Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 39:25

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

When he heareth the trumpet, he saith, Vah. He smelleth the battle afar off, the exhortation of the captains, and the howling of the army. 69. By which words this also is plainly shewn, that, in this place, nothing is said by the Lord of the irrational horse. For a brute animal cannot say, 'Vah;' but while it is said to say that, which it is quite unable to say, it is pointed out whom it designates. For 'Vah' is a word of exultation. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXXI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Rather, he is said to rejoice at the sound of the military trumpet, and so he says, "When he hears the trumpet, he exclaims: Hooray!" i.e., he shouts in exultation, for "Hooray" is an exclamation of exultation. Since all these things mentioned express the courage of the horse, he now adds something about his perspicacity saying, "He smells the battle from afar," that is, while the enemy is still far off he senses by smell that battle is imminent. …

Commentary on Job ↗