How do siege images lead into the lion question?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The assault, captivity and plunder precede God’s opposition to chariots, prey and messengers.

Chapter breakdown

The heading introduces armies against Ninive. A destroyer comes to maintain siege; commands name watching the way and strengthening loins and power. Spoilers have laid waste Jacob and Israel and marred vine branches. The edition preserves punishment of Jacob’s pride as reason Ninive cannot escape, or punishment of Ninive’s pride against Jacob.

Fire-like shields, scarlet army men and flaming chariot reins accompany stupefied drivers. The edition identifies Chaldeans and Medes and explains the driving as furious, like intoxication. Chariots jostle in streets with torch-like looks and lightning movement. Mustered valiant men stumble, hurry onto walls and prepare a covering; the note explains haste as the reason for stumbling. River gates open and the temple falls. A soldier and mourning bondwomen are captive, the latter like doves murmuring in their hearts.

Ninive’s waters resemble a great pool, but men flee despite cries to stand. Silver, gold and precious furniture are plundered. Destruction accompanies melting heart, failing knees, weakened loins and faces like a kettle’s blackness. Questions ask where the lions’ dwelling and young lions’ feeding place are; the lion supplied whelps and lionesses, filling holes and den with prey and rapine. God announces opposition, chariots burned to smoke, the sword devouring young lions, prey cut from the land and messengers’ voices silenced. The text does not say river water undermines a royal palace or identify the lions as particular princes.

The story inside

The pride note preserves two explanations. River gates open and the temple falls. The men flee despite cries to stand.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The pride note preserves two explanations.
2
River gates open and the temple falls.
3
The men flee despite cries to stand.

Test your recall

How are the faces compared in the destruction image?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 102116–102118
2:1. He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power exceedingly.
Lines 102129–102131
2:3. The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his preparation, and the drivers are stupefied.
Lines 102147–102148
2:6. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down to the ground.
Lines 102164–102167
2:11. Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young lion, and there was none to make them afraid?