“Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many” (Jer 5:6).
Notice all the “wild beasts” which would “tear” and “devour” Israel:
- A Lion Babylon, which destroyed Judah.
- A Wolf: Assyria, which destroyed Israel (cp v 11).
- A Wolf from the desert: Literally, in Hebrew, a “zeeb” of the “ereb” (Arabs?): referring to the marauders whom Gideon routed (Jdg 7:25).
- A Leopard: Medo-Persia (cp Dan 7:6), watching over the desolate cities of the land (made so by Babylon and Assyria).
The wolf, the leopard, and the lion all appear also in Isaiah 11:6 — a beautiful picture of the coming glories of God’s eternal Kingdom:
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”
