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

Vers. 18. Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.¹

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew]. Sept. Sic terram elegantèr circumloquuntur; n•m qui quid sub coelo ••re•, terra est, •er terram ambit. Drus.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Sept. Sic terram elegantèr circumloquuntur; n•m qui quid sub coelo ••re•, terra est, •er terram ambit. Drus.

The Septuagint render, Hast thou perceived the breadth of that which is under the heavens? Under the Cope or Canopy of the heavens. Hast thou perceived how broad that is which is spanned or compassed about by the heavens; that is, as we translate, the breadth of the earth. That which is circled or su• rounded by the aerial heavens is the earth: Hast thou perceived the breadth of that. Though the earth be better known to man than the depth of the sea; yet no man ever saw the whole earth. Many parts of the earth are deserts and unpassable by man. The best Writers say the whole compass of the earth is 21600 miles; yet that is rather a supposition, than a demonstration; no man having ever visited or viewed the whole face of the earth. We find (Job 11.9.) length ascribed to the earth, and breadth to the sea; But in this place the Lord having ascribed depth to the sea, gives breadth to the earth. We are not here to take the breadth of the earth, according to the rules of Geography; for so the length of the earth is from East to West,