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 hinds calve?
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.