The second beast (Dan 7:5-7:5)

“Another beast appeared,

A second one.

It looked

Like a bear.

It was raised up

On one side.

It had three tusks

In its mouth,

Among its teeth.

It was told.

‘Arise!

Devour many bodies!’”

The second beast to come up out of the water was a bear looking creature. It raised up on one side with 3 tusks among the teeth in its mouth. Someone told it to arise and demolish many bodies. This may have been a reference to Medes.

The creator (Wis 13:3-13:5)

“If through delight

In the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods,

Let them know

How much better than these

Is their Lord.

The author of beauty created them.

If people were amazed

At their power,

At their working,

Let them perceive from them

How much more powerful

Is the one who formed them.

From the greatness of created things,

From the beauty of created things,

Comes a corresponding perception

Of their Creator.”

These beautiful natural forces led people to give them divine power as gods (θεοὺς). However, the author of beauty is greater than these beautiful creatures. If they were amazed at the power and works of these creatures, let them understand how much more powerful God is. He formed the greatness in these created things as their creator (ὁ γενεσιουργὸς). This idea of creature and artisan creator was also a common Greek thought. You should get to the creator through the created things that you see.