Job 39:1-30 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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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.

Related Commentaries of Job 39:1

Job 39:1-30

1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barrena land his dwellings.

7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.b

8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.c

21 He pawethd in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.