Hello, John and Doves,

 

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Reading the words, “And how I bore you on eagles’ wings,” in Exodus 19:4, the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael taught that eagles differ from all other birds because other birds carry their young between their feet, being afraid of other birds flying higher above them. Eagles, however, fear only people who might shoot arrows at them from below. Eagles, therefore, prefer that the arrows hit them rather than their children. The Mekhilta compared this to a man who walked on the road with his son in front of him. If robbers, who might seek to capture his son, come from in front, the man puts his son behind him. If a wolf comes from behind, the man puts his son in front of him. If robbers come from in front and wolves from behind, the man puts his son on his shoulders. As Deuteronomy 1:31 says, “You have seen how the Lord your God bore you, as a man bears his son.”

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitro_(parsha)#Exodus_chapter_18

 

~Blessings,

Mike