God proceedeth to shew his own power, and man's weakness and ignorance, by instances from the animal creation: 1of the wild goats and hinds; &c.
1KNOWEST1 thou the time when the 2wild goats of the rock bring forth? or cansta thou mark when the hinds do 3calve?
1 Understand hereby the entire work and disposition of the propagation, breeding and raising of the wild beasts in general, which must solely be ascribed to God’s Providence, and not to any care of man.
2 See 1 Sam. 24 on verse 3.
a Psalm 29:9.
3 That is, the time when they are in distress to labor, to afford them help when they are in danger and pain.
24Canst thou number the months that they 5fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
4 That is, art thou able to calculate the minute of time wherein they conceive? All these questions strongly deny the possibility.
5 That is, thereby know how long they are to go ere they bring forth their young ones.
3They 6bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their 7sorrows.
6 Namely, to ease their travail in bringing forth their young.
7 Understand the pains of birth pangs, which are very great in these beasts, and in which they are only helped and assisted by God’s Providence. See Psalm 29:9.
4Their 8young ones are in 9good liking,b they grow up 10with corn; they go forth, and return not unto 11them.
8 Hebr. sons. See Lev. 1 on verse 14.
9 That is, recover strength and vigor, though by reason of their difficult coming forth, they were at first very weak and tender.
b good liking: good condition
10 The word bar in the Hebrew tongue signifies corn or wheat, upon which these animals feed; but in the Syriac it signifies ground or field, as also does the Chaldean word bara, Dan. 2:38; 4:12, which makes some to translate it likewise in this place.
11 Namely, to their dams, that had cast, or brought them forth.
512Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
12 The meaning is, that the untamable and unbridled nature of the wild ass proceeds only from God’s government and Providence. Whereas man cannot comprehend the reason thereof, how much less can he search out other more deep and incomprehensible works of God.
6Whosec house I have made 13the wilderness, and the 14barren land his dwellings.
c Job 24:5; Jer. 2:24.
13 Other, the plain field. Yet understand such plain field that is indeed wild and waste, but yields some fodder here and there growing out of the ground, though wild and rank, which relishes well unto those savage creatures.
14 That is, the dry, barren and uncultivated land. See Judges 9 on verse 45; Psalm 107:34.
715He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the 16crying of the driver.
15 That is, he does not care for multitudes of people and the affairs and business of men, loving rather to live in the desert; or also that he does not fear or is frightened by the force which many men might be ready to distress and curb him withal. This is spoken of the animals according to the manner of men, as verses 18, 22, 25; Job 41:3, 4; 41:27, 29.
16 That is, all those calls, cries and noises, which are used by them that do urge and instigate, either men or beasts, to their labor or service.
817The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every 18green thing.
17 Hebr. the spying out or the spied out of the mountains, that is, that which he is continually seeking for upon the hills, as grass and other green things, is its feed.
18 That is, green herbs, which grows in wild places.
919Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
19 Understand, no, not at all, and that by reason of his undaunted and untamable strength and vigor. See Num. 23 on verse 22.
10Canst thou bind the unicornd with his 20band in the 21furrow? or will he harrowe22the valleys after thee?
d wild bull*
20 Namely, wherewith he might be tied fast to the plow to draw the same.
21 That is, unto the raised ground or ridges, which is upon the plowed land between two furrows. See Job 31 on verse 38. Yet here is to be understood the plow-work and drawing of it whereby the furrows are made, in which regard the translation may run thus: bind with his rope to plowing; that is, to plow.
e (verb) break up and level the ground
22 Or depths, valleys, grounds. Some do here understand again the furrows.
11Wilt thou trust 23him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave 24thy labour 25to him?
23 That is, be sure that he shall do thy work in the field, as those other tame beasts do, which are employed by men in their field service.
24 That is, the fruits which thou hast gotten by thy labor. Compare Job 20 on verse 18.
25 Namely, to carry or draw them home to thy barns? See the following verse.
12Wilt thou believe him, that he will 26bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
26 That is, that he shall make thee to enjoy thy desired fruits? Which must be brought to pass by plowing and harrowing, or with carrying the fruits into the barn.
13Gavest thou 27the goodly wings unto the peacocks? 28or wings and feathers unto the 29ostrich?
27 Namely, wherewith the peacocks delight and lift up themselves, or in which men also take pleasure and delight.
28 Other, or the wing and the feather of the stork. Other, of the wing of the ostrich and his feathers or plumes.
29 The Hebrew word notsah signifies indeed a plume, but the translators gathered out of the next verses of this chapter that here is meant by this word the ostrich, that is, a fowl well-furnished singularly with many plumes. The following cannot be applied to the peacock.
1430Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and 31warmeth them in 32dust,
30 Namely, the ostrich.
31 Namely, by letting the sun shine upon them, that by the warmth thereof the eggs may be hatched. For, they write that this fowl is very unkind, without any natural affection to her eggs, abandoning the same, and leaving the care to the warmth of the sun, without sitting over them.
32 That is, in the sand.
15And forgetteth that the foot may crush 33them, or that the wild beast may break them.
33 Hebr. that; that is, each of them, namely, the eggs, and so in the next phrase of this verse.
16She is hardened against her 34young ones, as though they were not hers: 35her labour is in vain 36without fear;
34 Or, her eggs, out of which her young ones are hatched. She deals very hard with them, against the nature of other birds, for the reason mentioned in the two previous verses.
35 Namely, which she has with laying her eggs, if God did not take care of them.
36 Namely, of losing her eggs, and of not getting young ones by them.
17Because God 37hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
37 Hebr. hath made her forget the wisdom; that is, given her no wisdom, or deprived her of it. Understand by the same the natural inclination and instinct, which God has infused into the rest of the animals, whereby they are given and know how to preserve, provide for and recover their young ones out of danger.
1838What time she 39lifteth up herself on high, 40she scorneth the horse and his rider.
38 Namely, when she is pursued by the hunters.
39 Namely, somewhat above the ground, better to speed her running, and so to escape the arrows and shootings; for by reason of the great bulk and weight of her body, she is not able to lift up herself very high above the ground.
40 That is, she despises them since she is able by the readiness and nimbleness of running to get out of their reach. This is said of the animals according to the manner of men. See on verse 10.
19Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with 41thunder?
41 Understand hereby the neighing of the horse, together with his stirs and boisterousness. Compare Jer. 8:6.
20Canst thou make him afraid 42as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is 43terrible.
42 That is, as men are wont to fright and chase away the grasshoppers.
43 That is, a cause to make one afraid.
21He paweth in the 44valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the 45armed men.
44 The Hebrew word does indeed commonly signify a valley, but it is also taken for all manner of depths and bottoms, as verse 10 for the lowness of ground or the furrows; Prov. 9:18 for the depths of hell; and here for the hole which is made into the ground by the stamping of a stout horse.
45 Or, armored. Hebr. arms or weapon.
22He mocketh at 46fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back 47from the sword.
46 That is, the things which use to make men afraid, as all manner of arms, weapons and other furniture of war. Fear, for what is to be feared; also Prov. 1:26; 10:24; Isa. 66:4.
47 Hebr. from the face of the sword.
23The 48quiver rattleth against him, 49the glittering spear and the shield.
48 Namely, of the armed rider who sits upon it.
49 Hebr. flame; but this word is likewise taken by way of comparison for the shining and glittering iron of a spear, lance or sword. See Gen. 3:24; 1 Sam. 17:7; Nah. 3:3.
24He 50swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither 51believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
50 That is, runs over it with such swiftness and nimbleness that it seems to swallow up, making him, who sits upon it, to lose the ground before him out of his sight, as if it were swallowed and ingested by the horse. Other, gulpeth down, namely, the dust, which it raises with its feet, or holloweth out.
51 The meaning is, that the stout horses do so run up and down in the battle with such swiftness, courage and with fiery eagerness come to the battle or fight and bustle, that they heed nothing, no not the shrill sound of the trumpet. Or, they are so frolic when they hear the sound of the trumpet that in a manner they can hardly believe it. Other, doth not hold itself firm, when the sound of the trumpet goeth. Hebr. the voice of the trumpet.
25He saith 52among the trumpets, 53Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the 54thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
52 Hebr. in the sufficiency of the trumpet, that is, when the trumpet sounds most shrill, clear and full. Or, under the trumpet.
53 This is a word, signifying the sound of joyfulness, and also sometimes of great courage, wherewith one defies his enemy. Compare Psalm 35:21, 25; 40:15; Ezek. 36:2.
54 Understand the clamor noise and stir of the commanders, wherewith they seek each other to daunt and attack their enemy in the battle.
2655Doth the hawk fly by thy 56wisdom, and stretch her wings 57toward the south?
55 Other, Plumeth the hawk? That is, does she change her feathers? Other, Doth the hawk use feathers? That is, does she fly?
56 That is, providence, care and government.
57 To escape the cold of winter, and by means of the warm sun (as some perceive) to change her feathers.
27Doth the eagle mount up at 58thy command, andf make her nest on high?
58 Hebr. thy mouth; that is, command, charge. See Gen. 41 on verse 40.
f Jer. 49:16; Obadiah verse 4.
28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the 59crag of the rock, and the strong place.
59 Hebr. upon the tooth. As such the Hebrews call the most eminent heights of the rocks, being unapproachable. See 1 Sam. 14:4.
29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes 60behold 61afar off.
60 The naturalists ascribe to the eagle a most sharp, strong and quick sight among the animals, whereby he is able to spy his prey at a great distance and far and wide.
61 The Hebrew word does not only imply afar off, but also unto far distant places.
30Her young ones also suck up 62blood: andg63where the slain are, there is she.
62 Namely, out of the dead bodies of men and of animals, which the old ones prey for them and bring into the nest, either piecemeal or entire, as they are able to carry it along.
g Mat. 24:28; Luke 17:37.
63 The Lord Christ reflects upon this place, Mat. 24:18; Luke 17:37, to show that the children of God, through the enlightening and moving of His Spirit, are gathering unto Him from all parts and places, Who, by His death, is become the true and only Food for their soul, as the eagles, by the directive help of their clear sight and exquisite scent, do fly unto and gather about the dead carcasses for their food and nourishment.