Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 7:17
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings - Four kings or four dynasties. There is no reason for supposing that they refer to individual kings, but the obvious meaning is, that they refer to four dominions or empires that would succeed one another on the earth. So the whole representation leads us to suppose, and so the passage has been always interpreted. The Latin Vulgate renders it regna; the Septuagint βασιλεῖαι basileiai; Luther, Reiche; Lengerke, Konigreiche. This interpretation... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 7:15-28
Godly obedience the basis of permanent dominion. Wisdom and righteousness are the qualities of a real king. Daniel, though not ambitious of a material sceptre, yet, by virtue of his weighty influence, swayed the destinies of the Babylonian empire. He ruled by an unpretentious grace. I. GOOD MEN ARE MORE CONCERNED FOR GOD 'S CAUSE THAN FOR ANY SELF - EXALTATION . Daniel was grieved in spirit, not because of personal ill, nor from fear of the lions' den, but... read more