| DANIEL CHAPTER
SEVEN |
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1
In the first year of Belshazzar
king of Babylon
Daniel had a dream
and visions of his head upon his bed:
then he wrote the dream,
[and] told the sum of the matters. |
1 In the first year of
Belshazzar
king of Babylon,
Daniel hath seen a dream,
and the visions of his head on his bed,
then the dream he hath written,
the chief of the things he hath said. |
1 In year one of Belshazzar,
king of Babylon,
Daniel perceives [a] dream,
even visions of his head on his bed.
Then he writes the dream
which he had perceived,
stating a summary of [the] matters. |
1 Belshazzar.
The last king of Babylon. Until 1854, when Sir H. C. Rawlinson
discovered the cuneiform texts, all was speculation. An inscription
belonging to the first year of Nabonidus, his father, calls him his
"firstborn son" and gives his name Bel-sarra-uzer="O Bel defend
the king." There are frequent references to him in contracts and similar
documents. He was the last king of Babylon (5:30-31).
had.=beheld. a dream. One of twenty recorded dreams.
he wrote. This is to be noted, as it was afterward "told" in
speech (v1-2). the sum=substance, or the chief of the
words. matters=words.
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Daniel's dream occurs during the existence of the
Babylonian Kingdom. This situation parallels the dream of
Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2. Though a prophecy of the future Gentile
world empires, that prophecy included the already-existent Babylonian.
See the note on verse 17.
R. C. C.
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2 Daniel spake and said,
I saw in my vision by night,
and, behold,
the four winds of the heaven
strove upon the great sea. |
2 Answered hath Daniel
and said,
'I was seeing in my vision by night,
and lo,
the four winds of the heavens
are coming forth to the great sea; |
2 Daniel [is] responding as follows:
Perceiving am I in my vision by night,
and behold,
four winds of the heavens
are rushing forth to the vast sea, |
2 spake and said.
The vision is related in words. I saw= I was looking.
by=during. behold. Fig. Asterismos , for
emphasis. the four winds. All blowing at the same
time and producing the one result described in vv. 3-8.
winds. Chald. ruach. strove upon=brake or
burst forth against; converging on one point. the great
sea. i.e. the Mediterranean Sea, or the sea denoting the peoples of
the earth, as interpreted for us in v. 17.
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3 And four great beasts
came up from the sea,
diverse one from another. |
3 and
four great beasts
are coming up from the sea,
diverse one from another. |
3 and four monstrous animals
[are] coming up from the sea,
diverse one from another. |
3 four great beasts.
These are not four dominions of ch 2. They stand up on after the other,
and each stands, successively, in the place of the other. These are to
arise in "the days of" those last "ten kings" of Dan. 2:44. These
continue the last of nebuchadnezzar's last dominion, and do exist
together. See note on v. 12 below.
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4 The
first [was]
like a lion,
and had eagle's wings:
I beheld
till the wings thereof were plucked,
and it was lifted up from the earth,
and made stand upon the feet
as a man,
and a man's heart
was given to it. |
4 The
first [is] like a lion,
and it hath an eagle's wings.
I was seeing
till that its wings have been plucked,
and it hath been lifted up from the earth,
and on feet as a man
it hath been caused to stand,
and a heart of man
is given to it. |
4 The
eastern [animal is a] lioness,
and she has [the] wings of [a] vulture.
Perceiving am I
till her wings are scraped off,
and she is tilted up from the earth
and is set up on [her] feet
as [a] mortal,
and [the] heart of [a] mortal
[is] being granted to her. |
4 The first.
Cannot be Babylon, for this had already arisen, and was within two years
of its end (see notes on v. 1). Daniel could not see that kingdom arise
now. He had said, "Thou art this head of gold" (2:38); but Nebuchadnezzar
himself had been dead twenty-three years, and these are "four kings
which shall arise" (v. 17). Therefore Babylon is not included.
like. These descriptions will be easily recognized by those who
shall see them arise. I beheld=I continued looking,
as in v, 6,9,11. Same as "I saw" in v. 2,7,13. till=till
that. the feet=the two feet. man.
Chald. 'enash.
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Nebuchadnezzar's vision was also a prophecy. But
that prophecy included the already-existant Babylonian Kingdom. That
prophecy was given after the beginning of the Kingdom. So neither did
Nebuchadnezzar see, in his vision, the rise of his own Kingdom. The
Kingdom is Babylon, not Nebuchadnezzar. Of course in Nebuchadnezzar's
dream, at the beginning of the times of Gentile rule, his reign is
emphasized. But Daniel's vision concerns the end of Gentile rule.
Though no details are given in the interpretation of the vision, a
clear reference to Babylon is to be found in the fact that a "heart of
a man" is given to it, referring to the experience of Nebuchadnezzar
in chapter 4. See the note on verse 17.
The Concordant Version translates the Chaldean word qadmay (#6933)
eastern. Others translate it, I believe correctly, "first." See
BEFORE.
R. C. C.
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5 And behold
another beast,
a second,
like to a bear,
and it raised up itself on one side,
and [it had] three ribs
in the mouth of it
between the teeth of it:
and they said thus unto it,
Arise, devour much flesh. |
5 And lo,
another beast,
a second,
like to a bear,
and to the same authority it hath been raised,
and three ribs
[are] in its mouth,
between its teeth,
and thus they are saying to it,
Rise, consume much flesh. |
5 And behold,
another animal,
a second,
like [a] she-bear;
one part [is] set up,
and three ribs
[are] in her mouth
between her teeth.
Thus [are they] saying to her,
"Rise! Eat huge [amounts of] flesh." |
5 it raised up itself. or, was
made to stand. on one side. i.e. partially. three ribs.
This is not interpreted by the angel. The interpretations given by man
are diverse, conflicting, and are unnecessary.
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The second power of Nebuchadnezzar's vision was the
Medo-Persian Empire, which was a confederation of Media and Persia,
which resulted from the conquest of Media by Persia, hence the
reference to the bear being raised, or elevated, on one side. See note
on verse 17.
R. C. C. |
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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. |
'After this I was seeing,
and lo, another
like a leopard,
and it hath four wings of a fowl
on its back,
and four heads hath the beast,
and dominion is given to it. |
In place of this perceiving am I,
and behold, another animal,
as [a] leopardess;
she has four flyer's wings
on her arched [back],
and four heads has the animal.
Jurisdiction [is] being granted to her. |
6 lo.
Fig. Asterismos. a fowl=a bird. four heads.
These are not interpreted, and will be understood only when they are
seen. It will have these four heads at the time of its being seen.
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The third beast with four heads is clearly
identified with the Ram of chapter 8 which began under Alexander the
Great but devolved into four division under his generals. See note on
verse 17.
R. C. C.
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7 After this I saw
in the night visions,
and behold
a fourth beast,
dreadful
and terrible,
and strong exceedingly;
and it had great iron teeth:
it devoured
and brake in pieces,
and stamped the residue with the feet of it:
and it [was] diverse from all the beasts
that [were] before it;
and it had ten horns. |
7 'After this I was seeing
in the visions of the night,
and lo,
a fourth beast,
terrible
and fearful,
and exceedingly strong;
and it hath iron teeth very great,
it hath consumed,
yea, it doth break small,
and the remnant with its feet it hath trampled;
and it [is] diverse from all the beasts
that [are] before it;
and it hath ten horns. |
7 In place of this perceiving am I
in [the] visions of the night,
and behold,
[a] fourth animal,
terrifying
and awful,
and exuberantly mighty;
she has monstrous iron teeth,
devouring
and pulverizing
and stamping upon the remainder with her feet.
She [is] diverse from all the animals
that [are] east of her,
and she has ten horns. |
7 a fourth beast.
Not Rome, for it has the "ten horns" when it is first seen. Moreover,
these ten horns are not seen till the time of the end. This fourth beast
therefore belongs to the time of the end. The beast of Rev. 13:1-10
combines in himself all these resemblances. See notes on v. 25. great
iron teeth. Lit. two (or two rows of) teeth, great ones. the
residue= the rest: i.e. the other three beasts which will be
co-existent. They do not destroy or succeed one another, like the
kingdoms in ch. 2; but are trampled on by the fourth beast. See. v. 12.
before=in front of, as in v. 10,13,20
and 6:10,11,12,13,18,22,etc. Chald. kodam, as in Ezra 4:18,23; 7:14,19;
and frequently in Dan. chapters 2,3,4,5. This shows that the three will
be co-existent, for this could not be spoken of those who had long
passed away. ten horns. These are the same as in Rev.
17:12, and represent the ten contemporaneous kings at the time of the
end. See notes on vv. 8, 24.
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Rome is not the subject of Biblical prophecy. This
fourth beast, the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar's image, is more
closely described in Daniel chaper 10-11. It is there called the King
of the North. But that prophecy jumps, without explanation, from the
time of Antiochus Epiphanes to the time of the end, to the time
covered in the book of Revelation. It is these events to occur in the
end times, with which this vision of Daniel is concerned. See
Charts
on Daniel.
"Stamping the residue with its feet" is
interpreted, in verse 23, as "devouring the whole earth, treading it
down and breaking it in pieces." It will have supremacy over the whole
earth. The other kingdoms of the world, which it "devours," "treads,"
and "breaks in pieces," including the kingdoms depicted by the other
three animals, do not cease to exist.
The Concordant Version uses the LXX
reading to change "before" (qodem-#6925) to "east" (qodmay-#6933),
which it translates "east," but others translate, I believe correctly,
"first." See BEFORE.
R. C. C.
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8 I considered the horns,
and, behold, there came up among them another little horn,
before whom there were three of the first
horns
plucked up by the roots:
and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man,
and a mouth speaking great things. |
8 `I was considering about the
horns,
and lo, another horn, a little one,
hath come up between them,
and three of the first horns
have been eradicated from before it,
and lo, eyes as the eyes of man
[are] in this horn,
and a mouth speaking great things. |
8 Contemplating am I the horns,
and lo, another bit of a horn
comes up among them,
and three of the eastern horns
are felled to stumps before it.
And lo, eyes as the eyes of a mortal
are in this horn,
and a mouth declaring monstrous things,
and it is making war with the saints. |
8 I considered=I was considering.
the horns. Mentioned in v, 7. little horn. =a
horn of small beginnings. This identifies this vision with those of
chapters 8, 9, 11, 12. The first of twelve titles given to the
power commonly known as "The Antichrist": it is used again in 8:9. Cp.
11:21-30. Note the other titles: "the King of Babylon" (Isa. 14:4);
"the Assyrian" (Isa. 14:25); "Lucifer, son of the morning," in
opposition to "the bright and morning star" (Isa. 14:12); "the Prince
that shall come" (Dan. 9:26); "the king of fierce countenance" (Dan.
8:23); "the vile person" (Dan.11:21); "the wilful king" (Dan. 9:26)
"the man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3); "the son of perdition" (2 Thess.
2:3); "that wicked (or lawless) one" (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 13:18); "the
beast with ten horns" (Rev. 13:1). man=a mortal
man. Chald. 'enash. speaking great things. This
is a further development, explained in vv. 11, 20, 25; 8:11; 11:36,37; 2
Thess. 2:3,4; Rev. 13:5,6.
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The Concordant Version translates the Chaldean word qadmay (#6933)
eastern. Others translate it, I believe correctly, "first." See
BEFORE.
R. C. C.
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9 I beheld
till the thrones were cast down,
and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment [was] white as snow,
and the hair of his head like the pure wool:
his throne [was like] the fiery flame,
[and] his wheels [as] burning fire.
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9 'I was seeing
till that thrones have been thrown down,
and the Ancient of Days is seated,
His garment as snow [is] white,
and the hair of his head [is] as pure wool,
His throne flames of fire,
its wheels burning fire. |
9 Perceiving am I
till thrones were placed,
and [the] Transferrer of Days sits:
His clothing [is] pale as snow,
and [the] hair of His head as immaculate wool;
His throne [is] as flaring flame,
its rollers [a] flashing flame.
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9 till =till that the thrones=the
seats for judgment. cast down =set or placed.
The seats of Orientals are cushions laid, not "set," but "cast down."
the Ancient of days =the Everlasting One. Cp. Ps.
90:2 Rev. 4:2 did sit=took His seat.
white as snow. Cp. Rev. 1:14 his wheels=the
wheels thereof: i.e. of the throne. Cp. Ezek. 1:15-20,26-28; 10:9-13
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10 A fiery stream issued
and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him:
the judgment was set,
and the books were opened. |
10 A flood of fire is proceeding
and coming forth from before Him,
a thousand thousands do serve Him,
and a myriad of myriads
before Him do rise up,
the Judge is seated,
and the books have been opened. |
10 Streaming is [a] flame in front
and issuing from before Him;
[a] thousand thousands are irradiating Him,
and ten thousand ten thousands
are rising before Him.
Adjudication sits
and [the] scrolls are opened. |
10 ministered=were ministering.
stood=were standing. Indicating readiness for service.
the judgment=the Judge; "judgment" being put by Fig. Metonymy (of
the Subject), for the Judge Who actually sat. was set=took
his seat. the books. Lit. "books were opened.
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11 I beheld then
because of the voice of
the great words which the horn spake:
I beheld [even]
till the beast was slain,
and his body destroyed,
and given to the burning flame. |
11 'I was seeing, then,
because of the voice of
the great words that the horn is speaking,
I was seeing
till that the beast is slain,
and his body hath been destroyed,
and given to the burning fire; |
11 Perceiving am I then--
because [of the] sound of
the monstrous matters that the horn [is] declaring--
perceiving am I
till the animal [is] despatched,
destroyed is her frame
and granted to the glowing fire. |
11 the horn spake=the horn kept speaking.
the beast. At length we learn who "the (little) horn" is. See
note on v. 8 and Rev. 19:20. the burning flame. Cp. 2
Thess 1:7-10; 2:8
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12 As concerning the rest of the beasts,
they had their dominion taken away:
yet their lives were prolonged
for a season and time. |
12 and the rest of the beasts
have caused their dominion to pass away,
and a prolongation in life is given to them,
till a season and a time. |
12 And [the] remainder of the animals--
their authority is caused to pass away,
yet [a] lengthening of life [is] granted to them
till [the] stated [time] and season. |
12 the rest of the beasts: i.e. the three
mentioned in vv. 4-7 as co-existing. they had, &c=their
dominion was caused to pass away. their lives were
prolonged=a lengthening of their life was given to them: i.e. the
remaining three after the fourth beast has been destroyed.
for a season and time: i.e. for an appointed season.
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13 I saw in the night visions,
and, behold,
[one] like the Son of man
came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days,
and they brought him near before him. |
13 'I was seeing in the visions of the night,
and lo,
with the clouds of the heavens
as a son of man was [one] coming,
and unto the Ancient of Days he hath come,
and before Him they have brought him near. |
13 Perceiving am I in [the] visions of the night,
and behold,
on [the] clouds of the heavens,
O[ne] as [a] son of [a] mortal is arriving:
unto [the] Transferrer of Days He reaches,
and they bring Him near before Him; |
13 the Son of Man. Matt. 8:20. Rev. 14:14.
came=was coming
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14 And there was given
Him dominion,
and glory,
and a kingdom,
that all people,
nations,
and languages,
should serve him:
his dominion
[is] an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom
[that] which shall not be destroyed. |
14 And to him is given dominion,
and glory,
and a kingdom,
and all peoples,
nations,
and languages
do serve him,
his dominion
[is] a dominion age-during,
that passeth not away,
and his kingdom
that which is not destroyed. |
14 to Him [is] granted jurisdiction
and esteem
and [a] kingdom,
and all the peoples
[and] leagues
and language-[group]s
shall serve Him;
His jurisdiction,
[as an] eonian jurisdiction,
will not pass away,
and His kingdom
shall not [be] confined. |
14 there was given, &c.=to Him was given, &c
people=peoples. an everlasting dominion. See vv.
18,27;2:35,44; 4:3; 6:26; Psa. 45:6; 145:13; 146:10; Isa. 9:7; Obad. 21;
Mic. 4:7; Luke 1:33; John 12:34; Heb. 1:3.
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15 I Daniel
was grieved in my spirit
in the midst of [my] body,
and the visions of my head troubled me. |
'Pierced hath been my spirit--
I, Daniel--
in the midst of the sheath,
and the visions of my head trouble me; |
15 Shuddering is my spirit--
mine, Daniel's--
in [the] midst of [its] sheath,
and [the] visions of my head are flustering me. |
15 grieved. Because he did not understand.
Therefore chapter 7 could not be identical with chapter 2, because he
had interpreted that already to Nebuchadnezzar. my spirit=myself.
Chald. ruach.
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16 I came near unto
one of
them that stood by,
and asked him the truth of all this.
So he told me,
and made me know
the interpretation of the things. |
16 I have drawn near unto
one of
those standing,
and the certainty I seek from him of all this;
and he hath said to me,
yea, the interpretation of the things
he hath caused me to know: |
16 I [draw] near to
one of
the risers,
and [as to] the certainty of all this am I petitioning him.
Then he speaks to me,
and [the] interpretation of the matter
is he making known to me. |
16 them: i.e. the standing ones.
stood=were standing. Cp. v. 10. asked=made exact
inquiry. truth=certainty. Chald. yazib.
of=about.
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17 These great beasts,
which are four,
[are] four kings,
[which] shall arise out of the earth. |
'These great beasts,
that [are] four,
[are] four kings,
they rise up from the earth; |
"These monstrous animals,
[the] four of them,
[are] four kingdoms
which will perish from the earth. |
17 These great beasts, &c. In vv. 17,18 we have
therefore the interpretation of this vision, which needs no further
interpretation by man. shall arise. The two which had
already arisen cannot therefore be included: viz. Babylon and Medo-Persia,
which almost (at this time) equalled Babylon in extent. The vision is
not continuous history, but the prophecy of a crisis: and refers to the
ten toes of the firth power of Daniel 2. See note on v. 12. In this, and
in each successive vision we are always directed to the end and
consummation. Cp. v. 26; 8:17-19; 9:26; 11:40; 12:4,9,13; Matt.
24:14,15.
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"These great beasts, . . . are four kings which
shall arise out of the earth." These animals represent
kingdoms, just as the image of chapter 2. There is no indication that
these animals represent religions, especially religions so remote from
Israel as Conficianism or Hinduism. The main emphasis of this vision is not concerning the first three of
the animals, or the beginning of Gentile rule, hence in the
interpretation the identity of these kingdoms is not given. That has already been
dealt with, in chapter 2. This prophecy concerns the fourth beast, and
specifically the little horn which arises out of it. Though the first
three animals are described with some detail in the vision itself, in
the interpretation these details are ignored; there is no
interpretation given concerning them. Indeed, as Dr. Bullinger states,
this prophecy is of the crisis at the close of Gentile rule. The fact
that this little horn is identified with the same figure in the
prophecies of chapters 8 and 11 tells us that the fourth beast is
indeed the same power described as the fourth part of the image of
chapter 2. Even Dr. Bullinger identifies the little horn as "the ten
toes of the fifth power of Daniel 2." Since the little horn is
identified with Nebuchadnezzar's ten toes, then the fourth animal is
the fourth kingdom, the legs of iron.
Though not stated in the interpretation, reference
to the heart of a man being given to the first animal (v. 4) is a
clear reference to the experience of the madness and restoration which
Nebuchadnezzar experienced (ch 4). The second animal being raised on
one side indicates the elevation of the Persians over the Medes in the
Medo-Persian Empire. The third beast with four heads is clearly
identified with the Ram of chapter 8 which began under Alexander the
Great but devolved into four division under his generals.
"There are those who reject this
interpretation, that the four beasts represent the four
above-mentioned empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, on the
ground that the four kingdoms were still in the future. They argue
that the words “shall arise” mean that the kingdoms were still
future from the time of the vision, but that Babylon had already
risen to world power, and was actually near her fall. Such an
objection should not disturb us, because everything in the vision is
summed up in capsule form. Leopold points out the fact that the
imperfect verb yequmun translated “shall rise” (A.V.), can be
rendered “are destined to arise.” (221). [Lehman
Strauss, The Prophecies of Daniel, Neptune, NJ, Loizeaux
Brothers, 1969]
"In connection with the explanation of verse 17
that these four beasts are four kings, we need to remember that we
learned from the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that the
word “king” may be used for kingdom or empire; and not only covering
the incumbency of a given king but also covering the entire duration
of the empire itself. “Thou art this head of gold. And after thee
shall arise another kingdom.” And here in chapter 7, verse 23, we
read: “And the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the
earth.” Hence, it was made certain to Daniel that these four beasts
represented the same procession of world-empires which the image of
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream portrayed (93)." [W. C. Stevens, The Book
of Daniel, Los Angeles, Bible House of Los Angeles, 1918.]
"In this seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel,
there is that same inclusive sweep of history to the end of the
age…. The ten horns correspond to the ten toes, the multi-national
rule which exists to the coming of Christ. So in both images you
have the great sweep of history to the end of the age. The fact that
God gave the vision twice shows how important it is. Now, another
reason why I think that the images are the same is that in both
visions God’s Word says there will never be a fifth world empire….
There will never be another world empire until the rule of our Lord.
So the sweep of history revealed to us in the second chapter of
Daniel, and in the seventh chapter of Daniel, is exactly the same
(26-27)." [Criswell, W.A. Expository Sermons on the Book of
Daniel. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.]
"Daniel was taken back in vision to
a time before the beasts began to arise." [an unidentified
writer.]
Even Nebuchadnezzar's dream, though prophecy,
included somewhat of the past. His vision took place after his own
kingdom had begun, not before. So, Daniel's vision is of the whole
continuous history of Gentile rule, and begins, as Nebuchadnezzar's
vision did, with Babylon. Yes, Nebuchadnezzar was dead, but the
Babylonian Empire still existed when Daniel had the vision. It is the
Kingdom which is the point of the prophecy, i.e. Babylon, not the
individual Nebuchadnezzar. "These four beasts are four kingdoms."
Daniel's vision was given during the first of four Gentile
kingdoms which were to arise.
See Charts on Daniel.
Richard C. Condon
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18 But the saints of
the most High
shall take the kingdom,
and possess the kingdom
for ever,
even for ever and ever. |
and receive the kingdom
do the saints of the Most High,
and they strengthen the kingdom
unto the age,
even unto the age of the ages. |
Yet [the] saints of [the]
supremacies
shall receive the kingdom
and they will safeguard the kingdom
unto the eon,
even unto [the] eon of the eons." |
18 the saints=the holy ones: i.e. God's people
Israel. the Most HIGH. Chald. 'elyonin. Same as Heb.
'elyon. Here pl.=the Messiah Himself in relation to dominion in the
earth. Verse 27 shows that a Person is intended, not a place.
take=receive. As. in 5:31; cp. 2:6
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19 Then I would know the truth
of the fourth beast,
which was diverse from all the others,
exceeding dreadful,
whose teeth [were of] iron,
and his nails [of] brass;
[which] devoured,
brake in pieces,
and stamped the residue with his feet; |
'Then I wished for certainty
concerning the fourth beast,
that was diverse from them all,
fearful exceedingly;
its teeth of iron,
and its nails of brass,
it hath devoured,
it doth break small,
and the remnant with its feet it hath trampled; |
Then I would know the certainty
concerning the fourth animal
that is diverse from them all,
redundantly terrifying:
Her teeth of iron,
her claws of copper;
devouring,
pulverizing
and stamping upon the remainder with her feet; |
19 nails=claws, or hoofs. Chald. texts is pl.;
marg. sing. feet. Chald. text pl.; marg. sing.
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20 And of the ten horns
that [were] in his head,
and [of] the other
which came up,
and before whom three fell;
even [of] that horn
that had eyes,
and a mouth
that spake very great things,
whose look
[was] more stout than his fellows. |
and concerning the ten horns
that [are] in its heads,
and of the other
that came up,
and before which three have fallen,
even of that horn
that hath eyes,
and a mouth
speaking great things,
and whose appearance
[is] great above its companions. |
and concerning [the] ten horns
that [are] on her head;
and [concerning] another [horn]
that comes up
and [the] three before it fall,
even [the] same horn
with its eyes
and [a] mouth
declaring monstrous [thing]s,
and the vision of it [is]
larger than its partners. |
20 the other: i.e. the little horn of v. 8, which
is still future.Cp. 8:9-12. 23-25. spake. See note on
"speaking," v. 8.
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21 I beheld,
and the same horn
made war with the saints,
and prevailed against them; |
'I was seeing,
and this horn
is making war with the saints,
and hath prevailed over them, |
Perceiving am I
and [the] same horn
[is] making [an] attack on [the] saints
and [is] prevailing against them, |
21 the same horn. Cp. v. 8. made
war. This connects "the little horn" with Rev. 13:7, and shows it to
be still future.
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22 Until the Ancient of days came,
and judgment was given
to the saints of the most High;
and the time came
that the saints possessed the kingdom. |
till that the Ancient of Days hath come,
and judgment is given
to the saints of the Most High,
and the time hath come,
and the saints have strengthened the kingdom. |
till [the] Transferrer of Days arrives,
and adjudication [is] granted
to [the] saints of [the] supremacies,
and the stated [time is] reached,
and the kingdom [is] safeguarded [by the] saints. |
22 judgment: or, vindication.
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23 Thus he said,
The fourth beast
shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,
which shall be diverse from all kingdoms,
and shall devour the whole earth,
and shall tread it down,
and break it in pieces. |
'Thus he said:
The fourth beast
is the fourth kingdom in the earth,
that is diverse from all kingdoms,
and it consumeth all the earth,
and treadeth it down,
and breaketh it small. |
So he speaks [again to me],
"The fourth animal--
it is the fourth kingdom being on the earth,
that is diverse from all [three] kingdoms.
She will devour the entire earth
and thresh it
and pulverize it. |
23 Thus he said. Giving an additional
interpretation.
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"Devouring the whole earth, treading it down and breaking it in
pieces," here described, is the fulfillment of verse 7, "stamping the
residue with its feet." This fourth beast is the fourth in succession
to rule the world. See note on verse 17.
R. C. C.
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24 And the ten horns
out of this kingdom
[are] ten kings [that] shall arise:
and another shall rise after them;
and he shall be diverse from the first,
and he shall subdue three kings. |
And the ten horns
out of the kingdom
[are] ten kings, they rise,
and another doth rise after them,
and it is diverse from the former,
and three kings it humbleth; |
[The] ten horns--
from her kingdom
[are] ten kings [who] will rise,
and another [one] will rise after them.
He is diverse from the eastern:
Three kings will he abase; |
24 ten kings. See note on v. 7. he.
The little horn of vv. 8, 20. three kings. See the
interpretation of v. 8.
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The Concordant Version translates the Chaldean word qadmay (#6933)
eastern. Others translate it, I believe correctly, "first." See
BEFORE.
R. C. C.
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25 And he shall speak [great] words
against the most High,
and shall wear out the saints
of the most High,
and think to change times and laws:
and they shall be given into his hand
until a time
and times
and the dividing of time. |
and words
as an adversary of the Most High
it doth speak,
and the saints of the Most High
it doth wear out,
and it hopeth to change seasons and law;
and they are given into its hand,
till a time,
and times,
and a division of a time. |
declarations
to [set a]side the Supreme
will he declare;
to [the] saints of [the] supremacies
will he [bring] decay;
he is meaning to alter stated [time]s and [an] edict;
and they shall be granted in[to] his hand
unto [a] season
and [two] seasons
and [the] distribution of [a] season. |
25 wear out=afflict. laws=law.
time and times. &c.: i.e. three and a half years=one half of the
"one week" of Dan. 9:27. It is repeated as forty-two months (Rev. 11:2),
and as 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). Cp. 8:14; 12:7,11,12.
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26 But the judgment
shall sit,
and they shall take away his dominion,
to consume
and to destroy [it]
unto the end. |
'And the Judge is seated,
and its dominion they cause to pass away,
to cut off,
and to destroy--
unto the end; |
Yet adjudication sits;
and they will cause his authority to pass away,
[even] to exterminate
and to destroy
till the terminus. |
26 shall sit=will take His seat.
unto the end. This is the determining factor of the
interpretation. Cp. 8:17-19; 9:26; 11:40; 12:4,9,13; Matt. 24:14. See
note on v. 17.
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27 And the kingdom
and dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven,
shall be given to the people
of the saints of the most High,
whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions
shall serve
and obey him. |
and the kingdom,
and the dominion,
even the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heavens,
is given to the people--
the saints of the Most High,
His kingdom [is] a kingdom age-during,
and all dominions
do serve
and obey Him. |
"And the kingdom
and the jurisdiction
and the majesty of [the] kingdom
under the entire heavens
[will] be granted to [the] people
of the saints of [the] supremacies.
Their kingdom is [an] eonian kingdom,
and all [other] authorities
shall serve
and hearken to them." |
27 Whose, &c. This shows that 'elyonin
(in v. 18) means a person, and not a place.
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28 Hitherto
[is] the end of the matter.
As for me Daniel,
my cogitations much troubled me,
and my countenance changed in me:
but I kept the matter in my heart. |
'Hitherto
[is] the end of the matter.
I, Daniel,
greatly do my thoughts trouble me,
and my countenance is changed on me,
and the matter in my heart I have kept. |
Further[more],
[as] this [is] the termination of the matter,
I, Daniel--
my ruminations are great[ly] flustering me,
my aspect is altering on [me],
and I [leave] the matter [in the] custody of
my heart. |
28 much troubled me: or, baffled me. See
note on "grieved," v. 15. I kept, &c. Cp. Luke 2:19.
Here ends the portion of the book written in the Chaldee (or Gentile)
tongue.
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