And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Ver. 40. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron,] i.e., The Roman kingdom, fitly compared to iron for hardness and hardiness. a The two legs do note the division of the kingdom into the empire of the east and the empire of the west, first begun by Anthony and Augustus Caesar 40 B.C., afterwards established by Constantine, A.D. 330, and again more perfectly by Theodosius, A.D. 395.
And as iron that breaketh all these.] Of the Roman greatness much is written by many authors, how they subdued and kept under other potent nations by their legions quartered among them, and by their publicans exacting tribute of them. b
a Hard and heavy to purge and perfect the Church. - Parker, ib.
b Orbem iam totum victor Romanus habebat. - Pet. Arb.