Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 9:26
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.
26. the swift ships ] the ships of reed. These skiffs, constructed of a wooden keel and the rest of reeds, are the “vessels of bulrushes” of Isa 18:2. They carried but one or two persons, and being light were extremely swift. The ancients were familiar with them; Plin. xiii. 11, ex ipso quidem papyro navigia texunt; and Lucan, Phars, iv. 36,
conseritur bibula Memphitis cymba papyro,
(quoted in Gesenius, Com. on Is. i. p. 577).
Job as usual heaps images together to picture out the brevity of his life, cf. ch. Job 7:6 seq. Here the images are new, a runner, a skiff of reed, an eagle swooping on his prey.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They are passed away as the swift ships – Margin, Ships of desire; or ships of Ebeh. Hebrew ‘onyah ‘ebeh. Vulgate, Naves poma portantes. Septuagint, Is there any track left by ships in their passage? The Chaldee renders it as the Vulgate, Ships bearing good fruit; that is, as such fruit was perishable, haste was required in order to reach the place of destination. Our translators were evidently perplexed by the word ‘ebeh, as appears by their placing two different phrases in the margin. Ships of desire, denotes the value or desirableness of such ships; and the phrase, Ships of Ebeh, denotes their confession of ignorance as to the meaning of the word. Gesenius explains the word to mean reed, bulrush, or papyrus – from an Arabic use of the word, and supposes that the reference is to the light vessels made of the papyrus, which were used on the Nile; see the note at Isa 18:2. Such vessels would be distinguished for the ease with which they might be rowed, and the rapidity of their motion. Chardin supposes that the reference is to vessels that were made to go on the Euphrates or the Tigris, and that were borne along with the rapid current. The supposition of an allusion to any boat or vessel under full sail, will be in accordance with the language here, though the probability is, that the reference is to the light vessels, made of reeds, that might be propelled with so much fleetness. Sails were frequently used, also, for such vessels.
As the eagle that hasteth to the prey – A striking emblem of rapidity. Few things can be more rapid than the motion of the eagle, as he darts upon his victim.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 26. As the swift ships] oniyoth ebeh. Ships of desire, or ships of Ebeh, says our margin; perhaps more correctly, inflated ships, the sails bellying out with a fair brisk wind, tide favourable, and the vessels themselves lightly freighted.
The Vulgate has, Like ships freighted with apples. Ships laden with the best fruits. – TARGUM. Ships well adapted for sailing. – ARABIC. Shipes that be good under sale. – COVERDALE. Probably this relates to the light fast-sailing ships on the Nile, which were made of reeds or papyrus.
Perhaps the idea to be seized is not so much the swiftness of the passage, as their leaving no trace or track behind them. But instead of ebeh, eybah, hostile ships or the ships of enemies, is the reading of forty-seven of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS., and of the Syriac version. If this be the true reading what is its sense? My days are gone off like the light vessels of the pirates, having stripped me of my property, and carried all irrecoverably away, under the strongest press of sail, that they may effect their escape, and secure their booty.
The next words, As the eagle that hasteth to the prey, seem at least to countenance, if not confirm, the above reading: the idea of robbery and spoil, prompt attack and sudden retreat, is preserved in both images.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Swift ships, Heb. ships of desire; which make great haste, as if they longed for their desired haven, as it is called, Psa 107:30. Or, ships of pleasure; which sail more swiftly than ships of great burden.
As the eagle; which generally flies most swiftly, Deu 28:49; Jer 4:13; Lam 4:19, especially when its own hunger and the sight of its prey quickens its motion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. swift shipsrather, canoesof reeds or papyrus skiffs, used on the Nile, swift from theirlightness (Isa 18:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They are passed away as the swift ships,…. Those that are lightest built, and run swiftest. Bar Tzemach thinks such vessels as are rowed with oars are meant, which may be called “ships of will or desire” b, as the words may be rendered, because they may be rowed at pleasure, and be carried to any place where and when a man thinks fit; whereas those that are not depend upon the wind, and that must be waited for; or they design such ships that are so swift in their motion, that they arrive to the haven as soon as men can well wish for and desire. Some render it “pirate ships”, or “ships of enmity” c; such as are designed for spoil and plunder, and which are light ones, not loaded with goods, and therefore move swiftly: the Targum is,
“ships burdened with precious fruits;”
and the Vulgate Latin version is,
“ships carrying apples:”
now ships loaded with such sort of goods, with perishing commodities, are obliged to make their port as soon as possible. Some leave the word untranslated, and call them “ships of Ebeh” d; which, according to Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and others, is either the name of a place, or of a river in Arabia, which ran with a rapid stream, and in which ships were carried with great celerity. Bolducius relates from a traveller of his acquaintance, who finished his travels in 1584, that he saw such a river about Damascus, not far from the sepulchre of Job; but that must be the river Chrysorrhoas, now called Barrady; but there were two rivers of this name Ebeh; one near Cufa, and another in Wasith, a country of Babylon, as Golius observes e. Others take the word to have the signification of reed or papyrus, which grew on the banks of the Nile, and of which ships were made, [See comments on Isa 18:1]; and render the words “ships of reeds” or “of papyrus” f, and which, being light, were very swift:
as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey; the eagle is the swiftest of birds, and therefore persons and things exceeding swift are compared unto them, see Hab 1:8; and it flies the most swiftly when being hungry, and in sight of its prey, and is nearest to it, and flaps upon it, which is the thing referred to, and so may be rendered, “that flies upon the prey” g. Job uses these metaphors, which are the most appropriate, to show how fleeting his days of prosperity were, and how soon gone: and a climax may be observed in the words; a runner, though he runs swiftly, a ship moves faster than he, and an eagle, just about to seize its prey, flies swifter than that.
b “navibus desiderii”, Mercerus, Drusius, Schmidt; so Ben Gersom. c “Naves inimicitiarum, i.e. “piraticae, vel hostiles”; as some in Drusius; so Broughton. d “Navibus Ebeh”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Bolducius, Codurcus. e Lexic. Arab. p. 2. f “Naves arundinis”, Michaelis, “navibus papyraceis”, Schultens, Ikenius, in ib. g “involans in escam”, Junius Tremellius “involat in escam”, Piscator, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) Swift ships.What is meant by the swift ships, or ships of Desire, no one knows. Literally, ships of Eveh, probably a proper name, and perhaps referring to a particular kind of boat in use on the Nile; if so, this is one instance out of many of Jobs acquaintance with Egypt. The Vulgate has, naves poma portantes. Job is a problem to himself; he is confident of his innocence, and yet he is confident that that very innocence will avail him nothing before God, he is sure that he must be condemned. Now, it is impossible to deny that this is the very attitude of the Gospel; it is, therefore, if we bear in mind the vast antiquity of the confession, both a witness to the truth of the Gospel and an anticipation of it that God alone could give. Indeed, it is hopelessly impossible to enter into the position of Job unless we are ourselves enlightened with the teaching of the Gospel, and able to look at it from the Gospel standpoint. While, therefore, admitting this fact, we are the better able to appreciate the wonderful confession Job is about to make in Job. 9:32-33.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. Passed away as Literally, Glide along with. . See note on Job 9:11. The poet, in a figure finely conceived, links his passing days with the gliding of a river, whose silent, insensible current serves only to hasten the motion of the frail, swift craft its bosom bears. The frailty of the skiff Job speaks of images well the frail voyager of life, as he, too, glides among the stream of time.
Swift ships , ebeh, reed, or papyrus. Light in their structure, skiffs made of papyrus shot along the Nile with great swiftness. Compare Isa 18:2. Heliodorus ( AEthiop., 10:460) speaks of such boats as having been exceedingly swift. Plutarch describes Isis going in search of the body of Osiris in a bark made of papyrus. The text illustrates the swiftness of time by figures drawn from objects that in Job’s days were swiftest on land, in the water, and in the air. The reader will mark the gradation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 9:26. As the swift ships, &c. There are but two places that I remember, says Mr. Peters, in the book of Job, where there is any allusion to navigation. One in the present passage, where Job compares the course of human life, and the rapidity wherewith it passes, to the swift ships, [swiftest ships, most excellent for sailing, Houbigant,] or, as it is in the margin of our English Bibles, ships of desire; i.e. such as are longed for, and long to be at their destined port, and crowd all the sail they can for that purpose. This gives, indeed, a very poetical image. But, if we will take the judgment of Schultens, he tells us, it ought rather to be rendered, ships of cane, or the Papyrus; i.e. such light vessels as they used in passing the river Nile, and other great rivers and arms of the sea. This, no doubt, was the first essay made by mankind towards navigation, and, perhaps, the utmost that their skill had reached in Job’s time. See chap. Job 28:4 and Peters.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.
Ver. 26. They are passed away as the swift ships ] Heb. They are changed (gliding away insensibly) as the ships of desire (so called, because they seem willing to be at the haven as soon as may be), or as the ships of Ebeh, a very swift river in Arabia, saith Rabbi Solomon; or as the pirate’s ships, so Broughton, such as are your nimble frigates, fly-boats, A fast sailing vessel used chiefly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: a. for rapid transport of goods, etc., esp. in the coasting trade and catches, &c. Labitur uncta vadis abies (Virg.). Let our souls be like a ship which is made little and narrow downward; but more wide and broad upward. Let them be ships of desire, hastening heavenward; and then let our days pass away as they can, we shall but be the sooner at home; mortality shall appear to be no small mercy.
As the eagle that hasteth to the prey
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
swift ships = ships of ebeh. Hence vessels of bulrush (eb); vessels of desire (‘abeh), i.e. desiring to reach their haven; vessels of enmity (‘eybah), i.e. pirate vessels; or vessels of the Nile (‘abai, Abyssinian for Nile). Others, vessels of Joppa. Perhaps the last is best.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
swift ships: Heb. ships of desire, or, ships of Ebeh
as the eagle: Job 39:27-30, 2Sa 1:23, Pro 23:5, Jer 4:13, Lam 4:19, Hab 1:8
Reciprocal: Job 10:20 – my days few Job 14:2 – fleeth Job 17:11 – My days Job 39:29 – she Psa 39:5 – Behold Psa 89:47 – Remember Psa 90:5 – Thou Isa 38:12 – have cut Jam 4:14 – a vapour
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 9:26. As the swift ships Hebrew, ships of desire; that is, such as are longed for, and long to be at their destined port, and crowd all the sail they can for that purpose. Or, as in the Chaldee paraphrase, ships loaded, pretiosis, with things of value; and are therefore named swift ships, because the more valuable the effects are, the more haste is made to return home for readier sale. The Hebrew may also be translated, ships of pleasure, which sail more swiftly than ships of burden. As the eagle that hasteth to the prey Which generally flies most swiftly when hungry, and in sight of his prey. See here how swift the motion of time is! It is always upon the wing, hastening to its period. What little need have we of pastimes! What great need to redeem time, which runs out, runs on so fast toward eternity! And how vain are the enjoyments of time, which we may be deprived of, even while time continues. Our day may be longer than our sunshine: and when that is gone, it is as if it had never been.