INTRODUCTION: God goes to the animal kingdom to find more examples of the ignorance of Job. The purpose of this passage is to show Job the greatness of God in caring for all the beasts and the inability of Job to begin to grasp the required knowledge and wisdom for this care. Actually, God is just taking Job at his word. Job had stated that the beasts could teach the wisdom of God (Job 12:7-9 [7] But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: [8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. [9] Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
See All...). Job 12:7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
See All... states, “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.”

1. THE GOATS AND THE HINDS (Job 39:1-4 [1] Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? [2] Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? [3] They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. [4] Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
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1. The Time of Conception (Job 39:1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
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1. Knowest thou when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?
2. Canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2. The Period of Gestation (Job 39:2Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
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1. Canst thou number the months that they fulfill?
2. Knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3. The Time of Delivery (Job 39:3They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
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1. They bow themselves.
2. They bring forth their young ones.
3. They cast out their sorrows. Note: Perhaps the use of sorrow here is the same as in Genesis 3:16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
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4. The Time of Maturation (Job 39:4Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
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1. They are in good liking; meaning they are plump or of good appearance (see Daniel 1:10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
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2. They grow up with corn.
3. They grow up and return not unto the mothers.
2. THE WILD ASS (Job 39:5-8 [5] Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? [6] Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. [7] He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. [8] The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
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1. His Freedom (Job 39:5Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
   See All...); technically, donkeys and burros are domesticated asses.
1. Who hath sent him out free?
2. Who hath loosed his bands?
2. His Dwelling (Job 39:6-7 [6] Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. [7] He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
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1. The wilderness is his house (Job 39:6Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
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2. The barren land is his dwellings (Job 39:6Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
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3. He scorneth the multitude of the city (Job 39:7He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
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4. He regardeth not the crying of the driver (Job 39:7He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
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3. His Food (Job 39:8The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
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1. The range of the mountains is his pasture.
2. He searcheth after every green thing.
3. THE UNICORN (Job 39:9-12 [9] Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? [10] Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? [11] Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? [12] Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
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1. His Independence (Job 39:9Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
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1. Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee?
2. Will he abide by thy crib?
2. His Lack of Service to Man (Job 39:10-12 [10] Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? [11] Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? [12] Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
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1. He will not be hooked to a plow (Job 39:10Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
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2. He cannot be trusted to bring home a harvest (Job 39:11-12 [11] Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? [12] Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
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4. THE PEACOCK AND THE OSTRICH (Job 39:13-18 [13] Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? [14] Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, [15] And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. [16] She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear; [17] Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. [18] What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
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1. Their Appearance (Job 39:13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
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1. Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks?
2. Gavest thou the wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
2. The Negligence of the Ostrich (Job 39:14-17 [14] Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, [15] And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. [16] She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear; [17] Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
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1. Her nesting in the earth (Job 39:14-15 [14] Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, [15] And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
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1. She leaveth her eggs in the earth (Job 39:14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
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2. She warmeth the eggs in the dust (Job 39:14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
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3. She causes them to be a prey to destruction (Job 39:15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
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1. She forgetteth that the foot may crush them.
2. She forgetteth that the wild beast may break them.
2. Her hardness to her young (Job 39:16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
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1. As though they were not hers
2. Labouring in vain without fear
3. Her lack of wisdom (Job 39:17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
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1. God hath deprived her of wisdom.
2. God hath not imparted to her understanding.
3. The Speed of the Ostrich (Job 39:18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
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1. What time she lifteth up herself on high
2. She scorneth the horse and his rider.
5. THE HORSE (Job 39:19-25 [19] Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? [20] Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. [21] He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. [22] He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. [23] The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. [24] He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. [25] He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
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1. His Strength (Job 39:19Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
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1. Hast thou given the horse strength?
2. Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
2. His Courage (Job 39:20-25 [20] Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. [21] He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. [22] He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. [23] The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. [24] He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. [25] He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
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1. He does not fear as much as some other animals (Job 39:20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
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2. He does not fear war (Job 39:21-25 [21] He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. [22] He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. [23] The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. [24] He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. [25] He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
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1. He goeth on to meet the armed men (Job 39:21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
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2. He does not retreat from weapons (Job 39:22-23 [22] He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. [23] The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
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3. He welcomes the war (Job 39:24-25 [24] He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. [25] He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
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6. THE HAWK AND THE EAGLE (Job 39:26-30 [26] Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? [27] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? [28] She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. [29] From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. [30] Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
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1. The Hawk (Job 39:26Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
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1. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom?
2. Does she stretch her wings toward the south by thy wisdom?
2. The Eagle (Job 39:27-30 [27] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? [28] She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. [29] From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. [30] Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
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1. The nest of the eagle (Job 39:27-28 [27] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? [28] She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
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1. The command of her nesting – given by God (Job 39:27Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
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2. The place of her nesting (Job 39:28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
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2. The hunting of the eagle (Job 39:29-30 [29] From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. [30] Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
   See All...; Matthew 24:28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
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1. Her vision of prey (Job 39:29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
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2. Her desire for flesh and blood (Job 39:30Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
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CONCLUSION: These animals are considered as proof of the wisdom and providence of God. They do not survive or find their purpose by their own wisdom. God is the one who works in them to fulfill His purpose for them.

These illustrations also have practical and typical applications. The ostrich is a type of one who brings forth to birth but then ignores the young ones. The horse and the eagle have connections to prophecy. In a way, the beauty and wisdom of this chapter, like the beauty and wisdom of creation, show forth the wisdom of the God who made it all.