Job 39 Footnotes

39:14-16 The charge that the description of the ostrich is erroneous misses the point. The description conforms to popular perception rather than intending to be based upon scientific observation. The intention was to demonstrate Job’s inability to comprehend the natural world. Nevertheless, the description contains some valid observations concerning the ostrich. She lays her eggs in the sand to be warmed by the sun (v. 14). Despite the eggs’ thick shells, an ex-tremely heavy foot might crush them (v. 15). Some females share the same nesting area so that a female may look disdainfully at the eggs (v. 16). The ostrich can run at great speeds (v. 18).