Isaiah 46:10,11

Declaring the end from the beginning— Declaring the event, &c. Another argument for the divinity of the God of Israel is here urged, namely, his foreknowledge and prediction of future events. The prophet subjoins, in the 11th verse, a particular instance of God's prescience. There can be no doubt that Cyrus is meant by the ravenous bird, or eagle from the east. Kings and princes are often compared in Scripture to eagles, Jeremiah 48:40. Ezekiel 17:3. But it has been thought that there is a peculiar propriety in this application to Cyrus, as the eagle well denotes the magnanimity, the quickness of judgment, the celerity in all his expeditions and motions, for which Cyrus was so remarkable. We are also told by Plutarch, that Cyrus had an aquiline nose, and Xenophon expressly relates that his standard was a golden eagle; "which still," says he, "continues to be the standard of the Persian kings." See Cyropoed. book 7: not far from the beginning.