DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 January 29
Composition with Animals (second half of 16th century)
Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1526-1593)
Mannerist Style
Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In Job 39 the LORD's answer to Job continues; and the focus is again on the mysteries of nature -- specifically the animal world. As in the previous chapter, the LORD shows Job that he lacks the wisdom and the power necessary to enter into a contest with God. The image above features two of the animals mentioned prominently in this chapter -- horses and deer -- depicting them in the dynamism and wildness which are mentioned below.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Job 37. Job 38. Job 40. Job 41. Job 42. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
In this chapter the LORD instructs Job about his lack of understanding and power by bringing him lessons from the animal kingdom. He asks Job if he knows when the mountain goats or the deer bring forth their young, or how long their gestation periods are, or how they crouch or twist and bring forth their young. He informs Job that they grow strong; they live in the open; and they leave home and do not return -- all, by implication, without the knowledge or the aid of Job (1-4). He asks Job who set the wild donkey free and gave him a house in the wilderness and the salt plains. It scorns the tumult in the city and will not listen to the commands of the drover. Among these creatures Job has no authority or power (5-8). Nor does Job have the power to make the wild ox serve him and lodge in his manger. He cannot bind him or use him as a plow animal or for any other labor such as grinding grain (9-12). The ostrich does not have the wisdom to take constant care of its eggs which may be crushed by the foot or be broken by a wild beast. It can flee (from its nest) faster than a horse, but its eggs are still unprotected. The implication is that its lack of wisdom and understanding is from God, as is Job's lack of wisdom. Both are trapped in these potentially harmful, even deadly, deprivations (13-18). Next, the LORD, informs Job about the power of the horse. Its body and neck are strong. Job cannot frighten it the way he would frighten a grasshopper. It is glorious. It rejoices in its strength. It charges toward armed men without fear and without turning back. It swallows the ground with ferocity; and it smells the battle afar off. Though Job may have such courage, he does not have such power (19-25). Nor does Job have sufficient wisdom to teach the hawk how to fly. Nor does he have the authority to order the eagle to mount up at his command and to make her nest on high in the rugged strongholds from where she can see her prey afar off and give her young ones blood to suck up and slain warriors to eat (26-30).
Job 39
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.
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.
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?
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 hers: 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.
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.
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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