The description here given of the leviathan, a
very large, strong, formidable fish, or water-animal, is designed
yet further to convince Job of his own impotency, and of God's
omnipotence, that he might be humbled for his folly in making so
bold with him as he had done. I. To convince Job of his own
weakness he is here challenged to subdue and tame this leviathan if
he can, and make himself master of him (
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2 Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Whether this leviathan be a whale or a
crocodile is a great dispute among the learned, which I will not
undertake to determine; some of the particulars agree more easily
to the one, others to the other; both are very strong and fierce,
and the power of the Creator appears in them. The ingenious Sir
Richard Blackmore, though he admits the more received opinion
concerning the behemoth, that it must be meant of the
elephant, yet agrees with the learned Bochart's notion of
the leviathan, that it is the crocodile, which was so
well known in the river of Egypt. I confess that that which
inclines me rather to understand it of the whale is not only
because it is much larger and a nobler animal, but because, in the
history of the Creation, there is such an express notice taken of
it as is not of any other species of animals whatsoever (
I. He shows how unable Job was to master
the leviathan. 1. That he could not catch him, as a little fish,
with angling,
II. Thence he infers how unable he was to
contend with the Almighty. None is so fierce, none so
fool-hardy, that he dares to stir up the leviathan
(
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
God, having in the
I. God's sovereign dominion and
independency laid down,
II. The proof and illustration of it, from
the wonderful structure of the leviathan,
1. The parts of his body, the power he
exerts, especially when he is set upon, and the comely proportion
of the whole of him, are what God will not conceal, and therefore
what we must observe and acknowledge the power of God in. Though he
is a creature of monstrous bulk, yet there is in him a comely
proportion. In our eye beauty lies in that which is small
(inest sua gratia parvis—little things have a
gracefulness all their own) because we ourselves are so; but in
God's eye even the leviathan is comely; and, if he pronounce even
the whale, even the crocodile, so, it is not for us to say of any
of the works of his hands that they are ugly or ill-favoured; it is
enough to say so, as we have cause, of our own works. God here goes
about to give us an anatomical view (as it were) of the leviathan;
for his works appear most beautiful and excellent, and his wisdom
and power appear most in them, when they are taken in pieces and
viewed in their several parts and proportions. (1.) The leviathan,
even prima facie—at first sight, appears formidable
and inaccessible,
2. Having given this particular account of
his parts, and his power, and his comely proportion, he
concludes with four things in general concerning this animal:—
(1.) That he is a non-such among the inferior creatures: Upon
earth there is not his like,