.40:15-24.

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Two beasts (Job 40:15-41:34)

Before Job accepts the challenge to govern the moral order, God warns him that it is far more difficult than governing the natural and physical order. Therefore, Job must first consider what power he has over, for instance, the beasts. Two examples are sufficient to impress upon Job that he faces an impossibility.

The first of these is the monster Behemoth, generally thought to be the hippopotamus. It is among the strongest creatures of God’s creation (Job 40:15-18), all-powerful on the land, untroubled in the water and very difficult to capture (Job 40:19-24).

The second beast described to Job is Leviathan, the mythical sea monster or, possibly, the crocodile. Can Job catch one with a hook as he catches a fish? Can he make it talk, or make it work for him, or make a pet of it? Can he sell it in the market (Job 41:1-6)?

Even if Job were able to catch one he would be sorry. He would never do it again (Job 40:7-8)!

If, then, no person in his right mind would dare stir up Leviathan, how unthinkable to try to stand up against God (Job 40:9-11).

God then describes some fearsome features of this dragon-like beast: its armour of tough skin, its strong jaws, its terrible teeth (Job 40:12-17).

When it blows air and water out of its nostrils, it appears to be blowing out fire and smoke (Job 40:18-21).

The animal is so fearfully strong that just the sight of its movements fills even the strongest with terror (Job 40:22-25).

No weapon can pierce its iron-like skin (Job 40:26-29).

When it moves from the land into the water its movements dig up the mud like a threshing-sledge and whip up white foam on the water (Job 40:30-32).

This fearsome creature is the king of beasts, unconquerable by human power, yet it is part of the world God has created (Job 40:33-34).