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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:1-8

The date of this chapter places it before Dan. 5:1-31, which was in the last year of Belshazzar, and Dan. 6:1-28, which was in the first of Darius; for Daniel had those visions in the first year of Belshazzar, when the captivity of the Jews in Babylon was drawing near a period. Belshazzar's name here is, in the original, spelt differently from what it used to be; before it was Bel-she-azar?Bel is he that treasures up riches. But this is Bel-eshe-zar?Bel is on fire by the enemy. Bel was the god... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:6

After this I beheld, and, lo another, like a leopard ,.... Another beast, another monarchy, a third monarchy succeeding the Persian monarchy, and which rose up on the ruins of that; Darius king of the Persians being beaten by Alexander king of Macedon, who was the instrument of setting up the Grecian monarchy here intended; compared to a leopard, a smaller creature than a lion; signifying that this monarchy arose from a small beginning; and a crafty one, Alexander having many wise... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:6

Another like a leopard - four wings - four heads - This was the Macedonian or Greek empire; and Alexander the Great its king. Alexander and his subjects are fitly compared to a leopard. The leopard is remarkable for its swiftness. Alexander and the Macedonians were very rapid in their conquests. The leopard is a spotted animal; a proper emblem of the various nations, with their various customs and languages, which constituted the Macedonian empire. It may refer to the character of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:6

Verse 6 Daniel has already spoken of two empires, namely, the Chaldean and Persian. Interpreters agree in the necessity for referring this vision to the Macedonian Empire. He compares this kingdom to a leopard, or, as some translate, a panther, since Alexander obtained his great power through swiftness alone; and although it is not by any means a striking animal, yet it managed by its remarkable speed to subdue the whole east Others bring forward many points of likeness, in which the Grecian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:1-8

A vision of human violence. Dreams have a foundation in external fact. The mind of man has a creative faculty—a faint reflection of the Divine—and, when released from the domination of visible things, it asserts its original power. Daniel was advanced in years, had seen many changes in the government of Babylon, and probably had been brooding seriously over the fortunes and prospects of the Hebrews. The past and the future were inextricably interlaced. I. NIGHT HAS ITS USES , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:1-12

Godless kingdoms. Daniel's vision brings before us the origin, the character, and the destiny of godless kingdoms. I. ORIGIN . 1 . Earthly. The Divine kingdom comes from above —"with the clouds of heaven" (verse 13). These kingdoms come from below —from the dark depths of the sea. Earthly passions, not the will of God, shape their origin. 2 . Tumultuous. "The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea;" the kingdoms issued from the throes of the storm. The great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:1-12

Brute rule. "Four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another" ( Daniel 7:3 ). We remark the transition here from history to prophecy; the date , the first year of Belshazzar, that is, before the fall of the first of the world-powers about to be described; the form , a dream,—before this Daniel had interpreted others' dreams, he now dreams himself; the fact that it was at once committed to writing , i.e. not set down after fulfilment; and that the prophecy is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:1-28

EXPOSITION THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS . This chapter begins the second section of the book. All before this has been narrative; visions are introduced into the narrative, but they were not given to Daniel himself, but to others; his role was the secondary one of interpreter. These visions and the events connected with them are related more as incidents in the biography of Daniel, than as revelations of the future. With this chapter begins a series of revelations to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:6

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. The LXX . rendering is shorter, "And after these things I saw another beast, like a leopard, and four wings stretched over it (ἐπέτεινον), and there were four heads to the beast." The grammar of this is difficult to understand. As it stands, it must be translated as above; if, however, we might read ἐπὶτεινον, we should... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:6

After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard - That is, as before, after the bear had appeared - indicating that this was to be a succeeding kingdom or power. The beast which now appeared was a monster, and, as in the former cases, so in regard to this, there are several circumstances which demand explanation in order to understand the symbol. It may assist us, perhaps, in forming a correct idea of the symbol here introduced to have before us a representation of the animal as it... read more

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