He maketh a path to shine after him,.... Upon the sea, by raising a white from upon it, through its vehement motion as it passes along, or by the spermaceti it casts out and leaves behind it. It is said that whales will cut and plough the sea in such a manner, as to leave a shining glittering path behind them, the length of a German mile, which is three of ours;[one] would think the deep [to be] hoary; to be old and grey headed, or white like the hair of the head of an old man, a figure often used of the sea by poets ; and hence "Nereus" , which is the sea, is said to be an old man, because the froth in the waves of it looks like white hair.
Vid. Scheuchzer. ibid. (vol. 4.) p. 853. polihv alov, Homer. Iliad. 1. v. 350. polihv yalasshv, Iliad. 4. v. 248. "incanuit unda", Catullus. Phurnutus de Natura Deorum, p.