What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
Ver. 18. What time she lifteth up herself on high, &c.] That is, when she runneth away from the hunter (which she doth with singular swiftness), she lifteth up herself on high, not from the earth, as other birds (for that she cannot do), but on the earth, with wings stretched out like sails, and her whole body bolt upright, scarce touching the earth at all with her feet, but quickening her own pace with sharp spurs, which they say she hath in the pinion of each wing, so pricking herself on, that she may run the faster; to teach us what we should do in the race of religion, and when pursued by Satan, how to hasten to Christ.
She scorneth the horse and his rider] That is, she easily outrnns them, being as swift as a bird that flieth. They say the Arabians are wont to try their horses' swiftness by trying to overtake them.