... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SWALLOWETH THE GROUND - He seems as if he would absorb the earth. That is, he strikes his feet into it with such fierceness, and raises up the dust in his prancing, as if he would devour it. This figure is unusual with us, but it is common in the Arabic. See Schultens, “_in loc_.,” and Bochart, “... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAITH AMONG THE TRUMPETS, HA, HA - That is,” When the trumpet sounds, his voice is heard “as if” he said, Aha - or said that he heard the sound calling him to the battle.” The reference is to the impatient neighing of the war horse about to rush into the conflict. AND HE SMELLETH THE BATTLE AFAR... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH THE HAWK FLY BY THY WISDOM - The appeal here is to the hawk, because it is among the most rapid of the birds in its flight. The particuIar thing specified is its flying, and it is supposed that there was something special in that which distinguished it from other birds. Whether it was in regard... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH THE EAGLE MOUNT UP AT THY COMMAND? - Margin, as in Hebrew, “by thy mouth.” The meaning is, that Job had not power to direct or order the eagle in his lofty flight. The eagle has always been celebrated for the height to which it ascends. When Ramond had reached the summit of Mount Perdu, the hig... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE DWELLETH AND ABIDETH ON THE ROCK - “He rarely quits the mountains to descend into the plains. Each pair live in an insulated state, establishing their quarters on some high and precipitous cliff, at a respectful distance from others of the same species.” “Edin. Ency.” They seem to occupy the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM, THENCE SHE SEEKETH THE PREY, AND HER EYES BEHOLD AFAR OFF - “When far aloft, and no longer discernible by the human eye, such is the wonderful acuteness of its sight, that from the same elevation it will mark a hare, or even a smaller animal, and dart down on it with unerring aim.” “Edin. Ency... [ Continue Reading ]
HER YOUNG ONES ALSO SUCK UP BLOOD - The word used here (יעלעוּ _y__e__‛âl‛û_) occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. It is supposed to mean, to sup up greedily; referring to the fact that the young ones of the eagle devour blood voraciously. They are too feeble to devour the flesh, and hence, they... [ Continue Reading ]