Job 39:7

7 He laughs to scorn the multitude of the city, and hears not the chiding of the tax-gatherer.

Job 39:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 39:7

He scorneth the multitude of the city
Choosing rather to be alone in the wilderness and free than to be among a multitude of men in a city, and be a slave as the tame ass; or it despises and defies a multitude of men, that may come out of cities to take it, Leo Africanus says F18 it yields to none for swiftness but Barbary horses: according to Xenophon F19, it exceeds the horse in swiftness; and when pursued by horsemen, it will outrun them, and stand still and rest till they come near it, and then start again; so that there is no taking it, unless many are employed. Aristotle F20 says it excels in swiftness; and, according to Bochart F21, it has its name in Hebrew from the Chaldee word (adp) , "to run". Or it may be rendered, "the noise of the city", so Cocceius; the stir and bustle in it, through a multiplicity of men in business;

neither regardeth he the crying of the driver;
or "hears" F23: he neither feels his blows, nor hears his words; urging him to move faster and make quicker dispatch, as the tame ass does; he being neither ridden nor driven, nor drawing in a cart or plough.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ut supra. (Descriptio Africae, l. 9. p. 752.)
F19 Ut supra. (De Expedition. Cyril, l. 1.)
F20 Hist. Animal. l. 6. c. 36.
F21 Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 1. c. 9. col. 63.
F23 (emvy al) "non audiet", Pagninus, Montanus.

Job 39:7 In-Context

5 And who is he that sent forth the wild ass free? and who loosed his bands?
6 whereas I made his habitation the wilderness, and the salt land his coverts.
7 He laughs to scorn the multitude of the city, and hears not the chiding of the tax-gatherer.
8 He will survey the mountains his pasture, and he seeks after every green thing.
9 And will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or to lie down at thy manger?

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.