The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Ver. 4. The first was like a lion.] Which is the king of beasts (as the eagle is of birds), generous, strong, fierce, fair-conditioned; so were the Assyrian monarchs in comparison of those that followed them.
And had eagle's wings.] Whereby is noted their victorious celerity and alacrity in seizing upon kingdoms. as Obadiah 1:4 2Sa 1:23 Jeremiah 4:13 ; Jer 48:40 Eze 17:3
I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked,] scil., By the Medes and Persians, taming Babel's insolence, and making her inhabitants tributaries and slaves, to till their ground and to maintain their garrisons, saluting them as their masters wherever they met them. a
And made stand upon the feet as a man,] i.e., Brought down to the common rank of men, and no longer lift up as an eagle.
And a man's heart b was given to it.] Which before thought itseff as good as God, now had low and common spirits; not as once, imperious and impetuous.
a Xenophon.
b Cor humanum, id est, molle ac timidum. - Piscat.