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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:9-14

Whether we understand the fourth beast to signify the Syrian empire, or the Roman, or the former as the figure of the latter, it is plain that these verses are intended for the comfort and support of the people of God in reference to the persecutions they were likely to sustain both from the one and from the other, and from all their proud enemies in every age; for it is written for their learning on whom the ends of the world have come, that they also, through patience and comfort of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:9

I beheld till the thrones were cast down ,.... On which the governors of the above monarchies sat; and those of the ten kings, signified by the ten horns; and also that of the little horn. The prophet kept looking on the objects before him, till he in his dream, and the visions of the night, saw all those empires and kingdoms demolished, and all rule, power, and authority, put down, and way made for the glorious kingdom of the Messiah, and his saints with him; to this sense Aben Ezra,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:10

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him ,.... Or, "a river of fire" F19 נהר די־נור "fluvius ignis", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis. ; which denotes the copious judgments of God, the abundance of them; the full flow of his wrath, and the fierceness of it; and also its rapidity, which cannot be resisted and stopped: thousand thousands ministered unto him ; attended upon him, waiting his orders, and ready to execute them; an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:11

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake ,.... Or, "from the voice" F20 מן קל "a voce", Montanus, Cocceius; "ex quo coepit vox", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius; "ex quo audita fuit vox", Piscator. ; from the time it was heard, the prophet continued looking to see what would be the issue of all this; especially from the time he heard the little horn speak such blasphemous things against God, and Christ, and his people, which were so intolerable,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:12

As concerning the rest of the beasts ..... The other three which represent the Babylonian, Persian and Grecian monarchies: they had their dominion taken away ; not at this time when the fourth beast, or Roman empire, is destroyed, but long ago; and not together, but successively; the dominion was taken away from the Babylonians, and given to the Persians; and then their dominion was taken away, and given to the Grecians; and after that the dominion of the Grecians was taken away from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:13

I saw in the night visions ,.... Very probably the same night in which he had the dream and vision of the four beasts; but this that follows, being a new object presented, is introduced and prefaced after this manner; as well as, being something wonderful and worthy of attention, has a "behold" prefixed to it: and, behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven ; not Judas Maccabaeus, as Porphyry; nor the Roman people, as Grotius; nor the people of Israel, as Aben Ezra;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:9

The thrones were cast down - דמיו might be translated erected, so the Vulgate, positi sunt , and so all the versions; but that ours is a proper translation, is sufficiently evident from Daniel 3:6 , Daniel 3:16 , Daniel 3:20 ; Daniel 6:17 , etc.; where the original word can be used in no other sense than that of throwing or casting down. There is a reference here to preparations made for a general assize, or to the convocation of the sanhedrin, where the father of the consistory... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:10

A fiery stream issued - This is not spoken of the final judgment; but of that which he was to execute upon this fourth beast, the Roman empire; and the little boasting horn which is a part of the fourth beast, and must fall when the other falls. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:11

I beheld then because of the voice (or, the beast will be destroyed because) of the great words which the horn spake - his body destroyed - When the dominion was taken from the rest of the beasts, their bodies were not destroyed, but suffered to continue still in being; but when the dominion shall be taken away from this beast, his body shall be totally destroyed; because other kingdoms succeeded to those, but no other earthly kingdom shall succeed to this. - Bishop Newton. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:13

One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven - This most certainly points out the Lord Jesus, אנש בר bar enosh , the Son of miserable man; who took our nature upon him that he might redeem us unto himself. To prove himself to be the Messiah he applies, before the high priests, these words of the Prophet Daniel to himself Matthew 24:30 . Near before him - The Ancient of days. read more

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