10. fierce—courageous. If a man dare attack one of My creatures (Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9), who will dare (as Job has wished) oppose himself (Psalms 2:2) to Me, the Creator? This is the main drift of the description of leviathan. read more
The Second Speech of the Almighty (concluded)The second great creature, the Crocodile (with which the ’leviathan’ is generally identified) is now described. If Job cannot control the crocodile, dare he contend with Him who made it? The crocodile is found in the Crocodile River under Carmel as well as in Egypt.Hook] RV ’fishhook.’ 1b. RV ’Or press down his tongue with a cord.’ This may be an allusion to the method of treating a refractory camel or mule by tying down its tongue with the... read more
The Second Speech of the AlmightyJob, we know, in his anxiety to prove his integrity had been led into casting doubts on the justice of God’s government of the world. He is here ironically invited to take God’s place as ruler of the universe, and to display a wisdom as great as that of God. If he proved himself competent to do this, then, and not till then, he may consider himself independent of God and criticise His actions.8. Disannul my judgment] deny my righteousness. 13. In secret] RV ’in... read more
(10) 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 cruel (the common meaning of the word rendered fierce)—i.e., to himself—that he should venture to rouse him up.” read more
Job 41:1 For the sake of its literary interest, Charles Lamb's famous application of this verse in his essay on 'Shakespeare's Tragedies' may be cited: 'The play (i.e. King Lear') is beyond all art, as the tamperings with it show: it is too hard and stony; it must have love scenes and a happy ending. It is not enough that Cordelia is a daughter, she must shine as a lover too. Fate has put his hook in the nostrils of this leviathan, for Garrick and his followers, the showmen of the scene, to... read more
XXVIII.THE RECONCILIATIONJob 38:1 - Job 42:6THE main argument of the address ascribed to the Almighty is contained in chapters 38 and 39 and in the opening verses of chapter 42. Job makes submission and owns his fault in doubting the faithfulness of Divine providence. The intervening passage containing descriptions of the great animals of the Nile is scarcely in the same high strain of poetic art or on the same high level of cogent reasoning. It seems rather of a hyperbolical kind, suggesting... read more
CHAPTER 41 1. Leviathan, the untamable beast of power (Job 41:1-11 ) 2. Its description (Job 41:12-24 ) 3. His remarkable strength (Job 41:25-34 ) Job 41:1-11 . The leviathan has generally been identified with the crocodile. Like the behemoth, the leviathan is a strong and untamable beast. Jehovah asks, Canst thou draw up leviathan with a hook? Canst thou pierce his jaw with a reed? Will he make a covenant with thee? Wilt thou take him for a servant forever? Then He declares that he is... read more
41:10 None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to {a} stand before me?(a) If no one dare stand against a whale, which is but a creature, who is able to compare with God the creator? read more
LEVIATHAN (vv.1-34) Leviathan was a water creature, and appears to be the crocodile, the most fearsome of all aquatic beasts, unless it was another similar animal, now extinct. Job could use a hook to catch fish, but how futile the thought of a hook for a crocodile! (v.1). His jaws and his nose are impervious to any kind of attack (v.2). Could Job persuade him to respond softly to him in order to bring about his submission? (v.4). The very appearance of the crocodile is hostile and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 41:1-34
Two beasts (40:15-41:34)Before Job accepts the challenge to govern the moral order, God warns him that it is far more difficult than governing the natural and physical order. Therefore, Job must first consider what power he has over, for instance, the beasts. Two examples are sufficient to impress upon Job that he faces an impossibility. The first of these is the monster Behemoth, generally thought to be the hippopotamus. It is among the strongest creatures of God’s creation (15-18),... read more