Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 39:8

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

He looks round on the mountains of his pasture. 64. The mountains of his pasture are the lofty contemplations of inward refreshment. For the more holy men abase themselves outwardly with contempt, the more abundantly are they supported within with the contemplation of revelations. Whence it is written; He hath disposed the ascents in his heart in the valley of tears; [Ps. 84, 6] because those, whom the valley of humility outwardly imprisons in tears, the ascent of contemplation elevates within. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXX ↗

Thomas Aquinas

The other reason is because there he wanders more freely in search of pasture, and so he says, "He ranges the mountains for his pasture," since free access to different places to find his pasture lies open to him, and he receives the pastures themselves at his own pleasure, and so he says, "and he searches eagerly for green grass." Domestic asses are not given the best pasturage, but often the worst, because the better pastures are reserved for more noble animals.

Commentary on Job ↗