Commentators are divided on the status of verses 21-22. Some consider it to be a later addition to the text, but it is extremely well attested by the manuscript evidence, and it is essential to the explanation that follows. The problem is that there is an implied question raised in verse 19 (“I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast”), but the answer does not come until verse 23. The second implied question (“concerning the ten horns,” in verse 20) is answered first. The structure of verses 19-23 may therefore be diagrammed as follows:

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .