CHAPTER XLI _God's great power in the leviathan, of which creature he gives_ _a very circumstantial description_, 1-34. NOTES ON CHAP. XLI Verse Job 41:1. _CANST THOU DRAW OUT LEVIATHAN_] We come now to a subject not less perplexing than that over which we have passed, and a subject on which le... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:2. _CANST THOU PUT A HOOK ONTO HIS NOSE?_] Canst thou put a ring in his nose, and lead him about as thou dost thine ox? In the East they frequently lead thy oxen and buffaloes with a ring in their noses. So they do _bulls_ and _oxen_ in this country. _BORE HIS JAW THROUGH WITH A THORN?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:3. _WILL HE MAKE MANY SUPPLICATIONS_] There are several allusions in these verses to matters of which we know nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:4. _WILL HE MAKE A COVENANT_] Canst thou _hire_ him as thou wouldst a servant, who is to be so _attached_ to thy family as to have _his ear bored_, that he may abide in thy house for ever? Is not this an allusion to the law, Exodus 21:1?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:5. _WILT THOU PLAY WITH HIM_] Is he such a creature as thou canst tame; and of which thou canst make a _pet_, and give as a plaything to thy little girls? נערותיך _naarotheycha_; probably alluding to the custom of catching birds, tying a string to their legs, and giving them to children... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:6. _SHALL THY COMPANIONS MAKE A BANQUET_] Canst thou and thy friends feast on him as ye were wont to do on a camel sacrificed for this purpose? Or, canst thou dispose of his flesh to the _merchants _- to buyers, as thou wouldst do that of a camel or an ox? It is certain, according to _H... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:7. _CANST THOU FILL HIS SKIN WITH BARBED IRONS?_] This refers to some kind of harpoon work, similar to that employed in taking _whales_, and which they might use for some other kinds of animals; for the skin of the crocodile could not be pierced. _Herrera_ says that he saw a crocodile d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:8. _LAY THINE HAND UPON HIM?_] Mr. _Heath_ translates, "Be sure thou strike home. Mind thy blow: rely not upon a second stroke." Mr. _Good_ translates: - "Make ready thy hand against him. Dare the contest: be firm." He is a dangerous animal; when thou attackest him, be sure of thy ad... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:9. _BEHOLD, THE HOPE_] If thou miss thy first advantage, there is no hope afterwards: the very sight of this terrible monster would dissipate thy spirit, if thou hadst not a positive advantage against _his life_, or a place of sure retreat to save _thine own_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:10. _NONE_ IS SO _FIERCE THAT DARE STIR HIM UP_] The most courageous of men dare not provoke the crocodile to fight, or even attempt to rouse him, when, sated with fish, he takes his repose among the reeds. The strongest of men cannot match him. _WHO THEN IS ABLE_] If thou canst not st... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:11. _WHO HATH PREVENTED ME_] Who is it that hath laid me under obligation to him? Do I need my creatures? All under the heavens is my property.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:12. _I WILL NOT CONCEAL HIS PARTS_] This is most certainly no just translation of the original. The _Vulgate_ is to this effect: _I will not spare him_: nor yield to his _powerful words,_ _framed for the purpose of entreaty_. Mr. _Good_ applies it to leviathan: - "I cannot be confounde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:13. _WHO CAN DISCOVER THE FACE OF HIS GARMENT?_] Who can rip up the hide of this terrible monster? Who can take away his covering, in order to pierce his vitals?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:14. _THE DOORS OF HIS FACE?_] His jaws which are most tremendous.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:15. HIS _SCALES_ ARE HIS _PRIDE_] They are impenetrable, as we have already seen.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:16. _ONE IS SO NEAR TO ANOTHER_] It has already been stated, that a musket-ball fired at him in _any direction_ cannot make a passage through his scales.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:18. _BY HIS NEESINGS A LIGHT DOTH SHINE_] It is very likely that this may be taken _literally_. When he spurts up the water out of his nostrils, the drops form a sort of _iris_ or _rainbow_. We have seen this effect produced when, in certain situations and state of the atmosphere, water... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:19. _OUT OF HIS MOUTH GO BURNING LAMPS_] Dr. _Young_, in his paraphrase, has a sensible note on this passage: - "This is nearer the truth than at first view may be imagined. The crocodile, according to naturalists, lying long under water, and being there forced to hold its breath, when... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:22. _IN HIS NECK REMAINETH STRENGTH_] Literally, "strength has its dwelling in his neck." The _neck_ is the seat of strength of most animals; but the _head_ and _shoulders_ must be here meant, as the crocodile has _no neck_, being shaped nearly like a _lizard_. _AND SORROW IS TURNED IN... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:23. _THE FLAKES OF HIS FLESH_] His muscles are strongly and firmly compacted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:24. _HARD AS A PIECE OF THE NETHER_ MILLSTONE.] Which is required to be harder than that which runs above.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:25. _BY REASON OF BREAKINGS THEY PURIFY THEMSELVES._] No version, either ancient or modern, appears to have understood this verse; nor is its true sense known. The _Septuagint_ have, "When he turns himself, he terrifies all the quadrupeds on the earth." The original is short and obscure... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:26. _HABERGEON._] The hauberk, the Norman armour for the head, neck, and breast, formed of rings. See on Nehemiah 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:29. _DARTS ARE COUNTED AS STUBBLE_] All these verses state that he cannot be _wounded_ by any kind of _weapon_, and that he cannot be _resisted_ by any human _strength_. A young crocodile, seen by M. _Maillet, twelve_ feet long, and which had not eaten a morsel for _thirty-five_ days,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:30. _SHARP STONES_ ARE _UNDER HIM_] So hard and impenetrable are his scales, that splinters of flint are the same to him as the softest reeds.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:31. _HE MAKETH THE DEEP TO BOIL LIKE A POT_] This is occasioned by strongly agitating the waters at or near the bottom; and the froth which arises to the top from this agitation may have the appearance of _ointment_. But several travellers say that the crocodile has a very strong scent... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:32. _HE MAKETH A PATH TO SHINE AFTER HIM_] In certain states of the weather a rapid motion through the water disengages many sparks of phosphoric fire. I have seen this at sea; once particularly, on a fine clear night, with a good breeze, in a fast-sailing vessel, I leaned over the ster... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:33. _UPON EARTH THERE IS NOT HIS LIKE_] There is no creature among terrestrial animals so thoroughly dangerous, so exceedingly strong, and so difficult to be wounded or slain. _WHO IS MADE WITHOUT FEAR._] Perhaps there is no creature who is at all acquainted with _man_, so totally dest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 41:34. _HE_ IS _A KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF PRIDE._] There is no animal in the waters that does not fear and fly from him. Hence the _Chaldee_ renders it, _all the offspring of FISHES_. _Calmet_ says, that by _the children of pride_ the Egyptians are meant; that the crocodile is call... [ Continue Reading ]