"Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. (6) And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. (7) And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. (8) And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (9) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (10) Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? (11) And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base."
We have here another vision. The Prophet is let to see an Ephah, a Jewish measure, and he is told that this is the resemblance of all the earth; meaning, it should seem that what the Prophet was about to learn from this figure, suited all mankind. The Prophet is next led in vision, to behold a talent of lead, and a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah, and is told that this is wickedness. Probably to denote, that as in the instance of our first parents' transgression, the woman was first in it, sin is now become universal, and pervades the whole race. And it is possible, that the talent of lead, from its ponderous quality, might be meant to shew the total impossibility of our fallen and oppressed nature, ever of itself to arise from under the pressure. By the image of two women, like storks, carrying away the Zaphah to the land of Shinar, might be supposed to teach the thorough removal of wickedness into a land not inhabited; as the iniquity of Israel, on the day of atonement, was taken away. Leviticus 16:22. I do not presume to account for the figure of two women, which had wings like storks. But if by the former woman, was meant that Eve was the first in the transgression; this might equally apply to the honor of the woman, in that the promise was, she should be saved in the child-bearing of the Redeemer, as that scripture by the Apostle hath it. 1 Timothy 2:13-15. And in this sense the agreement is just; for as by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:21. So also in respect of sin. See Romans 5:15-19. In respect to the land of Shinar, all we know of it is, that it was a province of Babylon, where the Tower of Babel was built; and Amraphel was king of it in the days of Abraham. See Genesis 11:2. and Genesis 14:1. The Prophet Daniel saith, that here was the temple of Nebuchadnezzar's idol, where he put the sacred vessels he took from Jerusalem. Daniel 1:2.