Job 39:17

“Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, etc.] Or “made her to forget” f1393 what she had; an instance of her forgetfulness is mentioned (<183915>Job 39:15); and so Leo Africanus f1394 says of it, that it is of a very short memory, and presently forgets the place where its eggs are laid; neither hath he imparted to her understanding; many instances are given of its stupidity by historians, as that it will take anything that is offered to it to eat, stones, iron, etc. f1395; that it will thrust its head and neck into a thicket, fancying: it is hid and covered, and that none can see it; which Pliny f1396 remarks as an instance of its foolishness; though Diodorus Siculus f1397 takes this to be…”

“wisdom--such as God gives to other animals, and to man (Job 35:11). The Arab proverb is, "foolish as an ostrich." Yet her very seeming want of wisdom is not without wise design of God, though man cannot see it; just as in the trials of the godly, which seem so unreasonable to Job, there lies hid a wise design.”

“Because God hath deprived her of wisdom ... - That is, he has not imparted to her the wisdom which has been conferred on other animals. The meaning is, that all this remarkable arrangement, which distinguished the ostrich so much from other animals was to be traced to God. It was not the result of chance; it could not be pretended that it was by a human arrangement, but it was the result of divine appointment. Even in this apparent destitution of wisdom, there were reasons which had led to this appointment, and the care and good providence of God could be seen in the preservation of the animal. Particularly, though apparently so weak, and timid, and unwise, the ostrich had a noble hearing…”

“Deprived - Because God hath not implanted in her that instinct, and affection, which he hath put into other birds and beasts toward their young. Job 39:18”

“Job 17:4, Job 35:11; Deu 2:30; Ch2 32:31; Isa 19:11-14, Isa 57:17; Jam 1:17 Job 39:18”