An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Some render it by a general word, Out of a secret place cometh the Whirl wind.

We say best, Out of the South; First, because it is expressly opposed to the North in the Text; Secondly, because Southern Winds are the strongest and most vehement Winds, as the Northern are the coldest. For though we find by experience, that strong Winds blow from all Quarters of Heaven, yet usually the South brings forth the strongest Winds; and therefore in Scripture a sudden and violent Wind is called a Whirl-wind out of the South. When the Prophet would describe an unavoidable coming of Judgment, he saith (Isa. 21.1.) As Whirlwinds in the South pass through, so it cometh &c. And again (Zech. 9.14.) The Lord God shall blow the Trumpet, and shall go with Whirlwinds of the South. Both places expressing it, according to what was most usually and commonly known, great Winds coming out of the South.¹ That place (Psal. 126.4.) is rendered by •ome (not as we, Turn again our Captivity, O Lord, as the Streams in the South, but) Turn again our Captivity, as Storms or Whirlwinds in the South. The Church prayed that God would make some sudden change of things, like that made by Southern Storms and Whirlwinds. Yet we are not to understand it, as if all Southern Winds were Whirlwinds or tempestuous; favourable refreshing Winds come from thence sometimes, as may be collected from the 17th verse of this Chapter, and from Canticles •he 4th, verse the 16th, and as is expressed (Acts 27.13.) The South-Wind blew softly. So that Elihu speaks of what is often and usually done, not of what is always done, when he saith, Out of the South cometh ⟨p. 489⟩