Psa 104:20, Hab 1:8, Zep 3:3 | JFB | STEP | 20-23. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed times and seasons.

Psalms 104:20

20-23. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed times and seasons.

Habakkuk 1:8

8. swifter than the leopards—OPPIAN [Cynegeticks, 3.76], says of the leopard, "It runs most swiftly straight on: you would fancy it was flying through the air."

more fierce—rather, "more keen"; literally, "sharp."

evening wolves—wolves famished with fasting all day and so most keen in attacking the fold under covert of the approaching night (Jer 5:6; Zep 3:3; compare Ge 49:27). Hence "twilight" is termed in Arabic and Persian "the wolf's tail"; and in French, entre chien et loup.

spread themselves—proudly; as in Jer 50:11, and Mal 4:2, it implies strength and vigor. So also the Arabic cognate word [MAURER].

their horsemen . . . come from far—and yet are not wearied by the long journey.

Zephaniah 3:3

3. roaring—for prey (Pr 28:15; Eze 22:27; Am 3:4; Mic 2:2).

evening wolves—which are most ravenous at evening after being foodless all day (Jer 5:6; Hab 1:8).

they gnaw not the bones till the morrow—rather, "they put not off till to-morrow to gnaw the bones"; but devour all at once, bones and flesh, so ragingly ravenous are they [CALVIN].