2 Esdras 10:44-54

44 The woman you saw is Jerusalem, which you now see as a completed city.
45 When she told you that for thirty years she had had no children, it meant that for three thousand years no offerings had yet been made there.
46 Then Solomon built the city, and sacrifices began to be offered there. At that time the childless woman gave birth to her son.
47 When she told you that she took great care in bringing the son up, that referred to the period when Jerusalem was inhabited.
48 When she told you of the death of her son on his wedding day, that meant the destruction of Jerusalem.
49 So in the vision you saw how she mourned for her son, and you tried to console her for what had happened - this is what was to be revealed to you.
50 When God Most High saw that you were grieving for the woman with all your heart and soul, he showed you all her glory and majestic beauty.
51 That is why I told you to go and stay in the field where no one had ever lived,
52 for I knew that God Most High was going to show you these things.
53 I told you to go to the field where no foundation had ever been built,
54 because nothing built by human hands could stand in the place where the city of God Most High was about to be revealed.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] three thousand; [Latin] three.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.