Extrabiblical Writings - OT Pseudepigrapha
4 EZRA (2 Esdras) - The Prophetic Vision of the Eagle and the Lion
4 Ezra (2 Esdras) Chapter 11
[1] On the second night I had a dream, and behold, there came up from the sea an eagle that had twelve feathered wings and three heads.
[2] And I looked, and behold, he spread his wings over all the earth, and all the winds of heaven blew upon him, and the clouds were gathered about him.
[3] And I looked, and out of his wings there grew opposing wings; but they became little, puny wings.
[4] But his heads were at rest; the middle head was larger than the other heads, but it also was at rest with them.
[5] And I looked, and behold, the eagle flew with his wings, to reign over the earth and over those who dwell in it.
[6] And I saw how all things under heaven were subjected to him, and no one spoke against him, not even one creature that was on the earth.
[7] And I looked, and behold, the eagle rose upon his talons, and uttered a cry to his wings, saying,
[8] "Do not all watch at the same time; let each sleep in his own place, and watch in his turn;
[9] but let the heads be reserved for the last."
[10] And I looked, and behold, the voice did not come from his heads, but from the midst of his body.
[11] And I counted his opposing wings, and behold, there were eight of them.
[12] And I looked, and behold, on the right side one wing arose, and it reigned over all the earth.
[13] And while it was reigning it came to its end and disappeared, so that its place was not seen. Then the next wing arose and reigned, and it continued to reign a long time.
[14] And while it was reigning its end came also, so that it disappeared like the first.
[15] And behold, a voice sounded, saying to it.
[16] "Hear me, you who have ruled the earth all this time; I announce this to you before you disappear.
[17] After you no one shall rule as long as you, or even half as long."
[18] Then the third wing raised itself up, and held the rule like the former ones, and it also disappeared.
[19] And so it went with all the wings; they wielded power one after another and then were never seen again.
[20] And I looked, and behold, in due course the wings that followed also rose up on the right side, in order to rule. There were some of them that ruled, yet disappeared suddenly;
[21] and others of them rose up, but did not hold the rule.
[22] And after this I looked, and behold, the twelve wings and the two little wings disappeared;
[23] and nothing remained on the eagle's body except the three heads that were at rest and six little wings.
[24] And I looked, and behold, two little wings separated from the six and remained under the head that was on the right side; but four remained in their place.
[25] And I looked, and behold, these little wings planned to set themselves up and hold the rule.
[26] And I looked, and behold, one was set up, but suddenly disappeared;
[27] a second also, and this disappeared more quickly than the first.
[28] And I looked, and behold, the two that remained were planning between themselves to reign together;
[29] and while they were planning, behold, one of the heads that were at rest (the one which was in the middle) awoke; for it was greater than the other two heads.
[30] And I saw how it allied the two heads with itself,
[31] and behold, the head turned with those that were with it, and it devoured the two little wings which were planning to reign.
[32] Moreover this head gained control of the whole earth, and with much oppression dominated its inhabitants; and it had greater power over the world than all the wings that had gone before.
[33] And after this I looked, and behold, the middle head also suddenly disappeared, just as the wings had done.
[34] But the two heads remained, which also ruled over the earth and its inhabitants.
[35] And I looked, and behold, the head on the right side devoured the one on the left.
[36] Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Look before you and consider what you see."
[37] And I looked, and behold, a creature like a lion was aroused out of the forest, roaring; and I heard how he uttered a man's voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,
[38] "Listen and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you,
[39] `Are you not the one that remains of the four beasts which I had made to reign in my world, so that the end of my times might come through them?
[40] You, the fourth that has come, have conquered all the beasts that have gone before; and you have held sway over the world with much terror, and over all the earth with grievous oppression; and for so long you have dwelt on the earth with deceit.
[41] And you have judged the earth, but not with truth;
[42] for you have afflicted the meek and injured the peaceable; you have hated those who tell the truth, and have loved liars; you have destroyed the dwellings of those who brought forth fruit, and have laid low the walls of those who did you no harm.
[43] And so your insolence has come up before the Most High, and your pride to the Mighty One.
[44] And the Most High has looked upon his times, and behold, they are ended, and his ages are completed!
[45] Therefore you will surely disappear, you eagle, and your terrifying wings, and your most evil little wings, and your malicious heads, and your most evil talons, and your whole worthless body,
[46] so that the whole earth, freed from your violence, may be refreshed and relieved, and may hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made it.'"
4 Ezra (2 Esdras) Chapter 12:1-3
[1] While the lion was saying these words to the eagle, I looked,
[2] and behold, the remaining head disappeared. And the two wings that had gone over to it arose and set themselves up to reign, and their reign was brief and full of tumult.
[3] And I looked, and behold, they also disappeared, and the whole body of the eagle was burned, and the earth was exceedingly terrified. Then I awoke in great perplexity of mind and great fear, and I said to my spirit,
[4] "Behold, you have brought this upon me,
because you search out the ways of the Most High.
[5] Behold, I am still weary in mind and very weak in my spirit, and not
even a little strength is left in me, because of the great fear with which I
have been terrified this night.
[6] Therefore I will now beseech the Most High that he may strengthen me
to the end."
[7] And I said, "O sovereign Lord, if I have found favor in thy
sight, and if I have been accounted righteous before thee beyond many others,
and if my prayer has indeed come up before thy face,
[8] strengthen me and show me, thy servant, the interpretation and
meaning of this terrifying vision, that thou mayest fully comfort my soul.
[9] For thou hast judged me worthy to be shown the end of the times and
the last events of the times."
[10] He said to me, "This is the interpretation of this vision
which you have seen:
[11] The eagle which you saw coming up from the sea is the fourth
kingdom which appeared in a vision to your brother Daniel.
[12] But it was not explained to him as I now explain or have explained
it to you.
[13] Behold, the days are coming when a kingdom shall arise on earth,
and it shall be more terrifying than all the kingdoms that have been before it.
[14] And twelve kings shall reign in it, one after another.
[15] But the second that is to reign shall hold sway for a longer time
than any other of the twelve.
[16] This is the interpretation of the twelve wings which you saw.
[17] As for your hearing a voice that spoke, coming not from the eagle's heads but from the midst of his body, this is the interpretation:
[18] In the midst of the time of that kingdom great struggles shall
arise, and it shall be in danger of falling; nevertheless it shall not fall
then, but shall regain its former power.
[19] As for your seeing eight little wings clinging to his wings, this
is the interpretation:
[20] Eight kings shall arise in it, whose times shall be short and their
years swift;
[21] and two of them shall perish when the middle of its time draws near; and four shall be kept for the time when its end approaches; but two shall be kept until the end.
[22] As for your seeing three heads at rest, this is the interpretation:
[23] In its last days the Most High will raise up three kings, and they
shall renew many things in it, and shall rule the earth
[24] and its inhabitants more oppressively than all who were before
them; therefore they are called the heads of the eagle.
[25] For it is they who shall sum up his wickedness and perform his last
actions.
[26] As for your seeing that the large head disappeared, one of the
kings shall die in his bed, but in agonies.
[27] But as for the two who remained, the sword shall devour them.
[28] For the sword of one shall devour him who was with him; but he also
shall fall by the sword in the last days.
[29] As for your seeing two little wings passing over to the head which
was on the right side,
[30] This is the interpretation: It is these whom the Most High has kept for the eagle's end; this was the reign which was brief and full of tumult, as you have seen.
[31] "And as for the lion whom you saw rousing up out of the forest
and roaring and speaking to the eagle and reproving him for his unrighteousness,
and as for all his words that you have heard,
[32] This is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept until the end of days, who will arise from the posterity of David, and will come and speak to them; he will denounce them for their ungodliness and for their wickedness, and will cast up before them their contemptuous dealings.
[33] For first he will set them living before his judgment seat, and
when he has reproved them, then he will destroy them.
[34] But he will deliver in mercy the remnant of my people, those who
have been saved throughout my borders, and he will make them joyful until the
end comes, the day of judgment, of which I spoke to you at the beginning.
[35] This is the dream that you saw, and this is its interpretation.
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THE DATE OF COMPOSITION IS c. 100 C.E.
- Earliest complete MSS: Syriac, 6th century; Latin, 9th century
- Sahidic Coptic fragments, 6th-8th centuries.
- Quoted often in Latin by Ambrose in the late fouth century; and 5:35 is quoted in Greek by Clement of Alexandria in the late second century
- 3:1 - 30th year (after destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.?)
- No allusions to Bar Kokhba revolt in 132-135 C.E.
- Eagle vision in 11-12 is usually understood to belong in context of late 1st century C.E. But note that DiTommaso argues that Eagle Vision dates to c. 218 C.E (reign of Septimus Severus), although composed originally c. 100 and updated and redacted such that original is irrecoverable. If he is correct, this is an important example of a Christian addition to an OT Pseudepigraphon which entirely lacks Christian signature features.
Longenecker (1991) - reads 4 Ezra along the following lines:
11:1-12:35 - The Eagle Vision is an earlier tradition incorporated into the book but reinterpreted to teach that a remnant of a few worthy ones will be saved at the eschaton (12:34). Only the wise (the same remnant) are worthy of receiving this teaching (12:36-38). In accordance with this new revelation, Ezra dissembles when he meets with the people in 12:46-49, comforting them because, although they are among the lost, they are not worthy to know it.
[ Notes on 4 Ezra from the University of St. Andrews ]
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Possible Interpretations of the Eagle Vision in 4 Ezra
Roman Emperors and Rulers :-
Wing 1: Julius Caesar 59/48/46-44 BC (assassinated in 44 BC)
Wing 2: Augustus (Octavian) 44/23 BC - 14 AD
Wing 3: Tiberius 14-37 AD
Wing 4: Caligula 37-41 AD
Wing 5: Claudius 41-54 AD
Wing 6: Nero 54-68 AD
[ these two small wings are placed here according to 12.21 ]
Small Wing 1: Vindex 68 AD (rebellion, no rule)
Small Wing 2: Macer 68 (rebellion, no rule)
Wing 7: Galba 68 -69 AD
Wing 8: Otho 69 AD
Wing 9: Vitellius 69 AD
Wing 10: Vespasian 69-79 AD
Wing 11: Titus 79-81 AD
Wing 12: Domitian 81-96 AD and later Commodus 180-192 AD
Small Wing 3: Pertinax Jan 1-Mar 28, 193 AD (87 days)
Small Wing 4: Didius Julianus Mar 28-June 1, 193 AD (66 days)
Small Wing 5: Pescennius 193-194 AD (rebellion, no rule)
Small Wing 6: Albinus 193-197 AD (rebellion, no rule)
(Big) Head 1: Septimius Severus 193-211 AD (Feb 1)
Heads 2 & 3: Caracalla and Geta 198-211 and 209-211 AD killed in late December
Head 3: Caracalla 211-217 AD
Small Wings 7 & 8: Macrinus 217-218 AD and Diadumenianus 218 AD
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2 Baruch
36—37. The Vision of the Forest, the Vine, the Fountain and the Cedar
36 1 And when I had said these things I fell asleep there, and I saw a vision in the night. 2 And lo! a forest of trees planted on the plain, and lofty and rugged rocky mountains surrounded it, and that forest occupied much space. 3 And lo! over against it arose a vine, and from under it there went forth a fountain peacefully. 4 Now that fountain came to the forest and was (stirred) into great waves, and those waves submerged that forest, and suddenly they rooted out the greater part of that forest, and overthrew all the mountains which were round about it. 5 And the height of the forest began to be made low, and the top of the mountains was made low and that fountain prevailed greatly, so that it left nothing of that great forest save one cedar only. 6 Also when it had cast it down and had destroyed and rooted out the greater part of that forest, so that nothing was left of it, nor could its place be recognized, then that vine began to come with the fountain in peace and great tranquility, and it came to a place which was not far from that cedar, and they brought the cedar which had been cast down to it. 7 And I beheld and lo! that vine opened its mouth and spoke and said to that cedar: Art you not that cedar which was left of the forest of wickedness, and by whose means wickedness persisted, and was wrought all those years, and goodness never. 8 And you kept conquering that which was not yours, and to that which was your you did never show compassion, and you did keep extending your power over those who were far from you, and those who drew near you, you did hold fast in the toils of your wickedness, and you did uplift thyself always as one that could not be rooted out! 9 But now your time has sped and your hour is come. 10 Do you also therefore depart, O cedar, after the forest, which departed before you, and become dust with it, and let your ashes be mingled together. 11 And now recline in anguish and rest in torment till your last time come, in which you will come again, and be tormented still more.'
37 And after these things I saw that cedar burning, and the vine growing, itself and all around it, the plain full of unfading flowers. And I indeed awoke and arose.
38—40. Interpretation of the Vision
38 1 And I prayed and said: 'O LORD, my Lord, you do always enlighten those who are led by understanding. 2 Your law is life, and Your wisdom is right guidance. 3 Make known to me therefore the interpretation of this vision. 4 For you know that my soul hath always walked in Your law, and from my (earliest) days I departed not from Your wisdom.'
39 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'Baruch, this is
the interpretation of the vision which you have seen. 2 As you have seen the
great forest which lofty and rugged mountains surrounded, this is the word. 3
Behold! the days come, and this kingdom will be destroyed which once destroyed
Zion, and it will be subjected to that which comes after it. 4 Moreover, that
also again after a time will be destroyed, and another, a
third, will arise, and that also will have dominion for its time, and will be
destroyed. 5 And after these things a fourth kingdom will arise, whose power
will be harsh and evil far beyond those which were before it, and it will rule
many times as the forests on the plain, and it will hold fast for times, and
will exalt itself more than the cedars of Lebanon. 6 And by it the truth will
be hidden, and all those who are polluted with iniquity will flee to it, as
evil beasts flee and creep into the forest. 7 And it will come to pass when the
time of its consummation that it should fall has approached, then the
principate of My Messiah will be revealed, which is like the fountain and the
vine, and when it is revealed it will root out the multitude of its host. 8 And
as touching that which you have seen, the lofty cedar, which was left of that
forest, and the fact, that the vine spoke those words with it which you did hear,
this is the word.
40 1 The last leader of that time will be left alive, when the multitude of his hosts will be put to the sword, and he will be bound, and they will take him up to Mount Zion, and My Messiah will convict him of all his impieties, and will gather and set before him all the works of his hosts. 2 And afterwards he will put him to death, and protect the rest of My people which shall be found in the place which I have chosen. 3 And his principate will stand for ever, until the world of corruption is at an end, and until the times aforesaid are fulfilled. 4 This is your vision, and this is its interpretation.'
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2 Baruch is a Jewish pseudepigraphical text thought to have been written in the late 1st century AD or early 2nd century AD, after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. It is attributed to the biblical Baruch and so is associated with the Old Testament, but not regarded as scripture by Jews or by most Christian groups. It is included in some editions of the Peshitta, and is part of the Bible in the Syriac Orthodox tradition. It has 87 sections (chapters).
(Source: Wikipedia)
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