Daniel 7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:20

And of the ten horns ... - See the notes at Daniel 7:7-8.Whose look was more stout than his fellows - literally, “whose aspect was greater than that of its companions.” This does not mean that its look or aspect was more fierce or severe than that of the others, but that the appearance of the horn was greater - רב rab. In Daniel 7:8, this is described as a “little horn;” and to understand this, and reconcile the two, we must suppose that the seer watched this as it grew until it became the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:21

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints - I continued to look on this until I saw war made by this horn with the people of God. This circumstance, also, is not referred to in the first description, and the order of time in the description would seem to imply that the war with the saints would be at a considerable period after the first appearance of the horn, or would be only when it had grown to its great size and power. This “war” might refer to open hostilities, carried on in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:22

Until the Ancient of days came - Notes, Daniel 7:9. That is, this was to occur after the horn grew to its full size, and after the war was made with the saints, and they had been overcome. It does not affirm that this would occur immediately, but that at some subsequent period the Ancient of days would come, and would set up a kingdom on the earth, or would make over the kingdom to the saints. There would be as real a transfer and as actual a setting up of a peculiar kingdom, as if God himself... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:23-27

Thus he said ... - That is, in explanation of the fourth symbol which appeared - the fourth beast, and of the events connected with his appearing. This explanation embraces the remainder of the chapter; and as the whole subject appeared difficult and momentous to Daniel before the explanation, so it may be said to be in many respects difficult, and in all respects momentous still. It is a question on which expositors of the Scriptures are by no means agreed, to what it refers, and whether it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:28

Hitherto is the end of the matter - That is, the end of what I saw and heard. This is the sum of what was disclosed to the prophet, but he still says that he meditated on it with profound interest, and that he had much solicitude in regard to these great events. The words rendered hitherto, mean, so far, or thus far. The phrase “end of the matter,” means “the close of the saying a thing;” that is, this was all the revelation which was made to him, and he was left to his own meditations... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7

A.M. 3449. B.C. 555. The historical part of the book of Daniel was finished with the last chapter; the remaining part of it acquaints us with the visions which at different times were communicated to the prophet himself. The interval of time, from the first to the last of these visions, is about one or two and twenty years; that is, from the first year of Belshazzar, mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, to the third year of Cyrus, at the beginning of chap. 10. The first vision, or... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:1

Daniel 7:1. In the first year of Belshazzar, &c. The prophet, having related some remarkable passages concerning himself and his brethren in captivity, and having given proof of his supernatural illumination in interpreting other men’s dreams, proceeds to give an account of his own visions; and thereupon goes back to the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, which was seventeen years before the history contained in the last chapter. This vision concerns the same events with those referred... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:2-3

Daniel 7:2-3. Behold, the four winds strove upon the great sea This denotes those commotions in the world, and that troublesome state of affairs, out of which empires and kingdoms commonly take their rise. And four great beasts came up from the sea Signifying the four great monarchies, or kingdoms, that should successively arise in the world, and have their origin from wars and commotions, which generally end in setting up the conqueror to be a great monarch over those whom he hath... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:4

Daniel 7:4. The first was like a lion The Chaldean or Babylonian empire: compared to the head of gold, the chief of metals, in the image represented to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, Daniel 2:32; Daniel 2:37-38, is here represented as a lion, the king of beasts. Instead of a lion, the Vulgate, Greek, and Arabic read, a lioness, signifying, says Jerome, the cruelty of that empire, lionesses, according to naturalists, being fiercer than lions. It is represented as having eagles’ wings, to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:5

Daniel 7:5. And behold another beast like a bear This is the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, who, for their cruelty and greediness after blood, are compared to a bear, which is a most voracious and cruel animal. Bochart recounts several particulars wherein the Persians resembled bears; but the chief likeness consisted in what has been just mentioned, and this likeness was principally intended by the prophet, as may be inferred from the words of the text, Arise, devour much flesh. A... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:23-27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:28

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:2-3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 7:5

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