CHAP. X. " and its is sent to Daniel. be genuine, but is less liable to suspicion, as the שקיצם שקצים One of mine has less fully משומם desolation." One of mine has more fully משמם Verse 27. pp "and unto the end." - "to the "and unto," is wanting in one of mine; end;" and one has by" and upon." upon" is the reading in one other. “and PP. "the end." One has "the time;" and another "until the desolation." "the desolation." עת קץ,both "the time of the end." is by "and upon the wing (or battlement) abomination." Instead of this, one of the Parisian MSS. numbered three hundred and thirteen in Kennicott's, has pip “and in the temple there shall be abomination." See the preceding notes. This is a similar reading to Theodotion, the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriae Hexapla, and the Arabic; and is countenanced by our Lord, Matt. xxiv. 15. After all that has been said on this reading, (which may is על One of mine has DD without the 1 vau. I have thus set down almost all the variations mentioned by Kennicott and De Rossi, and those furnished by three ancient MSS. of my own, that the learned reader may avail himself of every help to examine thoroughly this important prophecy. Upwards of thirty various readings in the compass of four verses, and several of them of great moment. CHAPTER X. This and the two following chapters give an account of Daniel's last vision, wherein the succession of the Persian and Grecian monarchies is described, together with the wars that should take place between Syria and Egypt under the latter monarchy. The last part of the vision (from chap. xi. 36) seems to relate chiefly to the persecutions of the Church in the times of Antichrist, till it be purified from all its pollutions; after which will follow that glorious kingdom of the saints spoken of in the seventh and eighth chapters. This chapter begins with an account of Daniel's fasting and humiliation, 1–3. Then we have a description of the Divine person who appeared to the prophet, not unlike him who appeared to the apostle in the isle of Patmos, 4-21. See Rev. i. 10-16. B. A. M. 3470. IN the third year of Cyrus king Ol. LXI. 3. of Persia a thing was revealed Anno Tarquinii Superbi, unto Daniel, a whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. е C 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, h neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole R. Roman., 1. weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning river, which is Hiddekel; DANIEL. certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were n " girded with fine gold of Uphaz: the Tigris, the great river of Assyria; as the Euphrates of Syria, and the Nile of Egypt. Verse 5. Clothed in linen] The description is intended to point out the splendour of the garments. Gold of Uphaz] The same as Ophir. Verse 6. His body also was like the beryl] The description of this person is very similar to that of our Lord in Rev. i. 13-15. Verse 7. The men that were with me saw not the vision] An exactly parallel case with what occurred at the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Acts ix. 7. There was a Divine influence which they all felt, but only Daniel saw the corporeal appearance. Verse 9. Was I in a deep sleep] I fell into a swoon. Verse 10. A hand touched me] Nothing was apparent or palpable but a hand. A hand had written Belshazzar's fate upon the wall; and the hand is frequently mentioned when the power or majesty of God is intended. Perhaps by hand God himself may be meant. It is remarkable that in a very ancient MS, of the Septuagint, more than a thousand years old, now in the imperial library of Vienna, adorned with paintings which have been engraved for the catalogue of Lambechius, and transferred to that of Nesselius, all the appearances of God are represented by a hand in the clouds. Verse 12. I am come for thy words] On account of thy prayers I am sent to comfort and instruct thee. is sent to Daniel. A. M. 3470. B. C. 534. Ol. LXI. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for R. Roman., 1, unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, f thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. e 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstocd me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, m I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, " one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I Heb. a man of desires.——— Rev. i. 17. b Chap. ix. 23. d Heb. stand on thy standing.Chap. ix. 3, 4, 22, 23; Acts x. 4. Ver. 20. Ver. 21; chap. xii. 1; Jude 9; Rev. xii. 7.- Or, the first. Gen. xlix. 1; chap. ii. 28. Chap. viii. 26; ver. 1; Hab. ii. 3.—m Ver. 9; chap. viii. 18. Chap. viii. 15.- o Ver. 10; Jer. i. 9. Verse 13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me] I think it would go far to make a legend or a precarious tale of this important place to endeavour to maintain that either a good or evil angel is intended here. Cyrus alone was the prince of Persia, and God had destined him to be the deliverer of his people; but there were some matters, of which we are not informed, that caused him to hesitate for some time. Fearing, probably, the greatness of the work, and not being fully satisfied of his ability to execute it, he therefore for a time resisted the secret inspirations which God had sent him. The opposition might be in reference to the building of the temple. But lo, Michael] Gabriel, who speaks, did not leave Cyrus till Michael came to take his place. Michael, he who is like God, sometimes appears to signify the Messiah, at other times the highest or chief archangel. Indeed there is no archangel mentioned in the whole Scripture but this one. See Jude 9; Rev. xii. 7., Verse 14. For yet the vision is for many days.] There are many things which remain yet to be revealed, and the time of their accomplishment is very distant. Verse 15. I set my face toward the ground] He was standing upright, ver. 11, and he now bent his body in reverence, and looked down upon the ground. And became dumb.] Found himself unable to speak. Verse 16. Like the similitude of the sons of men] Another Divine personage A. M. 3470. Olymp. LXI. 3. opened my mouth, and spake, and not: peace be unto thee, be said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision P my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, I think Gabriel is here meant, who appeared to Daniel in a human form; and so in ver. 18, and see also chap. ix. 21. strong, yea, A. M. 3470. be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the king of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. t V Ver. 13.- u Heb. strengtheneth himself.- — Ver. 13; Jude 9; the mind of Cyrus can account for his decree in favour of the Jews. He had no natural, no political inclination to it; and his reluctance to obey the heaTouched my lips] Before this he was unable to venly motions is here represented as a fight between speak. him and the angel. The prince of Grecia shall come.] I believe this refers to Alexander the Great, who was to destroy the Persian empire. See the second and third verses of the following chapter. Verse 21. Noted in the scripture of truth] Perhaps this refers to what he had already written down. See the preceding visions, which Daniel did not fully understand, though a general impression from them had filled his heart with sorrow. Michael your prince.] The archangel mentioned before, ver. 13, and who has been always supposed to be appointed by God as the guardian of the Jewish nation. It appears that God chose to make use of the ministry of angels in this work; that angels, as they could be only in one place at one time, could not pro duce influence where they were not; and that, to carry on the operation on the mind of the Persian king, it was necessary that either Gabriel or Michael should be present with him, and when one went on another commission another took his place; see ver. 13. But we know so little of the invisible world that we cannot safely affirm any thing positively. CHAPTER XI. This chapter gives a more particular explanation of those events which were predicted in the eighth chaptert The prophet had foretold the partition of Alexander's kingdom into four parts. Two of these, in which were included Egypt and Syria, the one to the north, the other to the south, in respect of Judea, appear to take up the chief attention of the prophet, as his people were particularly concerned in their fate; these being the countries in which by far the greatest number of the Jews were, and still are, dispersed. Of these countries he treats (according to the views of the most enlightened expositors) down to the conquest of Macedon, A. M. 3836, B. C. 168, when he begins to speak of the Romans, 1-30; and then of the Church under that power, 31-35. This leads him to speak of Antichrist, who was to spring up in that quarter, 36–39; and of those powers which at the TIME of the end, or the latter days of the Roman monarchy, (as this term is generally understood,) were to push at it, and overthrow many countries, 40-43. By the king of the SOUTH in the fortieth verse, the dominion of the Saracens, or Arabs, is supposed to be intended, which was an exceeding great plague to the Roman empire in the east, and also to several papistical countries, for the space of one hundred and fifty years, i. e. from A. D. 612, when Mohammed and his The angel shows the succession DANIEL. of kings in Persia, Greece followers first began their depredations, to A. D. 762, when Bagdad was built, and made the capital of the caliphs of the house of Abbas; from which epoch the Saracens became a more settled people. By the king of the NORTH in the same verse the prophet is supposed by some to design that great scourge of eastern Christendom, the Ottoman or Othman empire, by which, after about a hundred and fifty years of almost uninterrupted hostilities, the Roman empire in the east was completely overturned, A. D. 1453. The chapter concludes with a prediction of the final overthrow of this northern power, and of the manner in which this great event shall be accomplished, 44, 45. But it should be observed that, notwithstanding the very learned observations of Bishop Newton and others upon this chapter, their scheme of interpretation presents very great and insurmountable difficulties; among which the very lengthy detail of events in the Syrian and Egyptian histories, comprising a period of less than two hundred years, and the rather uncouth transition to the incomparably greater transactions in Antichristian times, and of much longer duration, which are passed over with unaccountable brevity, are not the least. On all these subjects, however, the reader must judge for himself. See the notes. A. M. 3470. B. C. 534. Olymp. LXI. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, R. Roman., 1. a ALSO I, in the first year of b Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and a do according to his will, A. M. 3470. Olymp. LXI. 3. R. Roman., 1. 2 And now will I show thee the truth. Be- 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom hold, there shall stand up yet three kings in shall be broken, and shall be divided toward Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer the four winds of heaven, and not to his posthan they all and by his strength through terity, nor according to his dominion which his riches he shall stir up all against the realm he ruled for his kingdom shall be plucked of Grecia. up, even for others beside those. a Chap. ix. 1.- —b Chap. v. 31.——————¢ Chap. vii. 6; viii. 5. Verse 1. In the first year of Darius the Mede] This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. Bp. Newton, who is ever judicious and instructing, remarks: It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and thus revelation "is a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The four great empires shown to Nebuchadnezzar, under the symbol of a great image, were again more particularly represented to Daniel under the forms of four great wild beasts. In like manner, the memorable events that were revealed to Daniel in the vision of the ram and he-goat, are here more clearly revealed in this last vision by an angel; so that this latter prophecy may not improperly be said to be a comment on the former. It comprehends many signal events. The types, figures, and symbols of the things are not exhibited in this, as in most other visions, and then expounded by the angel; but the angel relates the whole: and, not by way of vision, but by narration, informs Daniel of that which is noted in the Scripture of truth, chap. x. 21. Verse 2. There shall stand up yet three kings] Gabriel had already spoken of Cyrus, who was now reigning; and after him three others should arise. These were, 1. Cambyses, the son of Cyrus. 2. Smerdis, the Magian, who was an impostor, who pretended to be another son of Cyrus. And, 3. Darius, the son of Hystaspes, who married Mandane, the daughter of Cyrus. Cambyses reigned seven years and five months; Smerdis reigned only seven months; and Darius Hystaspes reigned thirty-six years. The fourth shall be far richer than they all] This was Xerxes, the son of Darius, of whom Justin says: "He had so great an abundance of riches in his king 610 : -e d Chap. viii. 4; ver. 16, 36.- Chap. viii. 8.- -fChap. viii. 22. dom, that although rivers were dried up by his numerous armies, yet his wealth remained unexhausted." He shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.] His military strength was such, that Herodotus, who lived in that time, informs us that his army amounted to five millions, two hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty men. Besides these, the Carthaginians furnished him with an army of three hundred thousand men, and a fleet of two hundred ships. He led an army against the Greeks of eight hundred thousand men, and twelve hundred and seven ships, with three banks of rowers each. As he marched along, he obliged all the people of the countries through which he passed to join him. Verse 3. A mighty king shall stand up] This was Alexander the Great. It is not said that this mighty king shall stand up against Xerxes, for he was not born till one hundred years after that monarch; but simply that he should stand up, i. e., that he should reign in Greece. Verse 4. His kingdom shall be broken] Shall, after his death, be divided among his four chief generals, as we have seen before. See chap. viii. 22. And not to his posterity] The family of Alexander had a most tragical end: 1. His wife Statira was murdered soon after his death by his other wife Rorana. 2. His brother Aridaus, who succeeded him, was killed, together with his wife Euridice, by command of Olympias, Alexander's mother, after he had been king about six years and some months. 3. Olympias herself was killed by the soldiers in revenge. 4. Alexander Egus, his son, together with his mother Roxana, was slain by order of Cassander. 5. Two years after, his other son Hercules, with his mother Barsine, was privately murdered by Polysperchon; so ( 39 ) And in Egypt A. M. 3470. Olymp. LXI. 3. CHAP. XI. k and Syria. A. M. 3470. Olymp. LXI. 3. R. Roman., 1. 1 5 And the king of the south stand-up in his estate, which shall be strong, and one of his shall come with an army, and princes; and he shall be strong shall enter into the fortress of R. Roman., 1. above him, and have dominion; the king of the north, and shall his dominion shall be a great dominion. deal against them, and shall prevail : 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together: for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given 9 So the king of the south shall come into up, and they that brought her, and he that his kingdom, and shall return into his own begat her, and he that strengthened her in land. these times. 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 10 But his sons m shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: Or, in his place, or office; ver. 20.- Heb. vessels of their de Or, shall war. sire. m that in fifteen years after his death not one of his fa- whom she brought forth;" the son being murdered, mily or posterity remained alive! as well as the mother, by order of Laodice. "Blood calls for blood." He (Alexander) was the great butcher of men. He was either poisoned, or killed himself by immoderate drinking, when he was only thirty-two years and eight months old: and a retributive Providence destroyed all his posterity, so that neither root nor branch of them was left on the face of the earth. Thus ended Alexander, the great butcher; and thus ended his family and posterity. Verse 5. The king of the south] This was Ptolemy Lagus, one of his generals, who had the government of Egypt, Libya, &c., which are on the south of Judea. He was strong, for he had added Cyprus, Phoenicia, Caria, &c., to his kingdom of Egypt. And one of his princes-shall be strong above him] This was Seleucus Nicator, who possessed Syria, Babylon, Media, and the neighbouring countries. This was the king of the north, for his dominions lay north of Judea. And he that strengthened her] Probably her father Ptolemy, who was excessively fond of her, and who had died a few years before. Verse 7. But out of a branch of her roots] A branch from the same root from which she sprang. This was Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother, who, to avenge his sister's death, marched with a great army against Seleucus Callinicus, took some of his best places, indeed all Asia, from Mount Taurus to India, and returned to Egypt with an immense booty, forty thousand talents of silver, precious vessels, and images of their gods two thousand five hundred, without Callinicus daring to offer him battle. I can but touch on these historic facts, for fear of extending these notes to an immoderate length. Verse 8. He shall continue more years] Seleucus Callinicus died (an exile) by a fall from his horse; and Ptolemy Euergetes survived him four or five years. Verse 6. In the end of years] Several historical -Bp. Newton. circumstances are here passed by. The king's daughter of the south] Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, was married to Antiochus Theos, king of Syria. These two sovereigns had a bloody war for some years; and they agreed to terminate it by the above marriage, on condition that Antiochus would put away his wife Laodice and her children, which he did and Berenice having brought an immense fortune to her husband, all things appeared to go on well for a time. But she shall not retain the power of the arm]y zaro, her posterity, shall not reign in that kingdom. But she shall be given up] Antiochus recalled his former wife Laodice and her children; and she, fearing that he might recall Berenice, caused him to be poisoned and her to be murdered, and set her son Callinicus upon the throne. And they that brought her] Her Egyptian women, striving to defend their mistress, were many of them killed. And he that begat her] Or, as the margin, "he Verse 9. So the king of the south] Ptolemy Euergetes Shall come into his kingdom] That of Seleucus Callinicus. And shall return] Having heard that a sedition had taken place in Egypt, Ptolemy Euergetes was obliged to return speedily in order to repress it; else he had wholly destroyed the kingdom of Callinicus. Verse 10. But his sons shall be stirred up] That is, the sons of Callinicus, who were Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus, afterwards called the Great. Shall assemble a multitude] Seleucus Ceraunus did assemble a multitude of forces in order to recover his father's dominions; but, not having money to pay them, they became mutinous, and he was poisoned by two of his own generals. His brother Antiochus was then proclaimed king; so that one only of the sons did certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; he retook Seleucia, and regained Syria. He then returned, and overcame Nicolaus the Egyptian general; and seemed disposed to invade Egypt, |