Hosea 11:11

They will come trembling as a bird out of Egypt,

And as a dove out of the land of Assyria,

And I will make them to dwell in their houses,

Say YHWH.’

Responding in reverent fear His people will come ‘like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria. This may have in mind the dove that returned to the ark after God’s judgment on the world in the time of Noah, and be the indication of a new beginning. Or the idea may be in order to emphasise their defencelessness. Not like an eagle, but like a dove. And the thought is that God’s people will renounce Egypt once and for all, and will return from the place of exile in Assyria, and will come and make their homes with God. The metaphor is a picturesque one. The birds would be firmly settled in Egypt and Assyria until suddenly disturbed by the roar of the Lion, at which they will take to the skies and make for their homeland. It was partly fulfilled when Israel returned to the land in droves after the exile, it found a greater fulfilment when the Gospel reached out to the Jews from Palestine both north and south as witnessed to in Acts, resulting in their coming tremblingly to God, but its greatest fulfilment awaits the new Heaven and the new earth where Abraham too will finally find the city that he was looking for (Hebrews 11:10-14), and where all who are His will find their resting places (John 14:2).

And all this is certain of fulfilment because it has been declared by YHWH. The lion of Judah will be roused up (Genesis 49:9) and will roar (in the form of the Lamb as it had been slain - Revelation 5:5-6), Shiloh will come, and His people will be gathered to Him (Genesis 49:10).