Behemoth... In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant.
40:11. His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his belly.
40:12. He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es are wrapped together.
40:13. His bones are like pipes of bra.s.s, his gristle like plates of iron.
40:14. He is the beginning of the ways of G.o.d, who made him, he will apply his sword.
He will apply his sword... This text is variously explained: some explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that G.o.d hath given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that G.o.d hath given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.
40:15. To him the mountains bring forth gra.s.s: there all the beasts of the field shall play.
40:16. He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.
40:17. The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compa.s.s him about.
40:18. Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth.
40:19. In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes.
40:20. Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a hook, or canst thou tie his tongue with a cord?
Leviathan... The whale or some sea monster.
40:21. Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle?
40:22. Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee?
40:23. Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be a servant for ever,
40:24. Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy handmaids?
40:25. Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him?
40:26. Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with his head?
40:27. Lay thy hand upon him: remember the battle, and speak no more.
40:28. Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down.
Job Chapter 41
A further description of the leviathan.
41:1. I will not stir him up, like one that is cruel, for who can resist my countenance?
41:2. Who hath given me before that I should repay him? All things that are under heaven are mine.
41:3. I will not spare him, nor his mighty words, and framed to make supplication.
41:4. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can go into the midst of his mouth?
41:5. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
41:6. His body is like molten shields, shut close up with scales pressing upon one another.
41:7. One is joined to another, and not so much as any air can come between them:
41:8. They stick one to another and they hold one another fast, and shall not be separated.
41:9. His sneezing is like the shining of fire, and his eyes like the eyelids of the morning.
41:10. Out of his mouth go forth lamps, like torches of lighted fire.
41:11. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, like that of a pot heated and boiling.
41:12. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh forth out of his mouth.
41:13. In his neck strength shall dwell, and want goeth before his face.
41:14. The members of his flesh cleave one to another: he shall send lightnings against him, and they shall not be carried to another place.
41:15. His heart shall be as hard as a stone, and as firm as a smith"s anvil,
41:16. When he shall raise him up, the angels shall fear, and being affrighted shall purify themselves.
Angels... Elim, Hebrew: which signifies here, the mighty, the most valiant, shall fear this monstrous fish, and in their fear shall seek to be purified.
41:17. When a sword shall lay at him, it shall not be able to hold, nor a spear, nor a breastplate.
41:18. For he shall esteem iron as straw, and bra.s.s as rotten wood.
41:19. The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling are to him like stubble.
41:20. As stubble will he esteem the hammer, and he will laugh him to scorn who shaketh the spear.
41:21. The beams of the sun shall be under him, and he shall strew gold under him like mire.
Under him... He shall not value the beams of the sun; and gold to him shall be like mire.
41:22. He shall make the deep sea to boil like a pot, and shall make it as when ointments boil.
41:23. A path shall shine after him, he shall esteem the deep as growing old.
The deep as growing old... Growing h.o.a.ry, as it were with the froth which he leaves behind him.
41:24. There is no power upon earth that can be compared with him who was made to fear no one,