Ver. 20. Canst thou make him afraid as a grass-hepper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.] Or put that vigour and mettle into him, which makes him leap and bound in the air like a grass-hopper: there is a majesty in his looks; and when he snores vehemently, it is terrible.

Ver. 21. He pareth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he geeth on to meet the armed men.] He stamps impatiently on the ground, and breaks it up with his feet: he glories in his strength, and goes out boldly to meet the arms that oppose him.

Ver. 22. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted : neither turneth be back from the sword.] He derides all the dreadful instruments of war, and cannot be dismayed by them: he runs upon naked swords;

Ver. 23. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.] And is not daunted at the noise of arrows which come whizzing by his ears, nor at the sharp points of spears and launces which are thrust at his breast.

Ver. 24. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.] He makes the earth quake and tremble, as he gallops over it, and rids abundance of ground in a moment neither can he stand still, when he hears the sound of the trumpet :

Ver. 25. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.] But the louder it is, the more he neighs and dances for joy. He perceiveth the battle before it begins, by the thundering voice of the captains, and the shouting of the soldiers.

the crag of the rock, and the strong place.] She dwells on the top of high rocks; in the steep and craggy rock, as in an inaccessible fortress, she settles her abode.

Ver. 29. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar ff.] There she leaves her young ones safely, while she goes to provide them food; from thence (so sharp is her sight) she spies her prey a vast way off.

Ver. 30. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.] Which when she hath seized and torn, she brings to her nest, that they may suck its blood: she looks down to the very earth; and where the carcasses lie, there may she be found.

CHAP. XL.

THE ARGUMENT.-Job modestly declining to say one word in his own defence, (though he was graciously invited by God to speak, if he had any plea remaining), is still more humbled by a plain declaration from the Divine Majesty, that Elihu had reason to reprove him for his immoderate complaints, (which some might look upon as an accusation of God's providence), and for maintaining his own righteousness so much, and God's righteousness so little, in the dispute he had had with his friends: Shewing him withal, that he was not sensible enough of the infinite distance and inequality between him and God; when he desired so vehemently to argue his case with him, that he forgot to make those submissions to the Divine Majesty, which had better become him. This disproportion is most lively represented and illustrated, by an admirable description of the strength of the BEHEMOTH, a word of Egyptian termination; signifying, not the elephant, (which seldom lies down, and never among reeds, as this doth, ver. 21.), but a creature in that country, called by the Greek writers Hippopotamus, i. e. river-horse. For it appears by the second book of Esdras, chap. vi. 49. that the Hebrews reckon Behemoth, not among the land-creatures, but among those belonging to the water, which were created on the fifth day. And there is none, that we know, of that sort, to whom the characters here mentioned belong, but the creature now named.

said,] After a short silence, to see what Job would reply to this long discourse, the Lord proceeded, and said,

Ver. 27. Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?] But what bird soars so high as the eagle? Is she beholden to thee for that strength which carries her unto the clouds? or was it by thy direction, that she builds her nest quite out of all men's reach ?

Ver. 28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon

Ver. 2. Shall be that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? be that reproveth GOD, let him answer it.] Why dost thou not speak? hath not the Almighty brought arguments enow to convince thee? Let him that will argue with God about his providence, first. make an answer to these questions.

Ver. 3. Then Feb answered the LORD and said,] Then Job, whose confusion had made him silent, answered with great humility, and said,

Ver. 4. Behold, I am vile, what shall I ansaver thee? I will lay mine kand upon my mouth.] Behold, I am a wretched creature, and not worthy to speak unto thy majesty nor do I know what to answer; and therefore I will hold my peace.

Ver. 5. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer : yea tavice, but I will proceed no farther.] I have said too much already, in speaking only these two words to thee but I have done; I will add no more.

Ver. 6. Then answered the LORD unto Jeb cut of the whirlwind, and said,] Then the Divine Majesty spake again, after the same manner as before, saying,

Ver. 7. Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.] What! hast thou (who desirest so much to plead with me) lost thy courage? Pluck up thy spirit, man, and prepare thyself (as I said at the first) to answer the questions I shall farther ask thee.

Ver. 8. Wilt thou also disannul my judgement? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous ?] Is there any reason to suspect my care of mankind, who have shewn it so much about other creatures? canst thou not defend thyself, but thou must also complain of me? must I be condemned, that thou mayest be justified?

Ver. 9: Hast thou an arm like GOD? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?] Who art thou, that talkest so much of thine own innocence, that thou for gettest to maintain thy righteousness? hast thou a power equal to mine; or canst thou speak with a voice like this; or imitate the thunder thou hearest in

the clouds?

Ver. 10. Deck now thyself with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.] Lift up thyself, then, and let me see thee appear in the highest majesty; put on thy robes, and shew thyself in such royal state, that all may honour and reverence thy excellent greatness.

Ver. 11. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath and bebold every one that is proud, and abase him.] Let all thine adversaries round about thee (as becomes a mighty prince) feel the fierceness of thy wrath; frown upon all the haughty, and make them hang

down their heads.

Ver. 12. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low and tread down the wicked in their place.] Look, I say, upon every proud oppressor, and make him cringe and throw himself at thy feet: tread down all the wicked, wheresoever thou shalt find them.

Ver. 13. Hide them in the dust together, and bind their faces in secret.] Cast them all into one grave, that the world may be no more troubled with them: cover those faces with perpetual shame and confusion which now bear themselves so high, and overlook all others.

Ver. 14. Then will I also confess unto thee, that thine own right hand can save thee.] When I see thee do such things as these, then will I myself also magnify thy power, and acknowledge that thou needest none of my help to deliver thee.

Ver. 15. Behold now Behemoth, which I made

with thee, he eateth grass as an ox.] But consider a while (if thou art not yet humble enough) a creature which I have made in a country not far from thee: He lives among the fishes in the great river of Egypt, but he feeds upon the earth, and eateth grass lik an ox.

Ver. 16. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.] Consider, I say, the greatness of his strength, and the firmness of his flesh, not only in his loins, but even in the navel of his belly, where other creatures are wont to be weak and

tender.

Ver. 17. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sineus of his stones are wrapt together.] He hath a tail as thick and as stiff as a cedar, but he bends and throws it back at his pleasure: The nerves of his thighs are so many, that they are intricate and perplexed one within another.

Ver. 18. His bones are as strong pieces of brass, his bones are like bars of iron.] His bones (for so they are rather than gristles) are as strong as bars of brass, and as hard and firm as rods of iron.

Ver. 19. He is the chief of the ways of GOD: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.] He is one of the principal works of God, a very singular instance of his power: he that made him hath fastened such crooked teeth in his jaws, exceeding sharp, that therewith he mows the grass and the corn as with a scythe.

Ver. 20. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.] For he goes in the night to graze upon the hills, in the company of the rest of the beasts of the field; who sport themselves in those rich pastures:

Ver. 21. He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reeds and fens.] But (in the day) he lies down in shady and close places, under the covert of the reeds, and in the fenny mud.

Ver. 22. The shady trees cover him with their shadow: the willows of the brook compass him about.] The bushy trees, which are there very numerous, afford him a shelter : he is encompassed with the willows, and the osiers, which grow in abundance on the

banks of Nile.

Ver. 23. Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.] Nay, behold he dives to the very bottom of the river, and there takes his repose without fear: he will be secure, though Jordan also should break out, and be poured upon his mouth.

Ver. 24. He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.] Who dare come in his sight, or attempt to take him by open force? Where is he that will undertake to fasten hooks in his nose?

CHAP. XLI.

THE ARGUMENT.-In this chapter another creature of vast bigness and strength is described, called in the Arabian language Leviathan. By which we are not, in this place, to understand the whale; be

smoke like the reek of a seething pot or a boiling

caldron.

Ver. 21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.] His breath is so hot, though he come out of the water, that it is sufficient to kindle coals; and may be called a flame, which issues out of Lis mouth.

Ver. 22. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.] His neck is exceeding strong, as if it were the very seat of strength: sadness and terror marches before him, and seizes on all those that meet him.

Ver. 23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves, they cannot be moved.] The muscles of his flesh are glewed together; every one of them is compact and solid; they are not easily moved.

Ver. 24. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether milstone.] He is as far from fear as he is from pity: for his heart is as firm as a stone; as hard as an anvil, or a piece of the nether milstone.

Ver. 25. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.] But the stoutest hearts tremble when he lifts himself up above the water: they are seized with such a fright, that they are at their wits end, and know not which way to turn themselves.

Ver. 26. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot bold; the spear, the dart, nor the babergeon.] Though they assault him with the sword, it will do them no service; for the hardness of his skin will break it in pieces; the spear, also the dart and the javeline, are altogether as feeble, and cannot enter into him.

Ver. 27. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.] All the other weapons of iron (which the wit of man can devise) he values no more than a straw; and those of brass no more than rotten wood.

Ver. 28. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.] The arrow shot out of the strongest bow, cannot make him flee: and those stones which are thrown out of a sling with so much force, move him no more than a little chaff. Ver. 29. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.] Lay at him with heavy clubs, and he regards them no more than if they were stubble; shake the launce at him, and he contemns its most violent thrusts.

Ver. 30. Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp-pointed things upon the mire.] For instead of him, it meets only with the rough shells wherewith he is armed; which are so hard, that he beats back the sharpest weapon, and throws it into the mire.

Ver. 31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.] When he tumbles about in the bottom of the river, he raises bubbles on the top; and the water of the lake is so troubled with the slimy mud which he stirreth up, that it looks like a pot of ointment.

Ver. 32. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.] When he swims, he makes furrows in the face of the deep; and leaves

a path behind him, so covered with a froth and foam, that it looks as if it were grown old, and were full of grey hairs.

Ver. 33. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.] His fellow is not to be found upon the earth; where he creeps indeed to the dust, but is so made that he cannot be trodden under foot and bruised.

Ver. 34. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.] No, though he lie so low, yet he despises the tallest beast; and reigns over the oxen and camels, and all those creatures whose long legs raise them to the loftiest height; whom he masters and rends in pieces at his pleasure.

CHAP. XLII.

THE ARGUMENT.-This chapter concludes the book, with an account how Job completed the submission which he had begun before to make to God; whose pardon he sorrowfully begs, confessing and repenting of his fault, resigning himself entirely to be instructed by him; but resolving never hereafter to complain, nor to move any questions about his providence. This repentance God accepts; and for his sake grants a pardon also to his friends, whom he condemns as more faulty than Job; who after this receives extraordinary marks of God's favour; and hath such an ample recompence made him for his losses, as may encourage all posterity to persevere in well-doing and patient suffering; believing stedfastly, that nothing can be done or permitted by God without much reason, (whose wisdom shines so gloriously in all his works), and humbly expecting a comfortable issue out of all our troubles.

Ver. 1.

THEN THEN Job answered the LORD, and said,} These words so livelily represented the power and wisdom of God in his works, that Job, seeing his error more clearly than ever, submitted himself unto the great Lord of all, and said,

Ver. 2. I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be with-holden from thee.] I am abundantly satisfied, that thy power is as large as thy will, and that nothing can hinder thee from effecting every thing which thou designest; but as thou hadst reason to cast me down, so thou canst restore me, and lift me up again.

Ver. 3. Who is he that bideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.] I am sensible also of the justice of the reproof which thou hast given me, (xxxviii. 2.), and do confess I very much forgot myself, when I adventured to talk so ignorantly of thy wise administrations. It was that which made me so rash as to discourse of things far above my reach, wonderful things, which I ought humbly to admire, not arrogantly censure.

Ver. 4. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.] Be not angry with me, I beseech thee, but graciously hear

me speaking in thy own words. I do not pretend to give an account of thy wonderful works, and of thy providence, and therefore ask me no more questions, (xxxviii. 3.), but let me learn of thee, and do thou instruct my ignorance.

Ver. 5. I have heard of thee by the bearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee.] Something I did know before of thy greatness, and mightiness, and wisdom, but nothing so clearly as I do now, by this revelation and visible appearance of thy dreadful majesty.

Ver. 6. Wherefore I abbor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.] Which touches me with a sensible displeasure against myself, for my indecent complaints, and vehement expostulations, and eager desires to die, or to be delivered: I condemn them all, (together with whatsoever I have spoken too boldly about thy government), and in the most sorrowful manner repent, that I have justified myself so much, and thee so little.

Ver. 7. ¶ And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job bath.] Which ingenuous confession pleased the Lord so much, that he did not chide Job any farther; but turning his voice to Eliphaz, (his principal accuser), he said, I am angry with thee, and with thy two friends; for you have made a perverse construction of the afflictions I sent upon Job; whom, notwithstanding all his errors, I acknowledge to be my servant, and to have spoken better of me than you have done.

Ver. 8. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept : lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.] And therefore take no less than seven bullocks, and as many rams, and carry them to my servant Job, whom I appoint to be your priest, to offer for you a burnt-offering, in token of my absolute dominion over all creatures. And that faithful servant of mine shall pray for you, and obtain your pardon; for I have a great love for him, and will be favourable to you for his sake. Do not fail to go about this, lest I inflict some grievous punishment upon you, because, as I said, you have made an ill representation of my providence, and repeated those things confidently, which my servant Job shewed you to be false.

Ver. 9. So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shubite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.] So Eliphaz and his two companions submitted themselves also unto God, and went, as he commanded them, and desired Job to intercede for them. And the Lord heard his prayer, and was reconciled to them.

Ver. 10. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.] And at that very

time when Job was performing this charitable office for his friends, the Lord was pleased to begin to re. store to him all those things which he had taken away from him; and never ceased till he had not only established him in his former splendour, but made him twice as rich as he was before.

Ver. 11. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house; and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him : every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an car-ring of gold.] All his kindred likewise, and his familiar acquaintance, (whom his unusual affliction had estranged from him, xix. 3), when they heard of the wonders the Lord had done for him, came to visit him, and to feast with him and after they had condoled his misery, and testified their sorrow for all that had befallen him, they congratulated his happy recovery; and, in token of their joy, every one of them presented him with a piece of money, and a pendant of gold.

Ver. 12. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; for he bad fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.] Thus the Lord impoverished this good man, only to make him richer. For instead of seven thousand sheep, which he had before his troubles, he found he had fourteen thousand, when they were ended; and for three thousand camels which were taken from him, the Lord gave him six thousand; and multiplied his yokes of oxen, which were but five hundred, into a thousand; and his she-asses in the same proportion.

Ver. 13. He had also seven sons, and three daughters.] His wife also became very fruitful, and brought him as many children as he had lost; seven sons and three daughters.

Ver. 14. And he called the name of the first Jemima, and the name of the second Kezia, and the name of the third Kerenhappuch.] And to preserve the memory of such a marvellous deliverance, (of which they were so many living monuments), he called the name of the first Jemima, that is, the day, because of the felicity wherein he now shone, after a sad night of affliction, wherein he had lain; and the second Kezia, (a spice of an excellent smell), because God had healed his filthy stinking ulcers, which made even his wife refuse to come near him, xix.-17.; and the last Kerenhappuch, i. e. plenty restored, or an horn of varnish, because God had wiped away the tears which fouled his face, (as he complains, xvi. 16.)

Ver. 15. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.] The beauty also of these women proved as bright as their names, for there were none so amiable in all that country; and their father did not (as the manner was) endow them with a small portion of his goods, but (having a large estate, and a great affection to them) he made them co-heirs with their brethren in the inheritance which he left them.