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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:18

What time she lifted up herself on high ,.... It is sometimes eight foot high F12 Philosoph. Transact. abridged, vol. 2. p. 360. ; when alarmed with approaching danger she raises up herself, being sitting on the ground, and erects her wings for flight, or rather running; she scorneth the horse and his rider ; being then, as Pliny F13 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 1. says, higher than a man on horseback, and superior to a horse in swiftness; and though horsemen have been able to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:19

Hast thou given the horse strength ?.... Not only to bear burdens and draw carriages, but for war; for it is the war horse that is here spoken of, as what follows shows, and his strength denotes; not strength of body only, but fortitude and courage; for which, as well as the other, the horse is eminent, and both are the gift of God, and not of men; hast thou clothed his neck with thunder ? or with strength, as the Targum; the horse having particularly great strength in its neck, as well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper ?.... Which is frightened at every noise, and at any approach of men; but not so the horse; or canst thou move him, or cause him to skip and jump, or rather leap like a grasshopper? that is, hast thou given, or canst thou give him the faculty of leaping over hedges and ditches, for which the horse is famous? so Neptune's war horses are said F17 Homeri Iliad. 13. v. 31. to be ευσκαρθμοι , good leapers; the glory of his nostrils is ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:21

He paweth in the valley ,.... Where armies are usually pitched and set in battle army, and especially the cavalry, for which the valley is most convenient; and here the horse is impatient of engaging, cannot stand still, but rises up with his fore feet and paws and prances, and, as the word signifies, digs the earth and makes it hollow, by a continual striking upon it; so generally horses are commonly described in this manner F19 "Cavatque tellurem". Virgil. Georgic. l. 3. v. 87. ; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:22

He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted ,.... At those things which cause fear and fright to men; as arms, though ever so terrible, and armies, though never so numerous; neither turneth he back from the sword ; the naked sword, when it is drawn against him, and ready to be thrust into him; the horse being so bold and courageous was with the Egyptians a symbol of courage and boldness F22 Clement. Alex. Stromat. l. 5. p. 567. . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:23

The quiver rattleth against him ,.... The quiver is what arrows are put into and carried in, and seems here to be put for arrows, which being shot by the enemy come whizzing about him, but do not intimidate him; unless this is to be understood of arrows rattling in the quiver when carried by the rider "upon him", so some render the last word; and thus Homer F23 Iliad. 1. v. 4. and Virgil F24 "Pharetramqne sonantem". Aeneid. 9. v. 666. speak of the rattling quiver and sounding... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:24

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage ,.... Being so eager for the battle, and so full of fierceness and rage, he bounds the plain with such swiftness that he seems rather to swallow up the ground than to run upon it; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet ; for joy at hearing it; or he will not trust to his ears, but will see with his eyes whether the battle is ready, and therefore pushes forward. Mr. Broughton and others read it, "he will not stand still... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:25

He saith among the trumpets, ha, ha ,.... As pleased with the sound of them, rejoicing thereat, and which he signifies by neighing; and he smelleth the battle afar off ; which respects not so much the distance of place as of time; he perceives beforehand that it is near, by the preparations making for it, and particularly by what follows; so Pliny F2 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 42. says of horses, they presage a fight. The thunder of the captains, and the shouting; they understand an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 39:1

Knowest thou the time - To know time, etc., only, was easy, and has nothing extraordinary in it; but the meaning of these questions is, to know the circumstances, which have something peculiarly expressive of God's providence, and make the questions proper in this place. Pliny observes, that the hind with young is by instinct directed to a certain herb, named seselis, which facilitates the birth. Thunder, also, which looks like the more immediate hand of Providence, has the same effect. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 39:3

They bow themselves - In order to bring forth their young ones. They cast out their sorrows - חבליהם chebleyhem ; the placenta, afterbirth, or umbilical cord. So this word has been understood. read more

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