Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 39:23
The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
23. rattleth against him ] Rather perhaps, upon him. The quiver is that of his rider, the clang of which excites him.
the shield ] Rather, the javelin, or, lance. The Poet does not seek to describe the actual conflict; it is a picture of the horse that he gives, and the moment before the conflict is that at which the animal’s extraordinary attributes are most strongly exhibited. “Although docile as a lamb, and requiring no other guide than the halter, when the Arab mare hears the war-cry of the tribe (cf. Job 39:25), and sees the quivering spear of her rider (cf. Job 39:23), her eyes glitter with fire, her blood-red nostrils open wide, her neck is nobly arched, and her tail and mane are raised and spread out to the wind (cf. Job 39:19). A Bedouin proverb says, that a high-bred mare when at full speed should hide her rider between her neck and her tail” (Layard, Discoveries, p. 330).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The quiver rattleth against him – The quiver was a case made for containing arrows. It was usually slung over the shoulder, so that it could be easily reached to draw out an arrow. Warriors on horseback, as well as on foot, fought with bows and arrows, as well as with swords and spears; and the idea here is, that the war-horse bore upon himself these instruments of war. The rattling of the quiver was caused by the fact that the arrows were thrown somewhat loosely into the case or the quiver, and that in the rapid motion of the warrior they were shaken against each other. Thus, Virgil, Aeneid ix. 660:
– pharetramque fuga sensere sonantem.
Silius, L. 12:
Plena tenet et resonante pharetra.
And again:
Turba ruunt stridentque sagittiferi coryti.
So Homer (Iliad, a.), when speaking of Apollo:
,
.
Tox omoisin echon, amferefea te faretren
Eklangxan d’ ar oistoi ep’ omon chomenoio.
See Seheutzers Phys. Sac., in loc.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The quiver; or although the quiver &c. So this comes in as an aggravation of his courage, notwithstanding the just causes of fear which are mentioned in this verse. And the quiver is here put for the arrows contained in it, by a metonymy, very usual in this very case, and in all sorts of authors, which being shot against the horse and rider, make this rattling noise here mentioned.
The glittering spear and the shield; or rather, the lance or javelin. For that this was not a defensive, but an offensive weapon, seems plain, both from this place, where it is mentioned among such, and as an object of fear, which the shield is not, and from Jos 8:18; 1Sa 17:45, where it is so used.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. quiverfor the arrows,which they contain, and which are directed “against him.”
glittering spearliterally,”glittering of the spear,” like “lightning of thespear” (Hab 3:11).
shieldrather, “lance.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The quiver rattleth against him,…. The quiver is what arrows are put into and carried in, and seems here to be put for arrows, which being shot by the enemy come whizzing about him, but do not intimidate him; unless this is to be understood of arrows rattling in the quiver when carried by the rider “upon him”, so some render the last word; and thus Homer w and Virgil x speak of the rattling quiver and sounding arrows in it, as carried on the back or shoulder; but the first sense seems best, in which another poet uses it y;
the glittering spear and the shield; the lance or javelin, as Mr. Broughton renders it, and others; that is, he does not turn back from these, nor is he frightened at them when they are pointed to him or flung at him; so Aelianus z speaks of the Persians training their horses and getting them used to noises, that in battle they might not be frightened at the clashing of arms, of swords and shields against each other; in like manner as our war horses are trained, not to start at the firing of a gun, or the explosion of a cannon.
w Iliad. 1. v. 4. x “Pharetramqne sonantem”. Aeneid. 9. v. 666. y “—-audito sonitu per inane pharetrae”. Ovid. Metamorph. l. 6. v. 230. z De Animal. l. 16. c. 25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
23. The quiver Used metaphorically for its contents the arrows.
The glittering spear Literally, the flame of a spear.
Shield Hebrews, kidhon. More properly “javelin,” or “spear.” See note Job 41:29. Arrows and gleaming spears hurtle against him, and he turns not back.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 39:23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
Ver. 23. The quiver rattleth against him ] The arrow; those messengers of death come whisking and singing about his ears (so the bullets now in so much use), but he is unappalled by this.
The glittering spear
And the shield
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 41:26-29
Reciprocal: Jos 8:18 – the spear