Ezekiel 19:2

The prophet compared the former Davidic kings of Judah to a lioness. This was a common symbol of rulers in the ancient Near East, and the Israelites used the figure for the Davidic kings (Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; 1 Kings 10:19-20; Micah 5:8; cf. Revelation 5:5). [Note: See Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near . . ., p. 300; and ibid., ed., The Ancient . . ., plate 447.] This lioness was responsible for producing and nurturing young lion cubs, the kings that followed in the Davidic line.