7:5 “Then 2 a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs 3 in its mouth between its teeth. 4 It was told, 5 ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’
7:6 “After these things, 6 as I was watching, another beast 7 like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. 8 This beast had four heads, 9 and ruling authority was given to it.
7:8 “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn – a small one – came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. 10 This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant 11 things.
1 tn Aram “after this.”
2 tn Aram “and behold.”
3 sn The three ribs held securely in the mouth of the bear, perhaps representing Media-Persia, apparently symbolize military conquest, but the exact identity of the “ribs” is not clear. Possibly it is a reference to the Persian conquest of Lydia, Egypt, and Babylonia.
4 tc The LXX lacks the phrase “between its teeth.”
5 tn Aram “and thus they were saying to it.”
3 tn Aram “this.” So also in v. 7.
4 tn Aram “and behold, another one.”
5 tn Or “sides.”
6 sn If the third animal is Greece, the most likely identification of these four heads is the four-fold division of the empire of Alexander the Great following his death. See note on Dan 8:8.
4 tn Aram “were uprooted from before it.”
5 tn Aram “great.” So also in vv. 11, 20.