6i I Chap. 4G. an ExpoTtian upon the Book, of J o s. Verf. I s. the field in general, and not rather force one in fpecial t And I May give four reafons for it. Firfi, Becaufe in the former Chapter God had fpoken of di- vers particular beafis of the earth; and therefore dowbdefs here altohe (peaks of force particular beat+. Secondly,. That creature which is joyned with Behemoth in this difcourfe, is by mofi taken for a particular kind of fifh in the Sea; and therefore 'cis mofi congruous,that Behemoth fhould de- note force particular kind of beafi at land. Thirdly and chiefly, The deCcription given here of Behemoth will not fit all forts of beafis in the field, it will not fit a Cheep, nor a bullock. VWhat4s Paid of Behemoth exceeds the proportion and conficutionof all fuch and many other beafis. Fourthly, Behemoth is Paid to feed, where all the beafis of the field do play (ver. zo. ) and therefore we cannot underfl:and all the beaus of the field by him ; no, nor ( which Tome of the jewifh writers infiff much upon) all the greater beafis of the field. And thereforewe may conclude,:that this word Behemoth ( though in it felf aplural word) is here intended of a fingular beat ; and, becaufe there is nogreater beafi upon the earth than the elephant, therefore moil interpreters ( both ancient and mo- dern ) determine it upon the Elephant, towhom ( among all the beafis of the earth ) chofe fix particulars ( mentioned in the following defcriprion of Behemoth) are fuppofed mots fitly to agree.. Behemoth And whereas'risobje'ed, the word Behemoth is of the plural forma plurali number, that is eafily anfwered,, and wiped off; for nothing is nuncupatur more dual in the Hebrew language, than to exprefs great things Elephontue by a plural word ; and fo the Elephant may be called the beafss,. mare Hebreo- Either,Firft, with refpe& to the vafinefs of his body, as if he did awn,qNi plu- con rise or were acon rehenronof all other beafis. Or Se- tampon pro condly, with refpe& to Come extraordinary qualification or emi- fuperlativis nency found in him, in which refpe&, it is laid at the 19.11 verfe,, elti folent. He kJ the chief of the ways of God. As the Hebrew fers out ex- cellent things by words of the Juperlat;ve degree, fo likewife by sam icLie. words of the plural number,or it ufeth the plural number to fignifie phanto loquun- the fuperlarive degree. The Elephant is the Beaft, the Beaft ®f sur,Belluom Beafts, abeafi above all beafis., Thus( Prov. i. 20.) Chrifl is abfolùtc.romi- called in the plural number mi fdoms, becaufe of the excellency of mat. Uxuf . his
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