Welcome to NachDaily with the second to last perek in Iyov, Perek 41.

After the next perek we will have finished the entire sefer. This is quite amazing. Here in NachDaily over the past 5 years, we’ve covered almost the entire Nach, close to 700 classes! We’ve covered Nevi’im Rishonim, Nevi’im Achrohim, Trey Asar, Tehilim, the secrets of the Aleph Beis, Mishlei, and now Iyov! Although all the sifrei Nach are holy and profound, Iyov perhaps has the most depth, as its major theme is human suffering.

Additionally, the “heart” of the sefer lies in the Meforshim who go to great lengths to explain what’s really going on behind the scenes, and the crux of the disputes. Our next project will be the 5 Megilos, with which many of you are already familiar.

The previous perek ended with Hashem addressing Iyov’s question of Rasha v’tov lo. Hashem saw that Iyov stilled harbored this question in his heart, and therefore preempted him by answering why the wicked prosper. There would be little value in a world of only weak people and things, so He created strength, such as in the behemoth and levyason to demonstrate His majesty and glory.

In passuk 3 Hashem asks, “Mi hikdimani va’ashalem, tachas kol hashamayim li hu? – Whose work preceded Me, that I had to complete it? Everything under the heavens is Mine.”

The Malbim explains that Hashem showed Iyov that it would be folly to destroy His mightiest and awesome of creations, whose purpose was to show God’s unyielding power and majesty.

Iyov felt that Hashem should have given over the levyason and behemoth to be killed, but in truth God owes Iyov nothing!

The Malbim continues: God is really saying to Iyov, how can you ask Me to destroy my creations which are like a part of Me? I wanted them so that man could understand My gevurah. Be grateful that I gave you life! I should change the world and everything that I created just because you, Iyov, don’t like it!?

From verses 4 until 24, Hashem goes into greater detail describing what the levyason looks like. Hashem is thereby demonstrating his absolute Hashgacha Pratis on all that takes places, even when good things happen to bad people. Rasha v’tov lo is not excluded from God’s provenance.

Hashem describes the levyason: It has teeth and jaws with which to bite. It sneezes flashes of light, smoke comes from its nostrils and fire from its mouth. Its neck and heart are like stone. Nothing can harm or penetrate them.

In verse 26 at the end of the perek, Hashem concludes that the powerful creatures exist for a good reason. “Es kol gavoah yireh hu melech al kol bnei shachatz – He looks down at all the haughty, is King over all the proud.”

Stay tuned to the next episode of Nachdaily when we’ll actually finish the sefer and see the ultimate answer to all of Iyov’s questions.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day!