Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The quiver rattleth against him - The quiver was a case made for containing arrows. It was usually slung over the shoulder, so that it could be easily reached to draw out an arrow. Warriors on horseback, as well as on foot, fought with bows and arrows, as well as with swords and spears; and the idea here is, that the war-horse bore upon himself these instruments of war. The rattling of the quiver was caused by the fact that the arrows were thrown somewhat loosely into the case or the quiver, and that in the rapid motion of the warrior they were shaken against each other. Thus, Virgil, Aeneid ix. 660:

- pharetramque fuga sensere sonantem.

Silius, L. 12:

Plena tenet et resonante pharetra.

And again:

Turba ruunt stridentque sagittiferi coryti.

So Homer (“Iliad, a.”), when speaking of Apollo:

Τόξ ὤμοισιν ἔχων, ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην

Ἔκλαγξαν δ ̓ ἄῤ ὀΐστοὶ ἐπ ̓ ὤμων χωομένοιο.

Tox́ ōmoisin echōn amfērefea te faretrēn

Eklangxan d' aŕ oistoi ep' ōmōn chōmenoio Seheutzer‘s “Phys. Sac., in loc.”

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

The quiver rattleth against him,.... The quiver is what arrows are put into and carried in, and seems here to be put for arrows, which being shot by the enemy come whizzing about him, but do not intimidate him; unless this is to be understood of arrows rattling in the quiver when carried by the rider "upon him", so some render the last word; and thus Homer^F23Iliad. 1. v. 4. and Virgil^F24"Pharetramqne sonantem". Aeneid. 9. v. 666. speak of the rattling quiver and sounding arrows in it, as carried on the back or shoulder; but the first sense seems best, in which another poet uses it^F25"----audito sonitu per inane pharetrae". Ovid. Metamorph. l. 6. v. 230. ;

the glittering spear and the shield; the lance or javelin, as Mr. Broughton renders it, and others; that is, he does not turn back from these, nor is he frightened at them when they are pointed to him or flung at him; so Aelianus^F26De Animal. l. 16. c. 25. speaks of the Persians training their horses and getting them used to noises, that in battle they might not be frightened at the clashing of arms, of swords and shields against each other; in like manner as our war horses are trained, not to start at the firing of a gun, or the explosion of a cannon.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

quiver — for the arrows, which they contain, and which are directed “against him.”

glittering spear — literally, “glittering of the spear,” like “lightning of the spear” (Habakkuk 3:11).

shield — rather, “lance.”

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

Quiver — The quiver is here put for the arrows contained in it, which being shot against the horse and rider, make a rattling noise.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Job 39:23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

Ver. 23. The quiver rattleth against him] The arrow; those messengers of death come whisking and singing about his ears (so the bullets now in so much use), but he is unappalled by this.

The glittering spear] Heb. The flaming spear, as Genesis 3:24, that is, bright and clear, shining like a flame of fire, which must needs be terrible; but not at all to the war horse.

And the shield] Or rather javelin, lance, or the like; he feareth not a wood of pikeman set in array against him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The quiver; or although the quiver &c. So this comes in as an aggravation of his courage, notwithstanding the just causes of fear which are mentioned in this verse. And the quiver is here put for the arrows contained in it, by a metonymy, very usual in this very case, and in all sorts of authors, which being shot against the horse and rider, make this rattling noise here mentioned.

The glittering spear and the shield; or rather, the lance or javelin. For that this was not a defensive, but an offensive weapon, seems plain, both from this place, where it is mentioned among such, and as an object of fear, which the shield is not, and from Joshua 8:18 1 Samuel 17:45, where it is so used.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23.The quiver — Used metaphorically for its contents — the arrows.

The glittering spear — Literally, the flame of a spear.

Shield — Hebrews, kidhon. More properly “javelin,” or “spear.” See note Job 41:29. Arrows and gleaming spears hurtle against him, and he turns not back.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Shield, or lance, Josue viii. 18. (Calmet) --- The din of armour does not disturb the horse, which has been inured to such things. (Haydock) --- It is of singular courage. (Worthington)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. Quiver - for the arrows, which they contain, and which are directed "against him."

Glittering spear - literally, glittering of the spear, like 'lightning of the spear' (Habakkuk 3:11).

Shield - rather, lance [ kidown (Hebrew #3591)].

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

41:26-29