Who hath sent out the wild ass free?
&c.] Into the wide waste, where it is, ranges at pleasure,
and is not under the restraint of any; a creature which, as it is
naturally wild, is naturally averse to servitude, is desirous of
liberty and maintains it: not but that it may be tamed, as Pliny
F13 speaks of such as are; but it
chooses to be free, and, agreeably to its nature, it is sent out
into the wilderness as such: not that it is set free from
bondage, for in that it never was until it is tamed; but its
nature and inclination, and course it pursues, is to be free. And
now the question is, who gave this creature such a nature, and
desire after liberty? and such power to maintain it? and directs
it to take such methods to secure it, and keep clear of bondage?
It is of God;
or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
not that it has any naturally upon it, and is loosed from them;
but because it is as clear of them as such creatures are, which
have been in bands and are freed from them: therefore this mode
of expression is used, and which signifies the same as before.