Decoding Daniel: The Case of Dan 7,5 231 6. Mouth and Teeth “Mouth” and “teeth” can be synonyms for aggression (cf Lam 2,16; 3,46; Ezek 21,27 {22}; Isa 9,11 {12}; Deut 32,24; Ps 57,4; Prov 30,14). The last three citations are particularly interesting in the present context. Deut 32,24 states, “... the teeth of beasts I will send upon them …”, an obvious verse connecting with the teeth of the bear. The other two citations identify “teeth” with weapons of war: Ps 57,4 says, “... whose teeth are spears and arrows …” and Prov 30,14, “... whose teeth are swords …”. Both these passages are descriptive of people who are enemies, although in the former the enemies are likened to wild beasts (lions). Interestingly, one of the hymns from Qumran has a similar description concerning lion cubs: “whose teeth are like a sword, whose molars are like a sharpened spear” (55). These passages are bridges which link the teeth of the bear in Daniel with both the key text of Isa 13,5 where “weapons of my indignation” appears (cf also Jer 50,25) and a number of passages which specify the weapons used by those bringing about the downfall of Babylon. A sword is the instrument in Jer 25,27.29; 50,35-37 (five times), arrows in Jer 50,9 and 51,11 and the spear in 50,42. 7. Three ˆy[l[ and the order to “Arise, devour much flesh” The three ˆy[l[ instruct the bear to “Arise, devour much flesh”. They are, therefore, unlikely to be an integral physical characteristic of the bear. The notion of “devouring” alludes to Jeremiah’s use of the verb lka to refer to Babylon. In 30,16 God promises Israel, “All who devour you will be devoured” (wlky ˚ylkaAlk) and in 51,34 it is stated, “Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, has devoured us/me” (wnlka) (56). Thus Babylon is due to be devoured in turn. The bear who is to carry out the “devouring” has already been identified. One aspect of the bear is Persia. It is symbolised in Isa 46,11 as a “bird of prey”. Job 39,27-30 has two points of contact with Isa 46,10b-11a for a bird of prey (57) is the subject and it sees its prey from afar (58). The passage reads, Does a bird of prey mount up at your command… 27 From there it searches out prey (lka) 29 Its eyes see from afar off (qwjrml) And its (59) brood 30 sucks up (w[l[y) blood and where the slain (µyllj) are there is it”. This passage also has two linguistic similarities to Dan 7,5. There the bear was told to devour (ylka) which links with the ‘prey’ (lka) seen by the (55)1Q Hymns XIII:10 The translation is from F. GARCIA MARTINEZ, The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated. The Qumran Texts in English (Leiden – Grand Rapids 1996). (56) There is a textual fault here. (57) Isa 46,11 employs fy[ for bird of prey/eagle, whereas Job 39,27 uses rçn. (58) Isa 46,11 has qjrm ≈ram and Job 39,29 has qwjrml thus there is some linguistic coherence. (59) There is a textual fault here.