Bible Commentaries

Canst thou number the months [that] they ^d fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

(d) That is, how long they go with young?

They bow themselves, they ^e bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

(e) They bring forth with great difficulty.

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the ^f barren land his dwellings.

(f) That is, the barren ground where no good fruit grows.

Will the unicorn be willing to ^g serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

(g) Is it possible to make the unicorn tame? signifying that if man cannot rule a creature, that it is much more impossible that he should appoint the wisdom of God, by which he governs all the world.

Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and ^h warmeth them in dust,

(h) They write that the ostrich covers her eggs in the sand, and because the country is hot and the sun still keeps them warm, they are hatched.

She is hardened against her young ones, as though [they were] not hers: her labour is ⁱ in vain without fear;

(i) If he should take care of them.

Because God hath deprived her of ^k wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

(k) That is, to have a care and natural affection toward his young.

What ^l time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

(l) When the young ostrich is grown up, he outruns the horse.

Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with ^m thunder?

(m) That is, given him courage? which is meant by neighing and shaking his neck.

He ⁿ paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in [his] strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

(n) He beats with his hoof.

He ^o swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that [it is] the sound of the trumpet.

(o) He so rides the ground that it seems nothing under him.

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, [and] stretch her wings toward the ^p south?

(p) That is, when cold comes, to fly into the warm countries.