2 Esdras chapter 11
[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] The dream-vision of an eagle. The dream-vision of a lion.
Note. The Book of Second Esdras is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
THE DREAM-VISION OF AN EAGLE
VERSE 1. It came to pass the second night that I saw a dream, and behold, an eagle which had twelve feathered wings and three heads came up from the sea.
I saw a dream. This long vision is a dream.
an eagle. An eagle was the symbol found on the standards of the Roman legions.
For that reason, in this dream-vision, the eagle symbolizes Rome.
VERSE 2. I saw, and behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of heaven blew on her, and the clouds were gathered together against her.
and the clouds were gathered together against her. So say the chief so-called Oriental versions. The Latin version has only and were gathered together.
VERSE 3. I saw, and out of her wings there grew other wings near them; and they became little, tiny wings.
little, tiny wings. Or puny wings.
VERSE 4. But her heads were at rest. The head in the middle was larger than the other heads, yet rested it with them.
VERSE 5. Moreover I saw, and behold, the eagle flew with her wings to reign over the earth and over those who dwell therein.
to reign over the earth. The eagle’s rule extends over the whole world.
VERSE 6. I saw how all things under heaven were subject to her, and no one spoke against her—no, not one creature on earth.
not one creature on earth. This might signify human being.
VERSE 7. I saw, and behold, the eagle rose on her talons, and uttered her voice to her wings, saying,
VERSE 8. “Don’t all watch at the same time. Let each one sleep in his own place and watch in turn;
watch. Or be awake.
watch in turn. Rome will have a sequence of rulers, one after another.
VERSE 9. but let the heads be preserved for the last.”
the last. This is an eschatological term.
VERSE 10. I saw, and behold, the voice didn’t come out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.
VERSE 11. I counted her wings that were near the others, and behold, there were eight of them.
her wings. The Syriac version has her little wings.
VERSE 12. I saw, and behold, on the right side one wing arose and reigned over all the earth.
on the right side. In this dream-vision, the right-hand side is dominant and favorable.
VERSE 13. When it reigned, the end of it came, and it disappeared, so that its place appeared no more. The next wing rose up and reigned, and it ruled a long time.
a long time. The meaning of this is uncertain.
VERSE 14. It happened that when it reigned, its end came also, so that it disappeared, like the first.
VERSE 15. Behold, a voice came to it, and said,
VERSE 16. “Listen, you who have ruled over the earth all this time! I proclaim this to you, before you disappear,
VERSE 17. none after you will rule as long as you, not even half as long.”
VERSE 18. Then the third arose, and ruled as the others before, and it also disappeared.
VERSE 19. So it went with all the wings one after another, as every one ruled, and then disappeared.
VERSE 20. I saw, and behold, in process of time the wings that followed were set up on the right side, that they might rule also. Some of them ruled, but in a while they disappeared.
wings. The Syriac has little wings.
right side. The Aethiopic version has left side.
VERSE 21. Some of them also were set up, but didn’t rule.
VERSE 22. After this I saw, and behold, the twelve wings disappeared, along with two of the little wings.
VERSE 23. There was no more left on the eagle’s body, except the three heads that rested, and six little wings.
VERSE 24. I saw, and behold, two little wings divided themselves from the six and remained under the head that was on the right side; but four remained in their place.
four remained in their place. The dream-vision has shifted to the rule of four little wings.
VERSE 25. I saw, and behold, these under wings planned to set themselves up and to rule.
under wings. The Syriac has little wings.
VERSE 26. I saw, and behold, there was one set up, but in a while it disappeared.
VERSE 27. A second also did so, and it disappeared faster than the first.
VERSE 28. I saw, and behold, the two that remained also planned between themselves to reign.
the two that remained. These next two wings did not achieve even a brief rule.
VERSE 29. While they thought about it, behold, one of the heads that were at rest awakened, the one that was in the middle, for that was greater than the two other heads.
VERSE 30. I saw how it joined the two other heads with it.
VERSE 31. Behold, the head turned with those who were with it, and ate the two under wings that planned to reign.
under wings. The Syriac has little wings.
VERSE 32. But this head held the whole earth in possession, and ruled over those who dwell in it with much oppression. It had stronger governance over the world than all the wings that had gone before.
VERSE 33. After this I saw, and behold, the head also that was in the middle suddenly disappeared, like the wings.
Now the dream-vision is describing the fate of the heads.
VERSE 34. But the two heads remained, which also reigned the same way over the earth and over those who dwell in it.
VERSE 35. I saw, and behold, the head on the right side devoured the one that was on the left side.
THE DREAM-VISION OF A LION
VERSE 36. Then I heard a voice, which said to me, “Look in front of you, and consider the thing that you see.”
I heard a voice. Ezra becomes personally involved.
VERSE 37. I saw, and behold, something like a lion roused out of the woods roaring. I heard how he sent out a man’s voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,
something like a lion. A lion appears. It symbolizes the Messiah.
a man’s voice. The voice is a human attribute.
VERSE 38. “Listen and I will talk with you. The Most High will say to you,
The Most High. This term appears in the post-exilic works of the Bible.
VERSE 39. ‘Aren’t you the one that remains of the four animals whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of my times might come through them?
my times. Or the times.
VERSE 40. The fourth came and overcame all the animals that were past, and ruled the world with great trembling, and the whole extent of the earth with grievous oppression. He lived on the earth such a long time with deceit.
VERSE 41. You have judged the earth, but not with truth.
You have judged the earth. Political leaders sit in judgment of their nations.
not with truth. Political leaders are almost never agents of truth.
VERSE 42. For you have afflicted the meek, you have hurt the peaceful, you have hated those who speak truth, you have loved liars, destroyed the dwellings of those who produced fruit, and threw down the walls of those who did you no harm.
the meek. The Lord Jesus Christ said they will inherit the earth. But these political leaders persecuted them.
VERSE 43. Your insolence has come up to the Most High, and your pride to the Mighty.
pride. It is typical of a wicked kingdom.
VERSE 44. The Most High also has looked at his times, and behold, they are ended, and his ages are fulfilled.
VERSE 45. Therefore appear no more, you eagle, nor your horrible wings, nor your evil little wings, nor your cruel heads, nor your hurtful talons, nor all your worthless body,
VERSE 46. that all the earth may be refreshed and relieved, being delivered from your violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made her.’ ”
2 ESDRAS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, How Many People Will Be Saved
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