Еврейская мысль к Даниэль 7:6

...And therefore it is said that the third empire is connected to the beast which is a leopard with four wings (Daniel 7:6), for wisdom expands to all directions and wide and far, and it has no borders whatsoever, rather it extends to every place. And therefore it is compared to the leopard which has four wings, for wings illustrate [the concept] of expansion in all four directions, and we have already explained this in another place, and it's clear in all places. And therefore it is said about this nation [in the first vision of Daniel] (Daniel 2:39 "[then yet a third kingdom, of bronze,] will rule over the whole earth". For after this nation possess wisdom, behold the intellect (שכל) expands throughout the entire world, as this is the concept of the intellect (שכל). And therefore corresponding to the attribute of the intellect, they ruled over the entire world, and all was according to this attribute (the שכל). And therefore this empire did not oppose Yisrael except in line with the Torah שכלי, and the Mitzvot of the G-dly Torah. [The Greek nation decreed specifically upon Bris Milah, on Rosh Chodesh, and Shabbat]. And thus all aspects of this third empire was to nullify from Yisrael the influence of G-dly Torah, and G-dly matters [supra-rational mitzvot] specifically.

And in the Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 13,5) This is the opinion of Rebbe Yochanan, that said Rebbe Yochanan (Jeremiah 5:6) "Therefore, the lion of the forest" - this is Babylon, "the wolf of the desert ravages them" - this is Persia, "The leopard lies in wait" - this is Greece, "Whoever leaves them will be torn to pieces" - this is Rome. Why? "For their transgressions are many, their rebellious acts unnumbered". (Daniel 7:6) "After that, as I looked on, there was another one, like a leopard" - this is Greece, for they established their decrees and they said to Yisrael write on the horn of an ox that there isn't to you a portion in the World to Come (in the G-d of Yisrael). (Daniel 7:7) "After that, as I looked on in the night vision, there was a fourth beast—fearsome, dreadful, and very powerful" - this is Rome. Daniel saw three in one night, and this one [the vision of Rome] in one night. Why? Rebbe Yochanan and Rebbe Shimon Ben Lakish: Rebbe Yochanan says, that is [Rome] is weighted against the three, and Rebbe Shimon Ben Lakish says, even more. Rebbe Yochanan challenged Rebbe Shimon Ben Lakish (Ezekiel 21:19) "O mortal, prophesy, striking hand against hand". This is what Rebbe Shimon Ben Lakish was using (Ezekiel 21, 19) "A second time [doubling]". Behold you can explain these worlds as we have said, for the fourth empire is weighted against the other three empires. And therefore Daniel sees the three empires in one night, and the fourth empire in one night unto itself. And what that Reish Lakish reasons that it [the fourth empire] was weighted more than the other three, this concept is because in such as there exists within it [the fourth empire] the three in such that there are three empires, each power has assistance to it from the second one [each power bolsters the next]. For certainly the years of people who are together, versus one who is alone, the [years of] one aren't weighted like half the the years of those who are together, for good are the years together rather than alone, for one individual assists the second one. And therefore, Reish Lakish says that the Empire which incorporates these three [empires] is actually bigger than these three, in such that they are divided, each one unto itself. And the attacking question of Rebbi Yochanan upon Reish Lakish, from the verse (Ezekiel 29:19) "O mortal, prophesy, striking hand against hand", this concept is that he hit hand against hand in renewal and wonder, and this concept was said when he said that there would be established a fourth Empire. And upon this it said "striking hand against hand", for the Empire will be forceful within the world, for this empire will be weighted against the other three Empires. And therefore it was said, "striking hand against hand", for a hand is three Empires, and the second hand is unto itself, this is the fourth Empire, which is weighted equal to the other three, and not more, for it is not mentioned more, but that it should be striking hand against hand. And upon this Reish Laish responds, "A second time [doubling]" (Ezekiel 21:19) it was written, which his to say that there will be two occasions of striking, hand against hand, that the fourth Empire will be weighed equal to the three and then further still than the three, which is a further wonder, and that's why [the verse] says "A second time [doubling]". And therefore this empire, it demands that it should be everything, and none other should be with it in existence whatsoever, and this isn't so with the three initial Empires. For to each one of the four empires there was a specific attribute: [G-dliness, for to each one of the four empires there was a specific attribute: -- this line is taken out of R' Hartman edition and seemingly sensibly for it appears a mimic of the previous sentence].

And the fourth, its power was in its destruction, and therefore it is metaphored (Daniel 2, 40) to iron, which cuts and destroys everything.