V. 6.my Heart shall not reproach me] MY HEART SHALL NOT BE REPROACHED. An Imperfonal, which makes the Senfe clear. V. 18. and as a Booth that the Keeper maketh.] AND AS THE TENT which THE SPIDER MAKETH. 1, the Watcher: the LXX tranflates it, Spider: It is certainly fome Infect. V. 19. but he shall not be gathered.] DN, non illi additur, imperfonally: HE SHALL HAVE NO MORE. V. 21. The East Wind carrieth him away] Thevenot describes an Eaft Wind which had terrible Effects in those Parts. It is fcorching, and stifles Men; and in an Inftant makes their Flesh flack. He fays that 4000 Men died by it at Baffora in one Month. Ch. XXVIII. 7. There is a Path which no Fowl knoweth, and which the Vulture's Eye hath not feen, &c.] Man in hunting after his Prey is more rapacious than the Eagle, more quickfighted than the Hawk, (8, the Merlin Hawk, Bochart) more ravenous than the Lion. V.9. He putteth forth his Hand upon the Rock;] So Pliny, Cuniculis per magna fpatia actis, cavantur montes, ad lucernarum lumina. Occurfant filices; hos igni et aceto rumpunt. Nihil durius putant. Auri fames duriffima eft. Mons fractus cadit ab fefe longe, fragore qui concipi humana mente non poffit: Spectant victores ruinam naturæ. V. 10. He cutteth out Rivers among the Rocks ;] Either to drain off the Water, or to wash away the Dirt from the Oar. These Things have not the Appearance of that Antiquity, which Some ascribe to this Book. V. 11. He bindeth the Floods from overflowing;] HE BINDETH UP STREAMS FROM WEEPING. In faxis ac fpeluncis permanat aquarum Liquidus humor, et uberibus flent omnia guttis. [Lucret. Lib. I. 349.] V. 16. It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir,] There are here four different Words to fignify different Sorts of Gold: which does not agree with the Simplicity of the firft Ages of the World. Ch. XXIX. 2. O that I were as in the Months paft, &c.] Thus Catullus, Ego gymnafii fui flos, ego eram decus olei, V. 8. The young Men faw me, and hid themselves;] Odwy Uπox@grτas, υποχωρώντας, xay xad' edgas vπežıçameves. Plutarch, de moribus Lacedemoniorum. and the aged arofe, and stood up.] Si Emir ingrediatur, omnes confurgunt, nec unquam fedent, donec qui poftremus venit, adfederit prior. Laurent. D'Arvieux de moribus Arabum. Ch. XXX. 4. Who cut up Mallows by the Bushes, and Juniper Roots for their Meat.], a Kind of Bramble, without Thorns. Diofcorides writes thus; Halimum, quod populus Syriæ MALUCH vocant, eft arbuftum, ex quo fiunt fepes, Rhamno fimile, nifi quod caret fpinis. Folium ejus coquitur et comeditur. Εν τη χαραδρα τρώγοντες αλίμα, και κακα TOLAUTA σUMEYOUTES, fays Antiphanes fpeaking of the Pythagoreans. Galen fays that the Tops, when young, are eaten : Serapio writes that they are cried about the Streets of Bagdad. V. 10. and fpare not to fpit in my Face.] Πτυειν αντιον αισχρον επιο Herodotus of the Medes. Agov es Пepσaus to aжоlue, fays Xenophon. Obferve that the Author is a Chaldean. The Arabians never spit before a Person, whom they reverence. See Raphelius. V. 12. and they raise up against me the Ways of Destruction.] The Metaphor is taken from a Siege, "They raise up their Bulwarks." V. 13. They mar my Path] MY WAY, viz. from receiving Succour. they have no helper.] I have No HELPER (1, NO perhaps) AGAINST THEM. Noldius. So the Vulgate. V. 15. Terrors are turned upon me.] There is AN OVERTHROW: TERRORS are UPON ME. The Verb is imperfonal. they pursue my Soul as the Wind:] A Verb fingular with a Nominat. plural. 7, MY NOBLE PRINCIPLE, my Soul. V. 28. I went mourning without the Sun:] I am BLACK, BUT NOT BY REASON OF THE SUN. 7p the proper Colour of the Arabians. Hence the Tents of Kedar are "the Tents of the Arabs." This is a proverbial Expreffion: blacker than if burnt by the Sun. So the Arabians fay; wife, but not as wife as Lochman, i.e. WISER: rich, but not as rich as Korah, that is, RICHER. V. 29. I am a Brother to Dragons, and a Companion to Owls.] So Mic. I. 8. I will make a Wailing as the Dragons, and Mourning as the Oftriches. Bochart fuppofes that this refers to the dreadful Kind of Hiss of these Serpents. He fays too that the Word 'n may perhaps be derived from plangere, as, the Name of the Oftrich, implies Wailing. He proves that the latter is not the Owl, but the Offrich, which has a loud melancholy Cry. Ch. XXXI. 10. Then let my Wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.] -Alienas Permolere uxores. Horace. [Sat. Lib. I. ii.] Τηγαν των κυανοφρυν ερωτιδα ; Theocritus. Idyl. Δ. 40. So Bochart understands it; no and have the fame Sense. V. 27: —or my Mouth bath killed my Hand.] Ofcula jacere, is a well known Phrafe. Inter adorandum dextram ad ofculum referimus, fays Pliny. Cæcilius, fimulachro Serapidis vifo, ut vulgus folet, manum ori admovens, labiis impreffit, fays Minutius Felix. Hμas thus xega xvσAVTES хада ηγέμεθα εντελη ημων είναι των ευχω, fays Lucian. The Mohammedans, when they fhew Veneration to an unfeen Being, kifs their Hand, and put it to their Forehead. Ημας κυσαντες Ch. XXXIII. 19. and the Multitude of his Bones with strong Pain.] THE DISORDER OF HIS BONES IS STRONG., Lis, Diffidium, Diforder. So in Arabic, adverfa Fortuna, malum. Ch. XXXIV. 36. My Defire is that fob may be tried] I PROPOSE &c. 18, for N. So Mic. I. 15. 1 Kings XXI. 21, 29. Jer. XIX. 15. - XXXIX. 16. Ch. XXXVI. 22. Behold God exalteth by his Power: who teacheth like him?] BEHOLD it is GOD THAT EXALTETH BY HIS POWER, WHO IS LORD LIKE HIM? 1 in the Chaldee Language fignifies Lord. Ch. XXXVII. 4. — and he will not stay them] AND THERE IS NO DELAY; the Stroke is given. The Verb is imperfonal. Ch. XXXVIII. 7. When the Morning Stars fang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy.] Perhaps this may refer to an Opinion, that the Stars are under the Direction of Guardian Angels. But why the Morning Stars? Because it was at the Time of the Creation, the Morning of the first Day. ,מזלות V. 32. Canft thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his Season, or canst thou guide Arcturus with his Sons?] CANST THOU BRING FORTH THE ZODIACK IN IT'S SEASON, OR LEAD THE NORTHERN CONSTELLATIONS WITH IT'S SONS? . We have 2 Kings XXIII. 5. which is tranflated Planets. The Words are - To the Sun, and to the Moon, and to the Planets, and to all the Hoft of Heaven. Hence the Word here is supposed to mean the Zodiack. Note, the Pleiades ushered in the Spring, and Orion the frozen Winter. Ch. XXXIX. 5. Who hath sent out the wild Afs free? Varro fays of this Animal, E fero fit manfuetus facile. Evol tos apples oves questi, fays fays Anatolius. So that this must be understood of their natural State : Or perhaps the Opinion concerning them was fuch at that Time. V. 6. Whofe House I have made the Wilderness, and the barren Lands his Dwelling.]ay, from whence, Arabia., Terra falfuginofa. So Virgil, [Georg. II. 238.] V. 8. Salfa autem tellus, et quæ perhibetur amara, Frugibus infelix. and be fearcheth after every green Thing.] So Oppian, Χιλον εδει, φέρβες μιν άδην ποεσίτροφος ανα V. 9. Will the Unicorn be willing to ferve thee?] THE WILD ORYX. Oppian's Description of him agrees with this Paffage. Esi δε τις δρυμοισι παρέσιος, οξυκερως θηρε πολυ γαρ V. 18. The fcorneth the Horfe and his Rider.] So Xenophon, Στρόθον δὲ ὅδεις ελαβεν. οι δε διώξαντες των ιππέων ταχυ επαύοντο. απελλα αποφευγέσει. V. 20. the Glory of his Noftrils is terrible.] So Silius, crebros expirat naribus ignes. [And Book XVII.] Collectumque premens volvit fub naribus ignem. V. 21. He paweth in the Valley,] Sa Virgil, [Geo. III. 88.] cavatque Tellurem, et folido graviter fonat ungula cornu. Ungula Ovid. [in Halieutico.] Stare adeo miferum eft, pereunt veftigia mille Ante fugam, abfentemque ferit gravis ungula campum. Statius, [Lib. VI. Theb.] and rejoiceth in his Strength:] Ovid. [ibid.] Nam capiunt animis palmam, gaudentque triumpho. Tantus amor laudum, tantæ eft victoria cura! Virgil, [Geo. III. 112.] be goeth on to meet the armed Men.] Ovid, [ibid.] Adverfis infert fua pectora telis. Tum fi qua fonitum procul arma dedere, Stare loco nefcit, micat auribus, et tremit artus. Virgil, [Geo. III. 33.] μαλα θαρσέντες Οπλοις αντιααν, πυκινήν ρήξαι τε φαλαγγα. Oppian. [Lib. I. Cyneg.] V. 23. The Quiver rattleth against him, the glittering Spear and the Shield.] Auratæque vomunt ftridentia tela pharetra. Statius, [Lib.X. Theb.] και χαλκον σελαγόντα, και αςραπτοντα σιδηρον. Oppian, [loc. cit.] Virgil, [Geo. III. 132.] V. 24. He fwalloweth the Ground with Fierceness and Rage:] Carpere prata fuga acri Virg. [Georg. Lib. III.] Cum rapuere, pedum fruftra veftigia quæras. Silius, [Lib. III.] neither believeth be that it is the Sound of the Trumpet.] AND STANDETH NOT STILL WHEN THERE IS THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET. This Senfe agrees beft with the former Part of the Verse. Stare loco nefcit Virg. [Georg. Lib. III.] Ut fremit acer equus, cum bellicus are canoro Signa dedit tubicen, pugnæque affumit amorem. Ovid. [Met. Lib.III.] Saxa quatit pulfu, rigidos vexantia frænos Ora terens, fpargitque jubas, et furrigit aures, Incertoque pedum pugnat non ftare tumultu. Lucan, [Lib. IV.] V. 25. He faith among the Trumpets, Ha! Ha!] Ad lituos bilarem, intrepidumque tubarum Profpiciebat equum Statius. and be fmelleth the Battle afar off :] Tum fi qua fonitum procul arma dedere, &c. V. 29. From thence he (the Eagle) feeketh the Prey, and her Eyes behold afar off] Inde cuncta defpiciens, quorfum potiffimum in fuperne fefe ruat. Apuleius. ον ρα τε φασιν Οξυτατον δέρκεσθαι επερανίων πετεηνων. circum tuetur, et quærit, Homer. Ch. XL. 23. Behold, he drinketh up a River, and hafteth not: he trufteth that he can draw up Jordan into his Mouth.] BEHOLD, let A RIVER PRESS UPON HIM, HE WILL NOT BE IN HASTE TO FLY: HE WILL BE SECURE, THOUGH JORDAN SHOULD BREAK OUT EVEN UP TO HIS MOUTH. So Alian. Ει καλυπτοιντο ύπο το ρό ματος, ανεχεσι μεντοι τας προβοσκίδας υπερ το ύδωρ. The fame is mentioned by Polybius in Hannibal's paffing the Rhone. But what Wonder is it, for the River Horse not to be afraid of a River? Or what has an Animal living in the Nile to do with Jordan? [See my Note on this Word. An Argument may hence be drawn from the mention of Jordan against the high Antiquity of this Book; and that the Author was a Jew.] Ch. |