John Gill Commentary Job 39:25

"As oft as the trumpet [soundeth] he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting." — Job 39:25 (ASV)

He says among the trumpets, ha, ha
As pleased with the sound of them, rejoicing at it, which he signifies by neighing.

and he smelleth the battle afar off ;
which respects not so much the distance of place as of time; he perceives beforehand that it is near, by the preparations making for it, and particularly by what follows; so Pliny ^F2 says of horses, they presage a fight. They understand an engagement is just about to start by the loud and thundering voice of the captains, exhorting and spiraling up their men, and giving them the word of command. This is also understood by the clamorous shout of the soldiers echoing to the speech of their captains. These sounds are given forth upon an onset, both to animate one another, and intimidate the enemy. Bootius ^F3 observes, that Virgil

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FOOTNOTES:

• F2: Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 42.
• F3: Animadvers. Sacr. l. 3. c. 6. s. 1.