Daniel 7 דניאל ז׳

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Bavel, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matter.

Daniel spoke and said: I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven stirred up the great sea.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another.

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings [(the kingdom of Bavel [viz. Jeremiah 4:7 and 48:10])]. I beheld until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up [i.e., removed] from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet like a [puny] man, and a man's [puny] heart was given to it.

And behold, another beast, a second one [i.e., rising second from the sea], like a bear [(Paras, reigning after Bavel)]. And it raised itself on one side [(Madai reigning for one year immediately after Bavel)], and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth [(an allusion to three kings of Paras: Koresh, Achashverosh and Darius)]. And it was told: Arise, devour much flesh!

After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard [(the kingdom of Antiochus)], which had upon the back of it four wings of a bird. The beast had also four heads [(Alexander of Macedonia dividing his kingdom among four rulers at his death)], and dominion was given to it.

After this I saw in a night vision [(a different night, this countervailing the other three)], and behold, a fourth beast [(Rome)], dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns [viz. verse 24].

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before which three of the first horns were plucked by the roots. And, behold, in this horn [(Titus)] were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great [i.e., audacious] things [(Titus cursing and blaspheming and entering the sanctuary with brazenness)].

As I looked, thrones were placed [(one for judgment and one for charity for Israel)], and the Ancient of Days did sit [(in judgment against the cruelty of the Roman tyrants)], whose garment was white as snow [(to "whiten" the sins of His people)], and the hair of whose head was like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, its wheels being burning fire.

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. Judgment began and the books [(of their transgressions and evils)] were opened.

I looked then because of the sound of the great words [viz. 8] which the horn spoke; and as I looked, the beast was slain and its body destroyed, and given to the burning flame [(of Jacob viz. Ovadiah 1:18)]

And, as for the rest of the beasts [i.e., the kingdoms], their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time [(until the war of Gog and Magog)].

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like a son of man [(the Messiah)] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days [(who was judging the peoples)], and they brought him near before Him.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and tongues should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was in turmoil in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head confounded me.

I came near to one of them [(one of the angels)] that stood by [the Ancient of Days] and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made known to me the meaning of the things.

These great beasts, which are four, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.

But the holy ones [(Israel)] of the Most High shall take the kingdom [(from the fourth)], and possess the kingdom forever and for all eternity.

Then I wished to know the truth of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, the teeth of which were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet.

And ["I wished to know, etc."] of the ten horns that were on its head, and of the other horn which came up, and before which three fell; that horn which had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, and which appeared greater than its fellows.

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the holy ones [(Israel)], and prevailed against them,

until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given [i.e., vengeance was taken] for the holy ones of the Most High; and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom.

Thus he [(the angel interpreting the dream)] said: The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

And the ten horns [(that I saw)] are ten kings that shall arise out of this kingdom; and another [(Titus)] shall rise after them. And he shall be different from the former ones, and he shall subdue three kings.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and think to change times and laws [i.e., to make them apostates]; and they shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time [(The "times" are concealed from us)].

But judgment was convened, and his dominion shall be removed, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, to the holy ones of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my cogitations confounded me, and my aspect altered; but I kept the matter in my heart.