*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
They bow themselves - literally, they curve or bend themselves; that is, they draw their limbs together.
They cast out their sorrows - That is, they cast forth the offspring of their pains, or the young which cause their pains. The idea seems to be, that they do this without any of the care and attention which shepherds are obliged to show to their flocks at such seasons. They do it when God only guards them; when they are in the wilderness or on the rocks far away from the abodes of man. The leading thought in all this seems to be, that the tender care of God was over his creatures, in the most perilous and delicate state, and that all this was exercised where man could have no access to them, and could not even observe them.
They bow themselves - In order to bring forth their young ones.
They cast out their sorrows - חבליהם chebleyhem; the placenta, afterbirth, or umbilical cord. So this word has been understood.
They bow themselves, they (e) bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
(e) They bring forth with great difficulty.
They bow themselves,.... That they may bring forth their young with greater ease and more safety: for it seems the hinds bring forth their young with great difficulty; and there are provisions in nature made to lessen it; as thunder, before observed, which causes them to bring forth the sooner; and there is an herb called "seselis", which it is said (i) they feed upon before birth, to make it the easier; as well as they use that, and another called "aros", after the birth, to ease them of their later pains;
they bring forth their young ones; renting and cleaving asunder the membrane, as the word signifies, in which their young is wrapped;
they cast out their sorrows; either their young, which they bring forth in pains and which then cease; or the secundines, or afterbirth, in which the young is wrapped, and which the philosopher says (k) they eat, and is supposed to be medical to them. None but a woman seems to bring forth with more pain than this creature; and a wife is compared to it, Proverbs 5:19.
(i) Cicero de Natura Deoram, l. 2. Plin. Nat. Hist. c. 8. 32. Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 5. (k) Aristot. ib.
bow themselves--in parturition; bend on their knees (1-Samuel 4:19).
bring forth--literally, "cause their young to cleave the womb and break forth."
sorrows--their young ones, the cause of their momentary pains.
*More commentary available at chapter level.