“‘A great eagle 4 with broad wings, long feathers, 5
with full plumage which was multi-hued, 6
came to Lebanon 7 and took the top of the cedar.
1 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates being aware of or taking notice of something.
2 sn Heb “hand.” “Giving one’s hand” is a gesture of promise (2 Kgs 10:15).
3 tn The parable assumes the defection of Zedekiah to Egypt and his rejection of Babylonian lordship.
4 sn The great eagle symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar (17:12).
5 tn Hebrew has two words for wings; it is unknown whether they are fully synonymous or whether one term distinguishes a particular part of the wing such as the wing coverts (nearest the shoulder), secondaries (mid-feathers of the wing) or primaries (last and longest section of the wing).
6 tn This term was used in 16:10, 13, and 18 of embroidered cloth.
7 sn In the parable Lebanon apparently refers to Jerusalem (17:12).