Job 39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39

God proceeds here to show Job what little reason he had to charge him with unkindness who was so compassionate to the inferior creatures and took such a tender care of them, or to boast of himself, and his own good deeds before God, which were nothing to the divine mercies. He shows him also what great reason he had to be humble who knew so little of the nature of the creatures about him and had so little influence upon them, and to submit to that God on whom they all depend. He discourses... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:1-12

God here shows Job what little acquaintance he had with the untamed creatures that run wild in the deserts and live at large, but are the care of the divine Providence. As, I. The wild goats and the hinds. That which is taken notice of concerning them is the bringing forth and bringing up of their young ones. For, as every individual is fed, so every species of animals is preserved, by the care of the divine Providence, and, for aught we know, none extinct to this day. Observe here, 1.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:13-18

The ostrich is a wonderful animal, a very large bird, but it never flies. Some have called it a winged camel. God here gives an account of it, and observes, I. Something that it has in common with the peacock, that is, beautiful feathers Job 39:13): Gavest thou proud wings unto the peacocks? so some read it. Fine feathers make proud birds. The peacock is an emblem of pride; when he struts, and shows his fine feathers, Solomon in all his glory is not arrayed like him. The ostrich too has goodly... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:19-25

God, having displayed his own power in those creatures that are strong and despise man, here shows it in one scarcely inferior to any of them in strength, and yet very tame and serviceable to man, and that is the horse, especially the horse that is prepared against the day of battle and is serviceable to man at a time when he has more than ordinary occasion for his service. It seems, there was, in Job's country, a noble generous breed of horses. Job, it is probable, kept many, though they are... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 39:26-30

The birds of the air are proofs of the wonderful power and providences of God, as well as the beasts of the earth; God here refers particularly to two stately ones:?1. The hawk, a noble bird of great strength and sagacity, and yet a bird of prey, Job 39:26. This bird is here taken notice of for her flight, which is swift and strong, and especially for the course she steers towards the south, whither she follows the sun in winter, out of the colder countries in the north, especially when she is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 39 This chapter treats of various creatures, beasts and birds, which Job had little knowledge of, had no concern in the making of them, and scarcely any power over them; as of the goats and hinds, Job 39:1 ; of the wild ass, Job 39:5 ; of the unicorn, Job 39:9 ; of the peacock and ostrich, Job 39:13 ; of the horse, Job 39:19 ; and of the hawk and eagle, Job 39:26 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:1

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth ?.... Which creatures are so called, because they dwell among the rocks F4 "----Amantis saxa capellae". Ovid. Epist. 15. v. 55. and run upon them; and though their heads are loaded with a vast burden of horns upon them, yet can so poise themselves, as with the greatest swiftness, to leap from mountain to mountain, as Pliny says F5 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 53. Aelian. de Animal. l. 14. c. 16. : and if they bring forth... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:2

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil ?.... Which some understand both of wild goats and hinds. Common goats fulfil five months, they conceive in November, and bring forth in March, as Pliny F6 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 50. observes; but how many the wild goats of the rock fulfil is not said by him or any other I know of: the same writer says F7 Ib. c. 32. of hinds, that they go eight months; or knowest thou the time when they bring forth ? naturalists F8 Ib. & l.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:3

They bow themselves ,.... That they may bring forth their young with greater ease and more safety: for it seems the hinds bring forth their young with great difficulty; and there are provisions in nature made to lessen it; as thunder, before observed, which causes them to bring forth the sooner; and there is an herb called "seselis", which it is said F9 Cicero de Natura Deoram, l. 2. Plin. Nat. Hist. c. 8. 32. Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 5. they feed upon before birth, to make it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 39:4

Their young ones are in good liking ,.... Plump, fat, and sleek, as fawns are: they grow up with corn ; by which they grow, or without in the field, as the word also signifies; and their growth and increase is very quick, as Aristotle observes F12 Ib. (Aristot. Hist. Animal.) l. 6. c. 29. ; they go forth, and return not unto them : they go forth into the fields, and shift and provide for themselves, and trouble their dams no more; and return not to them, nor are they known by... read more

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