Job 41
TSK
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Canst (The Leviathan, described here, has been solidly proved by Bochart to denote the crocodile; and the description suits no other species of amphibious animals. It is a species of lizard, with a two-edged tail, large oblong head, small but vivacious eyes, short legs, and triangular feet, the fore ones having four, and the hinder ones five toes, armed with strong, sharp claws. Its length is usually about twenty feet, and its circumference about five feet; it has, in proportion to its size, the largest mouth of all monsters; moves both its jaws equally, the upper of which is armed with not less than forty, and the under with thirty-eight sharp, strong, and massy teeth; its voice is a loud, hollow growling, of the most terrific description; and is furnished with a coat of mail, so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket-ball in every part, except under the belly. It is a natural inhabitant of the Nile, and other African and Asiatic rivers; is of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals with the most daring impetuosity; and when taken by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it. Nothing that it once seizes can escape; and, shaking its prey to pieces, it is swallowed without mastication.)

fish

Job 41:26-29 The sword of him that lays at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, …

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

Sharp stones. Heb. Sharp pieces of potsherd. he (So hard and impenetrable are his scales, that splinters of flint are the same to him as the softest reeds.)

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

(When a large crocodile dives to the bottom, the violent agitation of the water may justly be compared to liquor boiling in a caldron; and his body being strongly impregnated with the scent of musk, the water is affected by it to a considerable distance. In the oriental style, great rivers and lakes are called seas.)

Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

(By his rapid passage through the water he makes it white with foam; and by his tail he causes the waves behind him to sparkle like a trail of light.)

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

Upon (There is no creature among terrestrial animals so thoroughly dangerous, so exceedingly strong, and so difficult to be wounded or slain; and perhaps there is no creature so totally destitute of fear as the crocodile.)

Job 40:19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his …

is made. Heb. behave themselves

Job 41:24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yes, as hard as a piece of the nether …

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission

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