John Gill's Exposition on Job 39:2

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Canst thou number the months [that] they fulfil? etc.] Which some understand both of wild goats and hinds. Common goats fulfil five months, they conceive in November, and bring forth in March, as Pliny f1347 observes; but how many the wild goats of the rock fulfil is not said by him or any other I know of: the same writer says f1348 of hinds, that they go eight months; or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? naturalists f1349 tell us, that the hinds conceive after the rise of the star Arcturus, which rises eleven days before the autumnal equinox; so that they conceive in September; and as they go eight months, they bring forth in April; but then the exact time to a day and hour is not known. Besides, who has fixed the time for their bringing forth, and carries them in it through so many dangers and difficulties? None but the Lord himself. Now if such common things in nature were not known perfectly by Job, how should he be able to search into and find out the causes and reasons of God’s providential dealings with men, or what is in the womb of Providence?

Read Job 39:2 →Read the full chapter →Jamieson, Fausset & Brown →Barnes' Notes →Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge →

How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.