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קדמיתא6933 כאריה744 וגפין1611 די1768 נשׁר5403 לה  חזה2370  הוית1934 עד5705 די1768 מריטו4804 גפיה1611 ונטילת5191 מן4481 ארעא772 ועל5922 רגלין7271 כאנשׁ606 הקימת6966 ולבב3825 אנשׁ606 יהיב׃3052

De 28:49 2Sa 1:23 Isa 5:28,29 Jer 4:7,13; 25:38; 48:40 La 4:19

Verse 4. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings] Bp. Newton well remarks, that these great beasts, as explained by the angel, ver. 17, are kingdoms. They arise out of a stormy and tempestuous sea; that is, out of the wars and commotions of the world; and they are called great in comparison of other states and kingdoms, and are denominated beasts for their tyrannical and cruel oppression.

These four beasts are indeed monstrous productions; a lion with eagle's wings; a bear with three ribs in its mouth; a leopard with four wings, and four heads; and a beast with ten horns. But such emblems and hieroglyphics were usual among the eastern nations, as may be seen in the monuments of antiquity. A winged lion, and such like fictitious animals, may be seen in many parts of the ruins of Persepolis. Horns are attributed to beasts which naturally have none, being used in hieroglyphic writings for symbols of strength and power. And such figures are supposed to be the symbols of different nations; and are not more strange than many that are still used in heraldry. I believe the science of heraldry arose out of the knowledge gained from the symbols used in the Sacred Writings, and the little acquaintance anciently obtained of the meaning of some of the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Hence our wiverons, griffins, unicorns, with a congeries of natural and unnatural things, split eagles, two- headed swans, &c., &c., &c.

The beast like a lion is the kingdom of the Babylonians; and the king of Babylon is compared to a lion, Jer. iv. 7; Isa. v. 29; and is said to fly as an eagle, Jer. xlviii. 40; Ezek. xvii. 3, 7. The lion is considered the king of the beasts, and the eagle the king of the birds; and therefore the kingdom of Babylon, which was signified by the golden head of the great image, was the first and noblest of all the kingdoms; and was the greatest then in being. The wings of the eagle denote the rapidity with which the lion- Nebuchadnezzar, made his conquests; for in a few years, by his own arms, he brought his empire to such an extent, and raised it to such a degree of eminence, as was truly surprising; and all tended to show with what propriety this eagle-winged lion is here made his emblem.

The wings thereof were plucked] Lydia, Media, and Persia, which had been provinces of the Babylonish empire, cast off the yoke, and put themselves under kings of their own. Besides, the rapidity of its conquests was stopped by its wars with the Medes and Persians; by whom it was at last conquered, and divided between Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian.

And it was lifted up from the earth] That is, the wings were plucked, rendered unfit for farther flight, by which it had before been lifted up from the earth; making its conquests almost with the rapidity of an eagle's flight. In what a short time did Nebuchadnezzar, who is here chiefly intended, conquer Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Egypt, Arabia, &c.! But on his death the wings were plucked; and no farther extension of the empire took place under Evil-merodach or Belshazzar, till it was lost by the latter, and became divided as we have seen above.

And made stand upon the feet as a man] This I think refers to the taming of Nebuchadnezzar's pride. He had acted like a fierce and ravening lion. God struck him with insanity; he then lived the life of a beast, and had a beast's heart- disposition, and habits. At last God restored him.

And a man's heart was given to it] He became humane, humble, and pious; and in this state he appears to have died.

Ver. 4. The first was like a lion , etc.] That which rose up first, the kingdom of the Babylonians, as the Syriac version expresses it; or the Assyrian monarchy, founded by Nimrod, increased by the Assyrians, and brought to its height under Nebuchadnezzar by the Babylonians and Chaldeans; this is said to be like a “lion” for its strength and power, for its greatness, dignity, and majesty; the same with the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; (see Jeremiah 4:7 50:17): and had eagles’ wings ; denoting the celerity and swiftness with which Nebuchadnezzar ran, or rather flew, over several kingdoms and countries, and added them to his empire; (see Jeremiah 4:13 48:40 49:22): and I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked ; it was retarded and stopped in its conquests; it could fly no further, nor make any new acquisitions; yea, it was deplumed and stripped of some of its dominions, the Medes and Persians falling off, and making war with it: and it was lifted up from the earth ; or, “with which it was lifted up from, the earth” f265 ; with which wings it raised itself up, and lifted itself above other kingdoms and nations; but now were plucked, and could not soar aloft as formerly; its glory and majesty, power and strength, were lessened, whole provinces revolting, as in the times of Evilmerodach, Neriglissar, and Belshazzar: and made stand upon the feet as a man ; it did not fly like an eagle as before, and overrun countries, and waste them; or go upon all four, as a beast; but stood on its feet, its two hinder legs, like a man; signifying that it abated, in the reigns of the above princes, of its strength and fierceness, and became more mild and tractable, and was reduced within bounds like other kingdoms: and a man’s heart was given to it ; instead of a lion like heart, that was bold and intrepid, and feared nothing, it became weak and fearful, and timorous like the heart of man, especially in Belshazzar’s time; not only when he saw the handwriting on the wall, to which Jacchiades refers this; but when he was so fearful of Cyrus that he shut himself up in Babylon, and durst not stir out to give him battle, as Xenophon relates; and when the city was taken, the Babylonians were obliged to deliver up their arms, employ themselves in tilling their fields, and to pay tribute to the Persians, and always salute them as their lords and masters, as the same historian f267 says; (see Jeremiah 51:30).

Dan. 7:1-8 This vision contains the same prophetic representations with Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The great sea agitated by the winds represented the earth and the dwellers on it troubled by ambitiou princes and conquerors. The four beasts signified the same fou empires, as the four parts of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Mighty conqueror are but instruments of God's vengeance on a guilty world. The savag beast represents the hateful features of their characters. But the dominion given to each has a limit; their wrath shall be made to prais the Lord, and the remainder of it he will restrain.

Dan. 7:9-14 These verses are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come, have plai allusion to this vision; especially Rev. 20:11,12. The Messiah is her called the Son of man; he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, an was found in fashion as a man, but he is the Son of God. The grea event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destro every antichristian power, and to render his own kingdom universal upo earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expec that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of ou death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects.

Dan. 7:15-28 It is desirable to obtain the right and full sense of what we see and hear from God; and those that would know, must ask be faithful and fervent prayer. The angel told Daniel plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little horn, which made wa with the saints, and prevailed against them. Here is foretold the rag of papal Rome against true Christians. St. John, in his visions an prophecies, which point in the first place at Rome, has plain referenc to these visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of ou blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdo for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruit of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming _________________________________________________

קדמיתא6933 כאריה744 וגפין1611 די1768 נשׁר5403 לה  חזה2370  הוית1934 עד5705 די1768 מריטו4804 גפיה1611 ונטילת5191 מן4481 ארעא772 ועל5922 רגלין7271 כאנשׁ606 הקימת6966 ולבב3825 אנשׁ606 יהיב׃3052