XLI. (1) LEVIATHAN. — There can be little doubt that by this is meant the crocodile or alligator, whatever may be the true meaning of behemoth. OR HIS TONGUE... — Some render, “or press down his tongue with a cord”; but the Authorised Version seems preferable.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOOK. — Or, _cord of rush._ A THORN. — Or, _spike_ or _hook. _... [ Continue Reading ]
A SERVANT FOR EVER. — The crocodile being probably quite untameable.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THE COMPANIONS MAKE A BANQUET OF HIM? — Or, _Shall the bands of fishermen make traffic of him?_ or, _dig a pit for him?_ — the former suiting the parallelism better.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THE BATTLE. — “Bear in mind what thou dost attempt, and thou wilt not do it again.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE HOPE OF HIM IS IN VAIN — _i.e._, the hope of the rash man who would venture to attack him: at the sight of him, _i.e.,_ the infuriated crocodile.... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE IS SO FIERCE THAT DARE STIR HIM UP. — “If, therefore, the creatures of My hand strike so much terror, how far more terrible must I be? If thou canst not save thyself from them, how much less canst thou be saved without Me?” (See Job 40:14.) The first clause may be understood thus: “He is not so... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH PREVENTED ME? — It is manifest that this appeal would come more appropriately at the end of the following detailed description than, as it does here, just before it. “Who hath prevented me,” &c., of course means, _Who hath first given to me, that I should repay him? _... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN DISCOVER... ? — Rather, _Who can strip off his outer garment? i.e.,_ his scales, which are the covering of his skin. _Who shall come within his double bridle, i.e.,_ the doubling of his jaw? Who would venture a limb within his jaws? This seems to be the meaning, rather than “Who shall come t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN OPEN THE DOORS OF HIS FACE?_ — i.e.,_ his mouth. Round about his teeth is terror.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIS NEESINGS A LIGHT DOTH SHINE, AND HIS EYES ARE LIKE THE EYELIDS OF THE MORNING — _i.e.,_ fiery red and glowing.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF HIS NOSTRILS GOETH SMOKE, AS OUT OF A SEETHING POT OR CALDRON. — The last word is uncertain: it is the same as was rendered in the Authorised Version “hook” at Job 41:2; and taking the same sense here, we may render, _as of a seething pot and rushes: i.e.,_ a pot made hot with rushes.... [ Continue Reading ]
SORROW IS TURNED INTO JOY BEFORE HIM. — Literally, _and before him danceth fear,_ or _pining sorrow_ _exulteth before him._ A marvellous personification of the terror which goes with him wherever he goes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FLAKES OF HIS FLESH — _i.e.,_ the parts that in other animals hang down: _e.g.,_ dewlaps, &c., are not flabby, as with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEART — _i.e._, his nature, his disposition. This seems to be the meaning, rather than the physical organ of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY REASON OF BREAKINGS — _i.e.,_ the waves he makes in the water, or the breakings he makes among the plants and trees in the water. THEY PURIFY THEMSELVES — _i.e._, they are beside themselves; they are so overwhelmed with terror, that they take themselves off, as those who have to dwell apart for... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SWORD OF HIM THAT LAYETH AT HIM. — Literally, _As to one approaching him_ (to slay him), _his sword cannot stand; it will snap in his hand. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_29_)_ DARTS. — Rather, _clubs. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_30_)_ HE SPREADETH SHARP POINTED THINGS UPON THE MIRE. — Some render, “He spreadeth, as it were, a threshing-wain upon the mire.” The statement is, that he not only can lie without inconvenience upon sharp-pointed things, but his own body presents a sharp surface to the mud he lies on.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEA — _i.e._, not necessarily the salt water, for the Nile is still called the sea by the Arabs, and so with many other large rivers. Example, the “sea-wall” of the Thames below Gravesend.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON EARTH THERE IS NOT HIS LIKE. — Some have proposed to take away the last two verses of Job 41 from their connection with the crocodile, and to transpose them, referring them to man, so as to come before Job 41:8, understanding them thus: “There is one whose like is not upon earth, who is made wi... [ Continue Reading ]