Isaiah 31:5

Hebrew Bible

3 The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish. 4 Indeed, this is what the Lord has said to me:“The Lord will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will descend to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill. 5 Just as birds hover over a nest, so the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it. 6 You Israelites! Return to the one you have so blatantly rebelled against! 7 For at that time every one will get rid of the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made.

Matthew 23:36

New Testament

34 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 35 I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things! 36 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! 37 Look, your house is left to you desolate! 38 For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

 Notes and References

"... The feminine image of the hen and chicks strikingly portrays divine nurture and protection, which the Jewish religious have severely refused and rejected. Appealing to this imagery, Jesus graciously offers His motherly care to Jerusalem’s children gives a warning of the disaster coming upon them because they have rejected Him in the same way that they have rejected all of God’s prophets. Jesus’ lamenting over Jerusalem is fitting. Judaism never forgets the biblical picture of God’s special love for Israel. Jesus demonstrates His special concern and care for Israel (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24-26). Jesus’ gathering His people under His wings recalls the image of God’s sheltering His people under His wings (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 63:7; 91:4). Moreover, the concept of shelter under God’s wings evokes images of the refuge God offers and provides for his people who are in danger in the Old Testament. It is also a Rabbinic phrase that refers to “the conversion of a Gentile as coming under the wings of the Shekinah.” Furthermore, this concept is an expression for being in the presence and protection of God ..."

Su, Kuen Seong A Study on the Significance of Jesus' Pronouncement of the Seven Woes and Laments in Matthew 23 (pp. 172-173) The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2021

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