276 On the Animals designated in the Scriptures by 



our common translation. Mr Thompson has given a translation 

 by Harris, which is, on the whole, only a paraphrastic one, and 

 therefore lends us no additional aid ; and I can perceive no im- 

 provement in it, excepting in the first clause of the 23d verse, 

 ■where, adopting obviously the sense of Bochart, he expresses 

 that which is meant in the original. I set down what I conceive 

 to be a correct translation, and then give briefly my reasons for 

 the more important differences from the common one. 



Job x1. v. 15. " Behold now behemoth which I made with 

 thee ; he eateth grass as an ox. V. 16, Lo now his strength 

 is in his loins, and his gendering force is in the navel of his bel- 

 ly. V. 17, He moveth his tail like a cedar ; the muscles of his 

 terribleness are contorted. V. 18, His bones are as strong 

 pieces of brass; his skeleton is like bars of iron. V. 19, He is 

 the chief of the ways of God : he that made him can press him 

 closely with his sword. V. 20, Surely the mountains bring 

 him forth food, where all the predaceous beasts of strength do 

 contend. V. 21, He lieth under the shady trees, in the co- 

 vert of the reeds and fens. V. 22, The shady trees cover him 

 with their shadow, the mingled trees of the nvev-bank compass 

 him about. V. 23, Behold the flood may press upon him, he 

 will not fly for fear ; he is secure though Jordan rush against 

 his mouth. V. 24, Will any capture him openly, (literally i«, 

 or before his eyes), and bore his nose with a gin F^' 



The first variation from the common version is in v. 16; in 

 which the word, here translated gendering force, is clearly 

 proved by Parkhurst to have this meaning, as in Genesis 

 xlix. 3. ; Deut. xxi. 17. ; Psalm Ixxviii. 51. 



V. 17, The term here translated terribleness, signifies not 

 only fear, as might be proved by many examples, but also the 

 object of fear, as in Genesis xxxi. 42, 43. The picture in the 

 whole verse is that of an animal tossing its tail, and at the same 

 time putting itself in contorted threatening attitudes, inspiring 

 fear in the beholders. 



V. 19, To press cl)sely, instead of the common version to ap- 

 proach unto, is justified by the obvious meaning of the Hebrew 

 in Genesis xix. 9. In this last passage, our translators have 

 once rendered the word, stand back, and once, pressed sore. 

 The former translation is an error, arising from, the supposition 



