Just as it is difficult to claim with authority what Behemoth is, so it is equally difficult to identify with certain authority what Leviathan is. He has been variously thought to be a great serpent, a mythical sea monster, a water dinosaur, a whale, a dolphin or some other fish, but most commonly he is identified as a crocodile. Leviathan’s description is the longest of the animal kingdom in the Book of Job. As such, it is probably a fitting conclusion to the Lord’s remarks to Job. It is interesting how the author of the Book of Job brings out a vivid picture of the Almighty through “the things that are made” (Romans 1:20), which, according to Paul, is adequate to appreciate even the great eternal power of God. Therefore, the Lord’s remarks to Job are an adequate reply to his arguments, because Job should have been able to discern these things, so that, although he was the most righteous man on earth (Job 1:8), he was without an excuse for mystifying the friends and otherwise making the Almighty’s power and wisdom an enigma before his listeners in an effort to defend his own righteousness.
The Lord began by asking Job, if he would ever try catching leviathan (crocodile),[1] would he do so with a fish hook, since water was his habitat. Moreover, assuming he was able to catch leviathan, would he try to tie down his tongue, or perhaps better as the Septuagint, “put a halter about his nose” (Job 41:1)? In other words, would Job try to tie its mouth shut with a rope. The Lord keeps assuming Job was able to do as the Lord asked, so he goes on to ask Job, if he had done this, would he then be able to put a rope through its nose or bore a hole in its jaw for a ring or a hook and lead him around, as he might a pet (Job 41:2)?
Having done all this, would leviathan then beg to be free, and would he whine and speak gently to Job? Would his free spirit be broken by Job’s masterful hand, and would this wild creature agree to serve Job for the rest of its life (Job 41:3-4). Is anyone able to visualize a circumstance whereby Job or any man could tame the crocodile to serve him? If so, would Job then be able to play with leviathan? Would it be likely that he would put a rope around him, and permit his daughters to lead him around for their amusement (Job 41:5)?
Job was a merchant, the greatest in the East (Job 1:3), so the Lord asked him, if he could use the leviathan, as a commodity for sale abroad. Would traders bargain for it, and would they be able to divide leviathan up and sell him to local merchants, wherever they traveled abroad (Job 41:6)?[2] So, assuming leviathan was a valuable product for sale, how would Job slay him? Would he catch him with a net of barbed iron? Would that hurt his skin? Would he use a spear to drive through his head. Go ahead and touch leviathan, and you won’t soon forget the battle you’ve got yourself into, and you won’t soon return either, assuming you survive (Job 41:7-8).
Considering the trouble involved in capturing and killing it, and the lack of a profitable market for his flesh, the hope of building a marketable business around him is dim, indeed (Job 41:9). Who would even want to, considering the fact that his mere appearance causes men’s courage to fail, and, when he is stirred, few there be who would be able to stand in the presence of leviathan, for he is that fierce (Job 41:10).
Therefore, Job, if you think you would have trouble taming this beast, or even capturing and killing him to make a profitable market of his flesh and hide, and considering the fact that I created him (and everything else in the heavens and on earth), how much more trouble would you have in bending my will to yours? If you couldn’t stand in his presence, what makes you think you’d be able to stand in mine? Do you really believe you could take me to court and cause me to agree with you (Job 41:10-11). Job made a grave error here, as do all those of the ‘name-it-and-claim-it’ religion of our own day, fools who believe they have tamed the Lord and are able to extract blessings from him by their command of his word.
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[1] Although the identity of leviathan remains obscure, for the sake of vividness in the Lord’s query, I’ll assume he is a crocodile, most likely a great but extinct crocodile.
[2] I tasted crocodile in one of my church’s ‘out-reach’ game dinners. I was surprised with its tastelessness. It had a texture of jello but much stiffer and without the taste. I realize the ancients did eat crocodile, but, considering the danger involved in the hunt, it would have been very foolish to hunt it for profit, because the reward (taste) just isn’t there.
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