John Calvin Commentary Daniel 7:19-20

"Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows." — Daniel 7:19-20 (ASV)

Here the Prophet questions the angel about the Fourth Beast more attentively and carefully. Just as we previously saw him struck with greater admiration on seeing the beast, which was more formidable than the other three, so much so that neither a name nor a representation could be found for it. Therefore, because God displayed something great under the image of the fourth beast, He stirred His Prophet to understand its mystery.

For this reason, he now questions the angel. He says he wished for the truth about the fourth beast, and he also repeats what we saw previously: namely, its being different from the others. Surely, the subjugation of so many kings by the Romans was a difference worthy of notice.

Let us consider the origin of that nation: a few robbers seizing a desolate spot, growing powerful by brutal audacity and force, until they subdued all their neighbors. Then they crossed the sea and added first one province, and then another, to their rule. When the kingdom of Macedon came under their power, this was indeed momentous. Eventually, they became masters of the entire Mediterranean region, and no corner escaped their yoke. Human minds could never have conceived this.

It is said then, this beast was different from the others, and very terrible. In the same sense, its teeth are called iron, and its claws brazen. No mention had previously been made of its claw; the Prophet had spoken only of iron teeth, but he now adds brazen claws. It is as if he had said, "This beast will be endowed with such savage madness that it will not only attack all things with its unusual violence, but also tear, lacerate, and devour all things." He repeats again what he had said: eating and destroying and treading under foot the remainder.

I have already explained all these points, so I am unwilling to waste your time and confuse you with useless repetitions. "I also asked," he said, "about the ten horns that were on its head." And this is the reason I must conclude this subject briefly here, as the angel’s reply will follow immediately.

The Prophet, therefore, is now, without doubt, placed under a heavenly impulse, because God did not intend to teach him merely as a private individual. He was to be a witness and herald of such a great mystery. We can learn today from his writings, which are of the greatest use to us when we become thoroughly familiar with them.

Therefore, he says that he also inquired about the ten horns that were on the head of the beast, and about the other horn that had arisen (meaning the small one), and about the three horns falling from the face of the beast. We have shown how provinces were denoted by the ten horns, and how the difference between the Roman Empire and other monarchies was pointed out, because there was never one supreme ruler at Rome—except when Sulla and Marius exercised their usurped authority, but each only for a short time.

Here then, the continual state of the Roman Empire is under review, for it was not a single animal, since it had ten horns. A finite number is used to represent an indefinite one. Regarding the little horn, I said it referred to the Caesars, who drew the entire government of the state to themselves after depriving the people of their liberty and the senate of their power, while even under their rule, some dignity was still accorded to the senate and some majesty retained by the people.

We have also explained how the three horns were broken; that is, how craftily the Caesars infringed upon and diminished the strength of both the people and the senate. Lastly, we have explained why this little horn was depicted with human eyes, since the Caesars exercised their dominion with cunning by pretending to be only tribunes of the people and allowing the symbols of empire to remain in the hands of the consuls. For when they came into the senate, they sat in a humble position on curule seats prepared for the tribunes.

Therefore, because they tyrannized with such cleverness and cunning, instead of by open violence, they are said to be endowed with the eyes of a man. Then, regarding the tongue, the meaning is the same; for although they always professed that the consular power was supreme in the state, they could not restrain themselves but vomited forth many reproachful speeches. On the one hand, we see them remarkable for eyes, and on the other, for the tongue. And its appearance was more formidable than its companions. This seems not to belong specifically to the little horn that had arisen among the ten, but rather to the fourth beast. But if anyone wishes to understand it as referring to the little horn, I will not argue the point, as that interpretation also makes reasonable sense. However, I prefer my former opinion, for it is not surprising to find the Prophet, after his discussion of the little horn, returning to the beast itself.