Job 39 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 39:1. The wild goat, on the Arabian rocks, leaps with incredible celerity from rock to rock, and leaves the dogs and wolves behind. She hides her young in those retreats. They follow the laws of their own nature, which mark the care of providence over all creatures.

Job 39:9. Will the unicorn serve thee? Hebrews Reem. The LXX, Rhinoceros or river horse, which is followed in Latin bibles, for they had no knowledge of the real unicorn. See Campbell's account of this almost extinct animal in the note on Numbers 23. His strength and temper render it impossible to subjugate him to the yoke. Therefore Balaam and the Psalmist, as well as Job, had knowledge of this most noble creature. His horn rises not as in bulls, but in the middle of the head, with a slight curve to tear and toss his antagonist. Therefore David, in Psalms 92:10, is quite correct in saying, “My horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn.”

Job 39:26. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, from the cold to the warmer regions in the season? Here the various species of hawks are included in the genera. The emigration and the return of birds of passage designate the wisdom and goodness of God. See on Jeremiah 8:7.

Job 39:27. Doth the eagle. Better thus,

Is it at thy voice that the eagle soars,

And makes his nest on high?

The rock is the place of his habitation:

He dwells on the craig, the place of strength,

Thence he pounces on his prey,

And his eyes discern afar off;

His young ones drink down blood;

And where the slain in battle, there is he.