דניאל, פרק ז׳, פסוק ד׳

A dramatic and turbulent vision presents a terrifying beast undergoing a humiliating transformation. This imagery captures the entire life cycle of a mighty empire, from the peak of its glory to its absolute collapse. The primary approach among commentators is that this creature represents the Babylonian empire, spanning from the powerful reign of Nebuchadnezzar to its ultimate defeat during the days of Belshazzar.

At the height of its power, the empire appears as a lion possessing the wings of an eagle. This combination reflects Babylon's absolute dominance over the world. It ruled with the raw strength and bravery of a lion, while executing its conquests with the exceptional speed and swiftness of an eagle in flight [מלבי״ם, אבן יחיא]. The prophets of Israel frequently compared the Babylonian empire to these specific kings of the animal and bird kingdoms [רש״י].

The turning point in the empire's status occurs when the beast's wings are violently torn away. This loss marks the beginning of the kingdom's downfall [רש״י]. It reflects the later era of Belshazzar, a time when Babylon lost its momentum for conquest. With its wings clipped, the empire no longer had the strength to fight against the advancing armies of Media and Persia [מלבי״ם]. Following the loss of its wings, the beast is uprooted and removed from its firm, stable position on the ground. Without its wings to help maintain its balance, the creature completely loses its ability to stand strong [מצודת דוד]. This physical uprooting symbolizes the complete dismantling of the empire [רש״י], as well as the personal death of Belshazzar [מלבי״ם].

In the final stage of this process, the creature is stripped of its unstoppable animal nature and assumes a human form [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Forced to stand upright on two feet, it exchanges the effortless flight of an eagle for the heavy, slow walk of an ordinary person [אבן יחיא]. Furthermore, the beast is given a human heart in place of its lion's heart. This change does not symbolize a positive shift toward compassion, but rather a descent into weakness, frailty, and softness [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. It serves as a precise reflection of Belshazzar's own terror, as his heart grew weak with fear upon realizing that his destruction at the hands of his enemies was imminent [אבן יחיא].