Jehovah to Job: the second answer: 2. Concerning behemoth.
I. THE RELATION OF BEHEMOTH TO OTHER ANIMALS. "He is the chief of the ways of God" (verse 19). This huge monster, this giant among beasts, as perhaps the above-cited phrase indicates, is commonly supposed to have been the hippopotamus, or Nile-horse. It is here described by a variety of particulars.
1. Its terrific strength. Concerning this are noted:
2. Its herbivorous appetite. "He eateth grass as an ox" (verse 15); "Surely the mountains bring him forth food" (verse 20). Though an animal of such gigantic proportions, the hippopotamus is not carnivorous as might have been anticipated. The quantity of food, however, which he does devour is enormous. "He makes sad havoc among the rice-fields and cultivated grounds, when be issues forth from the reedy fens" (Tristram).
3. Its peaceful disposition. Whereas one might naturally have expected to find him ferocious, "all the beasts of the field play around" (verse 20) while he grazes. If unmolested, he is harmless. How much of the ferocity of even wild animals is the natural response to the cruelty of man! The creatures would seldom rise against man if he did not first tyrannize over them.
4. Its amphibious nature. While capable of living on the land, its peculiar habitation is under the lotus-bushes, and among the reeds and fens of the river. "The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about" (verse 22).
5. Its absolute fearlessness. So much at home among the water is the brute that it matters nothing whether the river is in flood or not. "Behold, if the stream be strong, he doth not quake: he remaineth cheerful, though a Jordan burst upon his mouth" (verse 23).
II. THE RELATION OF BEHEMOTH TO MAN.
1. Created along with man. "Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee" (verse 15). The language might certainly mean that behemoth was one of those primeval animals which were called into existence with man on the sixth of the creative days (Carey), but probably it implies nothing more than that behemoth had been created to be with man (Bochart, Delitzsch), or as well as man (Umbreit). Though the firstling of the ways of God, a very masterpiece of the Divine Artificer's hand, he was still a creature like Job.
2. Subordinated at first to man. Though not stated in the passage, it is worthy of being here recalled, that man was by an original appointment of the Creator constituted lord of the creatures (Genesis 1:28). What is suggested by the passage is the loss of this divinely given supremacy over the animals.
3. Untamable by man. "He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares" (verse 24). This may signify that the animal when swimming receiveth the water up to his eyes, and is able to drive right through any snares or nets that may be spread to catch him (Carey); but the rendering of the margin is commonly preferred, "Will any take him in his sight?" i.e. can one catch him while he is watching? "or bore his nose with a gin?" "Neither the open face, nor the stratagem, which one employs with effect with other animals, is sufficient to overpower this monster" (Delitzsch).
III. THE RELATION OF BEHEMOTH TO GOD.
1. Behemoth was God's creature. Job at the best was nothing more. Jehovah had made Job; Jehovah had also made behemoth. This was fitted to remind Job
2. Behemoth was God's masterpiece. "The chief of the ways of God" (verse 19), as above hinted, points to superiority of nature rather than to priority of time. The behemoth was, in its sphere or world, one of the noblest productions of God. Was man also, in his sphere or world, a masterpiece of God? Here was food for reflection to the patriarch, for self-examination, and doubtless also for self-humiliation.
3. Behemoth was God's subject. "He that made him can make his sword approach unto him" (verse 19). Though this verse, when properly translated, points rather to the peculiar sword which God has bestowed on behemoth, viz." the gigantic incisors ranged opposite one another, with which it grazes upon the meadow as with a sickle" (Delitzsch), yet the sentiment, as it stands, is correct, and was probably one Jehovah intended to suggest, viz. that though Job could not master behemoth, yet he, Jehovah, could.
Learn:
1. That he who made the world of creatures is best able to describe them.
2. That God rejoices in the strength and beauty of the lower creatures.
3. That in every sphere of creation there are gradations of excellence among the works of God.
4. That from the study of zoology we may learn much concerning the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator.
5. That when man can put a saddle on behomoth he may begin to cherish the hope of being able to rule the world.
HOMILIES BY E. JOHNSON