The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Esdras 11
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.
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.
3 I saw, and out of her wings there grew
other wings near them; and they became
little, tiny wings.
4 But her heads were at rest. The head
in the middle was larger than the other
heads, yet rested it with them.
5 Moreover I saw, and behold, the eagle
flew with her wings to reign over the earth
and over those who dwell therein.
6 I saw how all things under heaven were
subject to her, and no one spoke against
her—no, not one creature on earth.
7 I saw, and behold, the eagle rose on her
talons, and uttered her voice to her wings,
saying,
8 “Don’t all watch at the same time. Let
each one sleep in his own place and watch
in turn;
9 but let the heads be preserved for the
last.”
10 I saw, and behold, the voice didn’t
come out of her heads, but from the midst
of her body.
11 I counted ‡her wings that were near
the others, and behold, there were eight of
them.
12 I saw, and behold, on the right side one
wing arose and reigned over all the earth.
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.
14 It happened that when it reigned, its
end came also, so that it disappeared, like
the first.
15 Behold, a voice came to it, and said,
16 “Listen, you who have ruled over the
earth all this time! I proclaim this to you,
before you disappear,
17 none after you will rule as long as you,
not even half as long.
18 Then the third arose, and ruled as the
others before, and it also disappeared.
19 So it went with all the wings one after
another, as every one ruled, and then disappeared.
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.
21 Some of them also were set up, but
didn’t rule.
22 After this I saw, and behold, the twelve
wings disappeared, along with two of the
little wings.
23 There was no more left on the eagle’s
body, except the three heads that rested,
and six little wings.
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.
25 I saw, and behold, these ‡under wings
planned to set themselves up and to rule.
26 I saw, and behold, there was one set
up, but in a while it disappeared.
27 A second also did so, and it
disappeared faster than the first.
28 I saw, and behold, the two
that remained also planned between
themselves to reign.
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.
30 I saw how itjoined the two otherheads
with it.
31 Behold, the head turned with those
who were with it, and ate the two §under
wings that planned to reign.
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.
33 After this I saw, and behold, the head
also that was inthe middle suddenly
disappeared, like the wings.
34 But the two heads remained, which
also reigned the same way over the earth
and over those who dwell in it.
35 I saw, and behold, the head on the
right side devoured the one that was onthe
left side.
36 Then I heard a voice, which said to
me, “Look in front of you, and consider the
thing that you see.”
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,
38 “Listen and I will talk with you. The
Most High will say to you,
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?
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.
41 You have judged the earth, but not
with truth.
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.
43 Your insolence has come up to the
Most High, and your pride to the Mighty.
44 The Most High also has looked at his
times, and behold, they are ended, and his
ages are fulfilled.
45 Therefore appear no more, you eagle,
nor your horrible wings, nor your evil
little wings, nor your cruel heads, nor your
hurtfultalons, nor all your worthless body,
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.