Yahweh's purpose in directing Job's attention to such inexplicable animals on land (Behemoth) and in the water (Leviathan) seems to have been the same as His purpose in His first speech. He intended to humble Job by reminding him of his very limited power and wisdom compared with God's so Job would trust and obey Him.
Scholars disagree on the question of whether the Behemoth and Leviathan that the writer described here were real or mythological creatures. Some of the descriptions, if taken literally, could hardly refer to real animals that are alive today (e.g., 41:18-22). Nevertheless this is poetic literature and these descriptions may be figurative, specifically hyperbole (overstatement to emphasize one or more characteristics, similar to a caricature).
"Our poet can hardly write a line without including a simile, a habit which many critics censure as artistic over-kill."170
Those who prefer the mythological monster interpretation do so mainly because Leviathan almost certainly describes a mythical creature in 3:8, Psalms 74:14, and Isaiah 27:1, and perhaps elsewhere in Scripture. Also the description of Leviathan in 41:18-22 seems to picture an unreal sea monster. Furthermore there are similar descriptions of this sea monster in ancient Near Eastern mythology. Nevertheless it seems to most of the commentators and to me that Leviathan here, but not everywhere in Scripture, describes a real animal for the following reasons. The details of the description point to a real animal. Moreover both Behemoth and Leviathan occur elsewhere in Scripture apart from mythical connotations (e.g., Joel 1:20 where the Hebrew word translated "Behemoth"in Job 40:15 reads "beasts"; cf. Ps. 104:26). Additionally Scripture states that God created Behemoth (Job 40:15) and Leviathan (Ps. 104:26) as well as Job.
Yahweh reminded Job that Behemoth was a creature as he was (40:15). Job was not the Creator; he was on a lower level. The Hebrew word translated "Behemoth"is the plural of the word usually rendered "beast."Consequently some believe verse 15a is an introductory statement for what God says about both animals that follows. However in verses 15b-24 God had one particular animal in view. Since He gave a name to the second animal (41:1), He probably intended that we understand "Behemoth"as a name for the first animal.
Bible students have nominated several animals as Behemoth because of its description in 40:15-24. Some of these are the elephant,171the extinct rhinoceros that had no horn,172the extinct brontosaurus dinosaur,173the water buffalo,174and most popularly the hippopotamus.175I think both Behemoth and Leviathan may refer to dinosaurs of different types or perhaps other ancient animals that have now become extinct.
Verse 19a probably means Behemoth is the first in size and strength perhaps among animals of its kind or among animals in Job's area.
"The adult hippopotamus weighs up to eight thousand pounds."176
Verse 19b may mean that only its Maker should dare go near it for hand-to-hand combat; no human being would defeat it.177The definite article "the"before "Jordan"in verse 23b is absent in the Hebrew text. This may mean that God had any swift river in mind, any Jordan.178"When he is on watch"(v. 24a) is literally "by the eyes,"the only parts of a submerged hippopotamus, along with its nose (v. 24b), that are visible above the water.
Various writers have identified Leviathan in 41:1 as a mythical sea monster,179a marine dinosaur,180a whale, a dolphin, even a "tunny"(tuna?) fish, and most commonly a crocodile.
This section (ch. 41) contains the longest and last description of an animal in the book. As such it is climactic. God first drew Job's attention to the fact that Leviathan was very hard for people to capture and use (vv. 1-11). Since Job could not challenge Leviathan successfully, he should hardly expect to challenge its Creator successfully (v. 10). Job should not think that because he had a little wisdom and strength he could get the best of God in a contest. He could not even overcome Leviathan, one of God's creatures. "Given to"(v. 11a) is literally "anticipated."
"The argument to the superior strength of God is made, not to discourage men from trying to have dealings with God, but to enhance God's capability of managing the affairs of the universe so that men will trust Him."181
Verses 12-25 emphasize Leviathan's anatomy. "His sneezes flash forth light"(v. 18a) may mean that in the proper light the spray from his nostrils looked like jets of light.182Its eyes may be like the "eyelids of the morning"(v. 18b) in that they were the first part of the animal to become visible as it rose to the water's surface.183Verses 19-21 may describe its release of "pent-up breath together with water in a hot stream from its mouth [that] looks like a stream of fire in the sunshine."184
The last section of this description (vv. 26-34) emphasizes man's inability to capture Leviathan. Verse 31b may allude to the foam that formed on the top of a pot when someone was preparing ointment.185The deep appeared grey-headed (v. 32b) perhaps when the animal's wake made whitecaps on the water. The section concludes by stressing this beast's fearless confidence. If people cannot shake the confidence of one of God's creatures, how foolish it was for Job to think he could intimidate God.
To some degree Job, his three friends, and Elihu had all based their arguments on the rationality of God's acts. God reminded them of Behemoth and Leviathan partially to teach them all that His actions transcend our ability to explain everything rationally.
"Animals independent of man (38:39-39:30) and animals dangerous and repulsive to man (40:15-41:34) were all a grand zoological exhibition to help Job sense that because he had nothing to do with making, sustaining, or even subduing them, it was unthinkable that he could question their Creator."186
Another writer advocated a different view with which I do not agree.
". . . the beasts themselves celebrate instead Job's triumph."187
One might conclude after reading these speeches of Yahweh that God is not very compassionate. He may seem more concerned about establishing His own glory than about Job's suffering. However, we need to remember that God could have said nothing. Furthermore by directing Job's thinking as He did, God did what was best for Job. He did not just give him answers to specific questions but a vision of Himself that would transform Job's life forever after. God's words to Job may sound harsh, but He was simply responding to Job in the same vein as Job had been addressing Him (cf. 2 Sam. 22:26-27; Ps. 18:25-26). He did not do this to mock him but to make a forceful impression on him. The forcefulness of His words harmonizes with the forcefulness of His revelation and the forcefulness of His person.188God wants us to understand Him as best we can within our finite human limitations. That is evidently why He spoke to Job, and that is why He preserved this record of His revelation in Scripture.189
"That no summary challenge was needed at the end of the Lord's second speech is indicative that Job's second response (42:1-6) was a willing one in contrast to his initial reluctant reply (40:3-5)."190
