Dove @ In their wild state doves generally build their nests in the clefts of rocks, but when domesticated "dove-cots" are prepared for them (Cant. 2:14; Jeremiah:48:28; Isaiah:60:8). The dove was placed on the standards of the Assyrians and Babylonians in honour, it is supposed, of Semiramis Jeremiah:25:38; Vulg., "fierceness of the dove;" comp. Jeremiah:46:16Jeremiah:50:16). Doves and turtle-doves were the only birds that could be offered in sacrifice, as they were clean according to the Mosaic law Genesis:15:9; Leviticus:5:7Leviticus:12:6; Luke:2:24). The dove was the harbinger of peace to Noah Genesis:8:8-10). It is often mentioned as the emblem of purity Psalms:68:13). It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit Genesis:1:2; Matthew:3:16; Mark:1:10; Luke:3:22; John:1:32); also of tender and devoted affection (Cant. 1:15; 2:14). David in his distress wished that he had the wings of a dove, that he might fly away and be at rest Psalms:55:6-8). There is a species of dove found at Damascus "whose feathers, all except the wings, are literally as yellow as gold" (68:13).
Dove's dung @ ( 2Kings:6:25) has been generally understood literally. There are instances in history of the dung of pigeons being actually used as food during a famine. Compare also the language of Rabshakeh to the Jews ( 2Kings:18:27; Isaiah:36:12). This name, however, is applied by the Arabs to different vegetable substances, and there is room for the opinion of those who think that some such substance is here referred to, as, e.g., the seeds of a kind of millet, or a very inferior kind of pulse, or the root of the ornithogalum, i.e., bird-milk, the star-of-Bethlehem.
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