Albert Barnes Commentary Job 39:18

"What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider." — Job 39:18 (ASV)

What time she lifteth up herself on high – In the previous verses, reference was made to the fact that in some important respects the ostrich was inferior to other animals, or had special laws regarding its habits and preservation. Here, attention is called to the fact that, despite its inferiority in some respects, it had properties that commanded the highest admiration. Its lofty carriage, the rapidity of its flight, and the proud scorn with which it would elude the pursuit of the fastest horses, were all things that showed God had endowed it so as to furnish proof of His wisdom.

The phrase what time she lifteth up herself refers to the fact that she raises herself for her rapid flight. It does not mean that she would mount on her wings, for the ostrich cannot do this; but it refers to the fact that this timid and cowardly bird would, when danger was near, rouse herself and assume a lofty courage and bearing.

The word here translated “lifts up” (תמריא tamâriy') properly means “to lash, to whip,” as one would a horse to increase its speed. Gesenius supposes it is used here to denote that the ostrich, by flapping her wings, lashes herself up, as it were, to her course. However, all the ancient interpretations, as well as the common English version, render it as if it were but another form of the word רום rûm—to raise oneself up, or to rise up, as if the ostrich aroused herself for her flight. Herder renders it, “At once she is up, and urges herself forward.” Taylor (in Calmet) renders it:

“Yet at the time she haughtily assumes courage;
She scorneth the horse and his rider.”

The leading idea is that she rouses herself to escape her pursuer; she lifts up her head and body, spreads her wings, and then bids defiance to anything that might overtake her.

She scorneth the horse and his rider – This refers to the pursuit. That is, she runs faster than the fastest horse and easily escapes. The extraordinary rapidity of the ostrich has always been celebrated, and it is well known that she can easily outstrip the fastest horse.

Its swiftness is mentioned by Xenophon in his Anabasis. Speaking of the desert of Arabia, he says that ostriches are frequently seen there, that none could overtake them, and that horsemen who pursued them were soon obliged to give over, “for they escaped far away, making use both of their feet to run, and of their wings, when expanded, as a sail, to carry them along.”

Marmelius, as quoted by Bochart (see above), speaking of a remarkable kind of horse, says, “that in Africa, Egypt, and Arabia, there is but one species of that kind which they call the Arabian, and that those are produced only in the deserts of Arabia. Their velocity is wonderful, nor is there any better evidence of their remarkable swiftness than is furnished when they pursue the camel-bird.”

It is a common sentiment of the Arabs, Bochart remarks, that there is no animal which can overcome the ostrich in its course.

Dr. Shaw says, “Notwithstanding the stupidity of this animal, its Creator has amply provided for its safety by endowing it with extraordinary swiftness and a surprising apparatus for escaping from its enemy. ‘They, when they raise themselves up for flight, laugh at the horse and his rider.’

They afford him an opportunity only of admiring at a distance the extraordinary agility and the stateliness likewise of their motions, the richness of their plumage, and the great propriety there was in ascribing to them an expanded, quivering wing. Nothing, certainly, can be more entertaining than such a sight; the wings, by their rapid but unwearied vibrations, equally serving them for sails and for oars; while their feet, no less assisting in conveying them out of sight, are no less unaffected by fatigue.” (“Travels,” 8vo., vol. ii. p. 343, as quoted by Noyes).

The same representation is confirmed by the writer of a voyage to Senegal, who says, “She sets off at a hand gallop; but after being excited a little, she expands her wings, as if to catch the wind, and abandons herself to a speed so great that she seems not to touch the ground.

I am persuaded she would leave far behind the swiftest English horse” – Rob. Calmet.

Buffon also admits that the ostrich runs faster than the horse. These indisputable testimonies completely vindicate the assertion of the inspired writer.

The proofs and illustrations furnished here at considerable length are designed to show that the statements made in the book of Job are confirmed by all the investigations in Natural History since the time the book was written.

If the statements are to be regarded as an indication of the progress made in the science of Natural History at the time when Job lived, they prove that the observations regarding this animal had been extensive and were surprisingly accurate. They show that the minds of sages at that time had been turned with much interest to this branch of science, and that they were able to describe the habits of animals with an accuracy that would do the highest credit to Pliny or to Buffon.

If, however, the account here is to be regarded as the mere result of inspiration, or as the language of God speaking and describing what He had done, then the account furnishes us with an interesting proof of the inspiration of the book. Its minute accuracy is confirmed by all the subsequent inquiries into the habits of the animal referred to, and shows that the statement is based on simple truth.

The general remark may be made here that all the notices in the Bible of scientific subjects—which are indeed mostly casual and incidental—are confirmed by the investigations that science in its various departments makes. Of what other ancient book but the Bible can this remark be made?