Eagle

"(Herb. nesher; properly the griffon vulture or great vulture, so "called from its tearing its prey with its beak), referred to for" "its swiftness of flight (Deut. 28:49; 2 Sam. 1:23), its mounting" "high in the air (Job 39:27), its strength (Ps. 103:5), its" "setting its nest in high places (Jer. 49:16), and its power of" vision (Job 39:27-30). "This "ravenous bird" is a symbol of those nations whom God "employs and sends forth to do a work of destruction, sweeping" away whatever is decaying and putrescent (Matt. 24:28; Isa. 46:11; Ezek. 39:4; Deut. 28:49; Jer. 4:13; 48:40). It is said "that the eagle sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring," "and with fresh plumage assumes the appearance of youth. To this," allusion is made in Ps. 103:5 and Isa. 40:31. God's care over his people is likened to that of the eagle in training its young "to fly (Ex. 19:4; Deut. 32:11, 12). An interesting illustration" "is thus recorded by Sir Humphry Davy:, "I once saw a very" interesting sight above the crags of Ben Nevis. Two parent "eagles were teaching their offspring, two young birds, the" maneuvers of flight. They began by rising from the top of the "mountain in the eye of the sun. It was about mid-day, and bright" "for the climate. They at first made small circles, and the young" "birds imitated them. They paused on their wings, waiting till" "they had made their flight, and then took a second and larger" "gyration, always rising toward the sun, and enlarging their" circle of flight so as to make a gradually ascending spiral. The "young ones still and slowly followed, apparently flying better" "as they mounted; and they continued this sublime exercise," "always rising till they became mere points in the air, and the" "young ones were lost, and afterwards their parents, to our" "aching sight." (See Isa. 40:31.)" "There have been observed in Palestine four distinct species of "eagles, (1) the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos); (2) the" "spotted eagle (Aquila naevia); (3) the common species, the" "imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca); and (4) the Circaetos gallicus," which preys on reptiles. The eagle was unclean by the Levitical law (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12).

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Gier eagle