The first was as a [a]lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and set upon his feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given him.

And behold, another beast which was the second, was like a [b]bear, and stood upon the [c]one side: and he had three ribs in his [d]mouth between his teeth, [e]and they said thus unto him, Arise, and devour much flesh.

After this, I beheld, and lo, there was another like a [f]leopard, which had upon his back [g]four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads, and [h]dominion was given him.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:4 Meaning, the Assyrian and Chaldean empire, which was most strong and fierce in power, and most soon come to their authority, as though they had wings to fly: yet their wings were pulled by the Persians, and they went on their feet, and were made like other men, which is here meant by man’s heart.
  2. Daniel 7:5 Meaning, the Persians which were barbarous and cruel.
  3. Daniel 7:5 They were small in the beginning and were shut up in the mountains and had no bruit.
  4. Daniel 7:5 That is, destroyed many kingdoms, and was insatiable.
  5. Daniel 7:5 To wit, the Angels by God’s commandment, who by this means punished the ingratitude of the world.
  6. Daniel 7:6 Meaning, Alexander the king of Macedonia.
  7. Daniel 7:6 That is, his four chief captains, which had the empire among them after his death. Seleucus had Asia the great, Antigonus the less, Cassander and after him Antipater was king of Macedonia, and Ptolemy had Egypt.
  8. Daniel 7:6 It was not of himself nor of his own power that he got all these countries: for his army contained but thirty thousand men, and he overcame in one battle Darius, which had ten hundred thousand, when he was so heavy with sleep, that his eyes were scarce open, as the stories report: therefore this power was given him of God.

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