An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

But it may be objected, Though the word in those places notes time, yet it cannot do so in this place of Job; for in those places alleged, it signifies a vast space of time before, whereas here in Job, if it denotes time, it is but a very short space of time, no more than the space of time, between giving the signal of a battle by sound of trumpet, and the joining of the battle. To this, the answer is; That this Hebrew word may be applied to a short space of time, as well as to a long one, seeing both the ⟨p. 462⟩Greek and Latin words (set in the Margin) of the same signification,¹ are used to note sometimes a very long, and sometimes but a short space of time.

But it may be objected, Though the word in those places notes time, yet it cannot do so in this place of Job; for in those places alleadged, it signifies a vast space of time before, whereas here in Job, if it denotes time, it is but a very short space of time, no more than the space of time, between giving the signal of a battel by sound of trumpet, and the joyning of the battel. To this, the answer is; That this Hebrew word may be applied to a short space of time, as well as to a long one, seeing both the ⟨p. 462⟩Greek and Latine words (set in the Margin) of the same signification,¹ are used to note sometimes a very long, and sometimes but a short space of time.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] Olim.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Olim.

Now according to this sense of the word, this latter clause of the verse is thus translated; He smelleth, or, perceiveth the battle is near at hand, or will shortly be: Which gives a very fair meaning of the Text, if that word, which all grant signifies time as well as place, doth also signify a short, as well as a long space of time; for then the verse runs clearly thus, At the full sound of the trumpet, he saith, Ha, ha, smelling (or perceiving) that the battle is at hand. I leave this to the Readers judgement. Our own translation is an undoubted truth, both as to the signification of the word, and the experiences of the thing. A Gallant horse trained up, and accustomed to War, when he sees much stirring in an Army, and hears the trumpets sounding, perceives a battle will be, though the armies be possibly a good distance of ground one from the other. Thus he smells the battle afar off, especially when he hears that which follows in the close of the verse.