John Trapp on Job 40:24

Verſe 24 He taketh it with his eyes] It, that is, Jordan, which he thinks when he ſeeth it, to drink up at a draught; but it is better filling his belly then his eye, as we ſay. Others, He thruſteth his head in up to the eyes through extreme greedineſſe. Brentius readeth it, Oculis ſuis capitur ipſe, decipulis perforatur naſus; and ſaith, That this Creature is taken only by his eyes and noſe; for otherwiſe he is as ſlick and ſlippery as an Eele; ſo is Satan (ſaith he) neither can we ſhun his wiles but by the Spirit of faith.In Gen. 3. p. 67. But Nouns hoc ſpumoſum? Luther in one place calleth allegories, Spumam Scripturae, the froth of the Scriptures: and in another, the allegorical ſenſe is a beauteous harlot, that inticeth idle men, who think themſelves in Paradice, and in Gods boſom when they fall upon ſuch ſpeculations. Gregory and others (who have wholy allegorized this and the former chapter, applying all to the divel and Antichriſt) obſerved not what was the ſtate and ſcope of this diſputation. Some read the Text thus, Will any take him in his fight, will any pierce his noſe with ſnares? q.d. That is not the way to take him, or hold him when taken. He muſt be caught by wiles, and not by main force or open ſtrength (See Pliny to this purpoſe) although when he is once caught, he is ſoon tamed and made tractable to many uſes. See Ariſtotles hiſtory of living Creatures.Lib. 8. cap 8. et 9 Lib. 9. cap. 46. Pliny ſaith, he had ſeen Elephants dance on the Rope, and write Greek letters with their feet, &c.

His noſe pierceth through ſnares] Or, Will any bear his noſe to put in ſnares? Though he be apt enough to be tamed and taught, yet he will not endure halter, bridle, bit or ring in his noſe; as neither will Leviathan, of whom the like is ſpoken, chap. 41.1, 2.