Daniel 7:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

A second, like to a bear— These animals are not only emblems of strength and power, but must be allowed to be here used with peculiar propriety. This second, is the kingdom of the Medes and Persians; and the largest bears were found in Media, a mountainous, rough, cold country, covered with woods. The Medes and Persians are compared to a bear, on account of their cruelty, and greediness after blood; a bear being a most voracious and cruel animal. The resemblance between the Persians and bears has been carried to great lengths by learned authors; who suppose them to resemble each other in their gluttony, in the remarkable length of their hair, in the restlessness of their disposition, &c. But the chief likeness consisted in what we have mentioned above; and that this likeness was principally intended by the prophet, may be inferred from the text itself; Arise, devour much flesh. A bear is called by Aristotle an omnivorous, or all-devouring animal; and Grotius informs us, that the Medo-Persians were great robbers and spoilers; according to Jeremiah 48:47. See also Isaiah 13:18. Calmet observes, that the Persians have exercised the most severe and cruel dominion that we know of. The punishments used among them beget horror in those who read them. Bishop Newton.

And it had three ribs, &c.— And it had three throats. Houbigant; who observes, that these three throats are those by which it absorbed Cyrus, and had in its power the three empires of the Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians. These animals denote not so much kingdoms, as the founders of kingdoms; for in the 17th verse it is said to Daniel, These four animals are four kings. Sir Isaac Newton and Bishop Chandler explain these three ribs, of the kingdoms of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which were conquered by this beast; but were not properly parts and members of its body. They might be called ribs, says Bishop Newton, as the conquest of them much strengthened the Persian empire; and they might be said to be between the teeth of the bear, as they were much grinded and oppressed by the Persians. See his Dissertations, vol. 1: p. 446-448.

Daniel 7:5

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.