“Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?”
After he had declared God’s works in the heavens, he showeth his marvelous providence in earth, even toward the brute beasts.
“Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.”
He chiefly maketh mention of wild goats and hinds, because they bring forth their young with most difficulty.
“Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?”
That is, how long they go with young?
“Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. barren: Heb. salt places”
They bring forth with great difficulty.
“Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?”
That is, the barren ground where no good fruits grow.
“Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?”
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, whereby he governeth all the world.
“Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.”
They write that the ostrich covereth her eggs in the sand, and because the country is hot and the sun still keepeth them warm, they are hatched.
“Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?”
If he should take care of them.
“Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. terrible: Heb. terror”
That is, to have a care and natural affection toward his young.
“He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He paweth: or, His feet dig the armed: Heb. the armour”
When the young ostrich is grown up, he outrunneth the horse.
“He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.”
That is, given him courage? which is meant by neighing and shaking his mane: for with his breath he covereth his neck.
“Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? at: Heb. by thy mouth”
He so rideth the ground that it seemeth nothing under him.
“From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.”
That is, when cold cometh, to fly into the warm countries.
Is this the way for a man that will learn, to strive with God? which thing he reproveth in Job.
Whereby he showeth that he repented, and desired pardon for his faults.