Daniel Chapter 7 Verse 5

5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, `Arise, devour much flesh.’

This second beast is the combined Medo–Persia empire that both Daniel and secular history say followed the Babylonians. Recall that in chapter 2, Medo–Persia was represented by the breast and arms of silver on the giant statue.

Note that one side of the bear is higher than the other side. This stresses the point that in the Medo-Persian empire, the Persians were dominant.

This beast is like a bear and is told to continue eating even before it has finished its last meal. It is voracious and greedy.

The three ribs may simply add to the picture of the greedy starving bear, or they may depict the three major Medo-Persian conquests that occurred under Cyrus and his son Cambyses.

Lydian kingdom in 546 BC

Chaldean kingdom in 539 BC

Egypt in 525 BC

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