Bittern

The umbrella term Bittern names a creature that haunts ruined cities in the prophetic oracles of judgment. In UPDV the underlying Hebrew word is rendered porcupine rather than bittern, and the references gather around three desolation-scenes — Babylon, Edom, and Nineveh.

Possessing Babylon's Ruins

In the oracle against Babylon, the city is given over to wild creatures and standing pools: "I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, says Yahweh of hosts" (Isa 14:23).

In the Desolation of Edom

The judgment on Edom in Isaiah pairs the same creature with three other birds inhabiting the empty land: "But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it; and the owl and the raven will stay in it: and he will stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness" (Isa 34:11).

Lodging in Nineveh's Capitals

Zephaniah's oracle on Nineveh pictures the same creature lodging on the carved capitals of the abandoned city: "And herds will lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in her capitals; [their] voice will sing in the windows; desolation will be in the thresholds: for he has laid bare the cedar-work" (Zeph 2:14).