Hippopotamuses with elephants in African jungle, representing the Behemoth of the Old Testament. Colour wood engraving attributed to Edmund Evans, 1867.

"Behemoth. It is generally admitted that the Behemoth, of which a poetical description is given in the book of Job, is the hippopotamus. " Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee," near thee, or in thy neighbourhood. Arguments or illustrations of the power of the Almighty Creator need not be fetched from afar. To nations near the Nile the behemoth, was a familiar instance of animal size and strength, and his habits afford obvious lessons of the wisdom of God in the adaptation of creatures to their places in nature. Though amphibious, and chiefly at home in the water, "he eateth grass like the ox." "His strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly." Making the loins strong is a common Hebrew phrase, to indicate unusual power ; and in regard to the hippopotamus, the protection of every part of the body by its impenetrable hide is so complete, that even parts which in other animals are most vulnerable, are well defended from its natural enemies. Only the art of man can get dominion over him. The cedar, and other symbols of strength, are added to the description, to convey ideas of the power of the animal, yet combined with a harmlessness expressed in the statement, that "all the beasts of the field play," or sport in safety in his feeding places, nor fear him as he reposes "under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed and fens.'' His haunts are by the waters. "Behold, let a river come upon him, he will not fear; he is safe though Jordan break forth upon his mouth." The reports of African travellers, and our own observation of the animal, agree with the description in the ancient book. Even the points that offered some difficulty to Bible translators and commentators are now understood. "He that made him can make his sword approach unto him." Although usually a quiet and inoffensive animal, protected chiefly by defensive armour, yet when enraged and in danger he is not unprovided with a weapon of offence and attack, in his powerful tusks. Strange feats of strength are told, when even boats have been seized and snapped asunder by his teeth, and at such times there is something terrible in his anger. The interpretation of the passage in Job, therefore, seems clear. At the same time, there is nothing to hinder a more general reference in the description to various animals* of the same class, the pachydermata, or thick-hided quadrupeds. Some have applied the description to the elephant or to the rhinoceros, and Dr. J. Mason Good supposed the reference to be to the mastodon, or other species now extinct. However this may be, the general purport of the description in Job, is plain. It presents a striking illustration of the power, wisdom, and goodness of God in creation; the only worthy conclusion this, of all our studies in natural history. In the 104th Psalm, that grand hymn of praise addressed to Jehovah as the Creator of the world, we find fitting language to express our feelings in looking through nature up to nature's God. The Psalmist there sets forth the dependence of all creatures for being and well-being on the Creator, the provision made for them, and the glory which God receives from his works and ways. "Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great, thou art clothed with honour and majesty." ..."O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." ..." I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live ; I will sing praise unto my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord." *The word Behemoth is one of curious structure, being a noun singular with a termination, apparently, but not really plural. Behema would be the singular number in the common form, but in ancient Egyptian there are various words singular with the same termination, as Thoth, Paoth, etc., the names of the Egyptian months."—The Sunday at home, loc. cit.