Birds in the LXX

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Birds are mentioned many times in the LXX (Septuagint).

Let us look at some LXX reference's that use the idea of "birds".

Joseph in Egypt, in the prison, interprets the dreams of the butler (wine steward) and the baker. Here is the verse for the dream.

Genesis 40:17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. [kjv]

εν δε τω κανω τω επανω απο παντων των γενων ων ο βασιλευς φαραω εσθιει εργον σιτοποιου και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατησθιεν αυτα απο του κανου του επανω της κεφαλης μου [lxx]

Here is the verse for the interpretation by Joseph. The birds in the interpreted dream refer to eating his flesh (life) from the basket.

Genesis 40:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. [kjv]

ετι τριων ημερων αφελει φαραω την κεφαλην σου απο σου και κρεμασει σε επι ξυλου και φαγεται τα ορνεα του ουρανου τας σαρκας σου απο σου [lxx]

Remez: ... in three days, the bread will be broken and the wine will be poured ...

Genesis 40:17

All

KJV: And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

Hebrew: ובסל העליון מכל מאכל פרעה מעשה אפה והעוף אכל אתם מן הסל מעל ראשי׃

Greek: εν δε τω κανω τω επανω απο παντων των γενων ων ο βασιλευς φαραω εσθιει εργον σιτοποιου και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατησθιεν αυτα απο του κανου του επανω της κεφαλης μου

Brenton: And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head.

Genesis 40:19

All

KJV: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

Hebrew: בעוד שלשת ימים ישא פרעה את ראשך מעליך ותלה אותך על עץ ואכל העוף את בשרך מעליך׃

Greek: ετι τριων ημερων αφελει φαραω την κεφαλην σου απο σου και κρεμασει σε επι ξυλου και φαγεται τα ορνεα του ουρανου τας σαρκας σου απο σου

In 701 BC Hezekiah and Jerusalem miraculously escaped the conquering and destruction of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the ruler of Assyria.
Isaiah the prophet was inside the city of Jerusalem during the siege, providing prophecies from God.

This is recorded both in the Bible and in secular history and on an ancient prism discovered and deciphered. In the Bible, an angel smites 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

On the prism of Sennacherib, Sennacherib recounts how he had trapped Hezekiah in Jerusalem "like a caged bird" (which was true) but leaving out the overnight disaster and having to retreat. Some secular sources attribute the disaster to a sudden plague, but the two viewpoints had the same effect.
Hezekiah is mentioned by name on the prism. It was during this siege of Jerusalem that the tunnel of Hezekiah was dug to obtain water for Jerusalem.

Details are left as a future topic.

Jeremiah 5:26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. [kjv]

5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. [kjv]

ως παγις εφεσταμενη πληρης πετεινων ουτως οι οικοι αυτων πληρεις δολου δια τουτο εμεγαλυνθησαν και επλουτησαν [lxx]

Apparently the idiom of a "caged bird" was common in the time of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Jeremiah uses a similar wording but not in a good sense. The sense is not of a "cage" but of a "snare" or "trap".

More: A snare laced by a lasso string

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

Jeremiah 5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. [kjv]

This idea of "caged birds" can be compared to the "Rock of Jesus" and the "House of Sand" but as a human infrastructure and hierarchy.
That hierarchy can be compared to a tree in whose branches those birds build nests.

More: Matthew 7:24-27 Building a house on sand

More: Building a house on sand continued

More: Building a house

More: Tower of Babel: Two houses attempted using sand

More: Caged birds: Hezekiah shows treasure to Babylon

... more to be added ...