Of the wild goats and hinds, 1-4. Of the wild donkey, 5-8. The wild ox, 9-12. The peacock and ostrich, 13-18. The horse, 19-25. The hawk, 26. The eagle, 27-30.
1 "Do you know the time/
when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?/
Or can you mark when the deer bring forth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill?/
Or do you know the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones,/
they cast out their sorrows.
4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up with grain,/
they go forth and do not return to them.
5 Who has sent out the wild donkey free?/
Or who has loosened the bonds of the wild donkey,
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness/
and the barren land his dwellings?
7 He scorns the multitude of the city,/
neither does he regard the crying of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,/
and he searches after every green thing.
9 Will the wild ox be willing to serve you,/
or abide by your crib?
10 Can you bind the wild ox with ropes in the furrow?/
Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great?/
Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you believe him that he will bring home your seed/
and gather it into your barn?
13 Did you give the beautiful wings to the peacocks,/
or wings and feathers to the ostrich,
14 Which leaves her eggs in the earth,/
warms them in the dust,
15 And forgets that the foot may crush them,/
or that the wild beast may break them?
16 She is hardened against her young ones/
as though they were not hers./
Her labor is in vain without fear,
17 Because God has withheld wisdom from her,/
neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high,/
she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Have you given the horse strength?/
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Can you make him afraid as a locust?/
The glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21 He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength./
He goes on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocks at fear and is not terrified,/
neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,/
the glittering spear and the shield.
24 He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage,/
neither does he believe that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He says among the trumpets, 'Ha, ha,'/
and he smells the battle afar off,/
the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Does the hawk fly by your wisdom/
and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Does the eagle mount up at your command/
and make her nest on high?
28 She dwells and abides on the rock,/
upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29 From there she seeks the prey,/
and her eyes behold afar off.
30 Her young ones also sip up blood./
And where the slain are, there she is."
Matthew Henry Commentary - Job, Chapter 39[➚]
John Gill's Chapter Summary:
This chapter treats of various creatures, beasts and birds, which Job had little knowledge of, had no concern in the making of them, and scarcely any power over them; as of the goats and hinds (verses 1-4); of the wild donkey (verses 5-8); of the wild ox (verses 9-12); of the peacock and ostrich (verses 13-18); of the horse (verses 19-25); and of the hawk and eagle (verses 26-30).
[v.13-17] - As the ostrich is careless with the care of her young, so the sinner without Christ and the wisdom of God neglects the care of his eternal soul.
[v.30] - "where the slain are, there she is" - Reference, Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37.