The fullest account of the Leviathan occurs in Job xli., the whole of which chapter is given to the description of the terrible reptile. As the translation of the Jewish Bible differs in some points from that of the Authorized Version, I shall here give the former, so that the reader may be able to compare them with each other.
"Canst thou draw out a crocodile with a hook, or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
"Canst thou put a reed into his nose, or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
"Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
"Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a servant for ever?
"Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
"Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
"Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish-spears?
"Lay thine hand upon him, thou wilt no more remember the battle.
"Behold, the hope of him is in vain; shall not one be cast down at the sight of him?
"None is so fierce that dare stir him up; who then is able to stand before Me?
"Who hath forestalled Me that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
"I will not be silent of his parts, nor of the matter of his power, nor of his comely proportion.
"Who can uncover the face of his garment? who would enter the double row in his jaw?
"Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
"The strength of his shields are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
"One is so near to another that no air can come between them.
"They are joined one to another, they stick together that they cannot be sundered.
"His snortings make light to shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning dawn.
"Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
"His breath kindleth live coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
"In his neck abideth strength, and before him danceth terror.
"The flakes of his flesh are joined together, they are firm in themselves; yea, as hard as nether millstone.
"When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid; by reason of breakings they lose themselves.
"The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
"He esteemeth iron as straw, and copper as rotten wood.
"The arrow cannot make him flee: sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.
"Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
CROCODILE ATTACKING HORSES.
"His under parts are like sharp points of potsherd; he speaketh sharp points upon the mire.
"He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
"He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
"Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
"He beholdeth all high things; he is a king over all the children of pride."
This splendid description points as clearly to the Crocodile as the description of the Behemoth which immediately precedes it does to the hippopotamus, and it is tolerably evident that the sacred poet who wrote these passages must have been personally acquainted with both the Crocodile and the hippopotamus. In both descriptions there are a few exaggerations, or rather, poetical licences. For example, the bones of the hippopotamus are said to be iron and copper, and the Crocodile is said to kindle live coals with his breath. These, however, are but the natural imagery of an Oriental poet, and, considering the subject, we may rather wonder that the writer has not introduced even more fanciful metaphors.
Description of the Crocodile.
There are several species of Crocodile in different parts of the world, ten species at least being known to science.