Commentary on Daniel, Introduction – Chapter 1

Commentary on Daniel · Introduction – Chapter 1

p. 1THE PROPHESIE OF DANIEL EXPLANED. Generall observations vponupon the whole Booke.

1. The summe, argument, parts, and contents of the whole Prophesie.

IN this heauenly prophesie of Daniel is set forth in generall Gods fatherly care, and watchfull prouidence ouer his Church: the vse whereof is extended generally to the Church of God in all ages, but more specially it concerned the state and condition of the Iewes then beeing in captiuitie: wherein to their comfort three things specially are declared and foretold. 1. The diuerse changes and accidents, calamities and afflictions, which should befall the people of God, vnderunder the kingdomes of the Chaldeans, Persians, and Grecians; First, vnderunder Alexander the great, then vnderunder his successors, which diuided his Empire among them. 2. The comming of the Messiah is pointed out, the time when, and ende wherefore he should come. 3. with such innouations as should followe, as the ceasing of the ceremonies, and the abdication of the Iewes: Iun. And all to this ende, that the people of God might be prepared, not to expect any terrene happinesse in this life, but with patience to waite the time of the restoring of all things in the resurrection of the iust, which is touched, cap. 12.

The parts of the booke are these: It is partly historicall, partly propheticall.

1. The historicall part, is either concerning certaine kings, or Daniel, and his godly companions: and these things are handled ioyntly together. The Kings whose historie is set downe, were Nebuchadnezzar in the 4. first chap. Balthazar in the 5. Darius in the 6. The historie of Daniel is continued in all these chapters, onelyonly the third excepted: and of his godly companions, in the 1. and 3. Polan.

And in this first part 3. speciall vertues of Daniel are described. 1. His sobrietie and abstinence, cap. 1. 2. His wisedome and diuine vnderstanding in the opening and reuealing of dreames and hid mysteries, c. 2. c. 4. c. 5. And 3. his pietie toward God, c. 6. So he is commended propter sobrietatem, sapientiam, pietatem: for his sobrietie, prudencie, pietie. Hugo Car. in proleg. in Daniel.

And by these diuine testimonies God gaue witnesse vntounto Daniel, that the mysticall prophesies following might be receiued with greater authoritie.

2. In the second part: the propheticall predictions, either concerne the enemies of Gods Church, as of the iudgements of God vponupon Nebuchadnezzar, c. 4. and Balthazar, c. 5. or they belong vntounto the Church, either shewing their afflictions and calamities. c. 10. 11. or their deliuerance begunne in this life by the redemption purchased by the Messiah, c. 9. and perfected and consummate in the next in the resurrection. c. 12. Polan.

Pereri…s another way deuideth this booke into three parts. 1. It consisteth either of bare visions and prophesies, as cap. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 2. Or of prophesies and visions mixed with histories, as c. 2. 4. 5. 3. Or of histories alone, as c. 3. and 6.

p. 22. The diuers language and readings observed in this Booke.

The originall text in this booke is partly written in the Hebrewe language, partly in the Chalde: from the beginning of the 1. Chap. to the 4. ver. of the second, and the fiue last chapters are all written in the Hebrewe tongue. And from the 4. v. of the second chap. to the ende of the 7. chap. the historie is penned in the Chalde dialect. Polan. The reasons whereof, are yeelded to be these. 1. For the credit of this historie, the Lord bringeth forth forreine nations, annalesque eorum testes, and their Chronicles as witnesses, least any should doubt of the truth thereof. Iun. 2. An other reason is, because God would hauehave some part of this historie come to the knoweledge of the heathen, as it was requisite, that the Chaldes should knowe the sinnes and impieties of that nation, and the iudgements which should befall them, ad testandam omnibus Dei veritatem, &c. to testifie vntounto all the truth of God: therefore in generall the alteration of the terrene states and kingdomes, and the power of Christs kingdome are shadowed forth. c. 1. and c. 7. and published in the Chalde language, that the Gentiles might take knowledge thereof, but the particular histories of the comming of the Messiah, of his office, kingdome, and of the calamities and afflictions which should befall the people of God, are set forth in the Hebrewe tongue, in the fiue last chapters, as most specially concerning them, Iun. in cap. 7. 3. A third reason is, that the historie of Daniels acts, set forth in the 6. first chapters, beeing expressed in the Chalde speach, might giuegive testimonie vntounto Daniel, that the Iewes might receiue him for a Prophet of God. qui erat admirabilis etiam profanis gentibus, &c. who was admired euen of the profane nations: Caluin. Proleg. in Daniel. 4. VntoUnto these may be added, that for better credit of the historie it pleased God, that the historie of such things, as were said and done in Chaldes, should be written in the same language, wherein they were first spoken: like as in Ezra the epistles and rescripts of the kings, are deliuered in the Chalde speach, as taken out of their publike acts and records. Iun. in proleg.

Beside the originall text thus consisting partly of the Hebrewe, partly of the Chalde tongue: there was the translation of the Septuagint, and three other Greeke translations beside, of Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion. But Hierome sheweth that the translation of the Septuagint, whatsoeuer was the cause thereof, whether they did not expresse the Chalde phrase,Hieron. proleg. in Daniel. or some one ignorant of the Chalde tongue did set it forth vnderunder their name, multum discordat à veritate, doth dissent much from the truth, & recto iudicio repudiatus est, &c. and therefore was vponupon a right iudgement reiected of the Church: And therefore in the stead thereof the translation of Theodotion was receiued of the Church: as the same Hierome sheweth,Lib. 2 contr. Ruffin. which notwithstanding is in many places erroneous, as shall appeare in the differences of the reading throughout.

The latine translation also faileth in many points, as afterward shall be shewed, though Pintus giuegive it this commendation,Pintus in pro…m. that it is nitore veritatis, grauitate, authoritate, omnibus alijs illustrior & praestantior: in the euidence of truth, grauitie, authoritie, more famous and excellent then any other, &c. but the contrary shall afterwards be prooued in the generall controuersies following; that the vulgar Latine is in many places corrupt, and erroneus. And herein they attribute more perfection to Hieromes translation, then he himselfe would hauehave acknowledged, thus modestly confessing, qui mihi videbar sciolus inter Hebraeos, caepi rursus discipulus esse Chaldaicus: I that seemed to know somewhat among the Hebrewes, began againe to be a scholler in the Chalde: in proleg.

3. The questions and doubts discussed.

Quest. 1. Of the author of this propheticall booke of Daniel.

1. Wicked Porphirie in the 12. booke of those which he wrote against the Christians, contendeth that this prophesie was not written by Daniel, but by some that liued in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, or after when all these things here prophesied of were fulfilled: but his cauillous obiections were long since refuted by Apollinaris, Methodius, Eusebius: and the falshood thereof is conuinced by this, that the Septuagint, who liued almost an 100. yeares before that Antiochus, did translate this booke into Greeke: and Iosephus in p. 3his 11. booke Antiquitat. Iuda. reporteth how Iaddus the high Priest shewed vntounto Alexander the great this prophesie of Daniel, which foretold of a king, that should destroy the Persian Monarchie, in confidence whereof Alexander proceeded to that battell, and this was 60. yeares before Antiochus. 2. The Hebrewes thinke,Lib. 6. Etym. with whom Isidore consenteth, that this booke of Daniel, of Ezekiel, and of the 12. Prophets, were written by the wise men of the great Synagogue, who were in the time of Ezra. 3. But that this booke was written by the Prophet Daniel, who was so famous among the Kings of Chaldea, and of Persia, beside the title of the booke, which is called in the Hebrewe sepher Daniel, the booke of Daniel; our blessed Sauiour doth witnesse the same in the Gospell, When yee shall see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, &c. Matth. 24. 15. Perer. Osiand.

Quest. 2. Of the signification of the name Daniel.

1. The name Daniel signifieth the iudgements of God, or God is my iudge, which name was giuen him by the singular prouidence of God, for both per eum annntiata sunt iudicia Dei, by him the iudgements of God were denounced and declared, and God was present with him, as his defender and iudge against his aduersaries. Bullin.

2. Lyranus then is deceiued, who thinketh that in this name there is relation to that iudgement which Daniel awarded against the two adulterous Elders, which wrongfully accused Susanna: for that storie was not of Dauiels writing, neither is found in the originall, as afterward shall more fully be declared.

3. There was another Daniel Dauids second sonne by Abigail, who also is called Chileah: but he was long before those times: 2. Sam. 3. 3. 1. Chron. 3. 1.

Quest. 3. Of the kindred of Daniel.

1. Hierome in his preface to Daniel writeth, that the Septuagint in the beginning of the historie of Susanna, which they make the 14. chapter of this booke, doe affirme that Daniel was of the tribe of Leui: whereupon Bellarmine thinketh that there were two Daniels,Bellar. lib. 1. de verb. Dei. c. 9. one of the tribe of Iudah, who writ the prophesie, the other of the tribe of Leui. But herein Perfrius, of his owne sect and societie, contradicteth him,Perer. praesat. i… Daniel. shewing that neither the Synagogue of the Iewes then, nor the Church of Christ now, euer acknowledged any more, then one Daniel to be a writer of Scripture.

2. Dionysius Carthusianus thus remooueth the doubt, that Daniel was by his fathers side of Leui,Lib. de vit. & obit. sanct. vet. testamen…. by his mothers of Iudah: so also Isidore thinketh, that Daniel was both of the kindred of the Priests and the kings: because it was vsuall for those tribes to match together in Mariage: Pererius also reiecteth this as an humane coniecture without any ground of the Scripture: Praefat. in Daniel.

3. His opinion then is that Daniel was of the kings stocke, and that in him and the rest was fulfilled the prophesie of Isaiah to Hezekiah, that his sonnes, that is, his posteritie should be carried captiue into Babylon. Of the same opinion that he was ex genere regio, 2. king. 20. v. 17. Lib. 10. antiqu. c. 11.of the kings stocke, are Bullinger, Osiander, with others: Iosephus also saith that he was of the kinsmen of Zedekiah king of Iudah.

But this is no necessarie argument, for that prophesie might be accomplished in either of the kings stocke, as well as in Daniel: And Iosephus may be deceiued in this, as in the like conceit that Daniel was a gelded man, and made an Eunuch:Orig. hom. 7. in Matth. so thinketh also Origen: their coniecture is, because As…penaez to whose care and charge Daniel was committed, is said to be the chiefe Sarisim of the Eunuchs; but this is no sure argument: for Pharaoh, Genes. 37. is called by that name, who had both wife and children. Caluin.

4. Wherefore concerning Daniels kindred somewhat is certaine, that he was of the tribe of Iudah: which is euidently expressed, c. 1. v. 6. Polan. some things are vncertaine, as, 1. Whether he were of the kings seede: for they were of the kings seede, and of the Princes, v. 3. therefore not all of the kings seede. Iun. 2. It is vncertaine likewise that Daniels fathers name should be Zabaa, Epiph. cont. Melchesedek.as Epiphanius. 3. Or that Bethoron the vpper, which first belonged to Ephraim, and afterward to the Leuites, was the countrie of Daniel, asaaIn Synop. Dorotheus andbbLib. de vit. & obit. Prophet. Epiphanius.

Quest. 4. Why Daniels kindred is not particularly expressed in the text.

1. Some thinke the reason is, because this is an historicall, rather then a Propheticall booke: but this is no good answer: for so the booke also of Nehemiah is historicall, and yet p. 4his kindred is expressed, the words of Nehemiah the sonne of Hachaliah.

2. Some make this the cause: Daniel his kindred was well knowne, and therefore it needed not to be expressed: So was Isaiahs and Ieremiahs, and their kindred well knowne, and yet it is set downe in the beginning of their prophesie.

3. Neither was this the reason, why Daniel inserteth not his name, because among the Chaldes he was called by another name, Belthazar: for c. 10. 2. he saith, I Daniel was in heauinesse.

4. Pererius saith, causam satis idoneam & probabilem, &c. I can finde no meete or probable cause hereof, why Daniels genealogie is not expressed.

5. Vnlesse this reason may be yeelded, that those Prophets hauehave their kindred expressed, which were specially sent from the Lord vponupon some message and embassage to his people, as Isaiah, Ieremiah, with the rest: not they which onelyonly had visions, without any such speciall commission: which obseruation notwithstanding doth not alwaies hold: for Salomon had no such propheticall commission: and yet he is described by his parentage, Prov. 1. 1. Salomon the sonne of Dauid.

Quest. 5. When Daniel beganne to prophesie, and at what age.

1. Pererius thinketh that Daniel was some 10. yeare old when he went into captiuitie, in the third yeare of king Iehoiakim, beeing borne, as he supposeth, about the 25. yeare of Iosias raigne: but this cannot be so, that Daniel was then so young: for 5. yeares after this he expounded Nebuchadnezzars dreame, which was the 2. yeare after they stood before the king. c. 2. 1. their three yeeres of education beeing expired. c. 1. 5. And vponupon that occasion Daniel began to be famous for his wisedome, celebrated by the Prophet Ezekiel, c. 28. 3. thou art wiser then Daniel. And before that the same Prophet maketh mention of Daniel for his pietie, ioyning him with Noah and Iob: of whom the Lord saith, that they should onelyonly saue their owne soules, they shall neither deliuer sonne nor daughter, c. 14. 20. it seemeth then that Daniel was of yeares to hauehave sonnes and daughters. Daniel then within fiue yeares of his captiuitie growing into such fame for his wisedome, could not be so very a child, as Epiphanius maketh him, and Isidorus, the one calling him infantem, an infant, the other, puerum, a boy, when he went into captiuitie: he was rather 17. or 18. yeare olde, as Osiander coniectureth. The ground of Pererius opinion is, because Daniel in the storie of Susanna is called a young child, when he deliuered her from her false accusers: which he thinketh to hauehave fallen out in the beginning of Daniels captiuitie, in the 12. yeare of his age: but that is a weake ground which is taken from an Apocryphall storie.

2. Some thinke that Daniel began to prophesie one yeare after Ezechiel, who prophesied the yeare of the world 3359. and Daniel ann. 3360. Polanus: but that is not like: for Daniel prophecied in the 5. yeare of his captiuitie, when he interpreted the kings dreame, which was in the 8. yeare of Iehoiakims raigne, for in the third yeare he went into captiuitie: but Ezekiel began to prophesie in the 5. yeare of Iehoiakims or Ieremias captiuity, Ezek. 1. 3. which was 8. yeeres after the 5. yeare of Daniels captiuitie. And how could Ezekiel in his prophesie commend the wisedome of Daniel, if before that time he had not shewed it in the interpretation of dreames.

Wherefore it is more probable, that Daniel began his prophesie before Ezekiel: yet not so long before,Praefat. in Dan. as Theoderet thinketh, that is 12. yeeres: for so long it was from the 3. yeere of Iehoiakim, who raigned 11. yeares, when Daniel was carried away, to the 5. yeare of Iechonias captiuitie. But we must not beginne Daniels prophesie so soone, which was in the 5. yeere of his captiuitie, after the three yeeres of his education, and two yeares more of his seruice and ministring before the king: though the historie of Daniel take beginning from the 3. yeare of Iehoiakim when Ierusalem was besieged: Daniel then beginning to prophesie in the interpretation of dreames, in the 5. yeare of his captiuitie, which was the 8. yeere of Iehoiakim, began some 6. or 7. yeeres before Ezekiel to shewe his propheticall gift.

Quest. 6. Of the time when Daniel had his seuerall visions.

1. Pererius thinketh that Daniel expounded the Kings first dreame, c. 2. when he was 35. yeare old: but that can in no wise agree with his former opinion concerning Daniels age, that he was but tenne yeare old, when he went first into captiuitie: for this dreame was expounded p. 5in the 5. yeare of Daniels captiuitie: so that though we hold him to be toward 20. when he was caried away, he could not then be altogether 30. yeares of age, when he opened the meaning of the Kings first dreame. Pappus also is deceiued, who thinketh that this very yeare Ezechiel commended Daniel for his iustice and pietie, c. 14. for this commendation of Daniel by the Prophet Ezechiel, was at the least in the 6. yeare of Iechonias captiuitie, Ezech. 8. 1. which was the 14. yeare of Daniels beeing in Babel: for he going thither in the 3. yeare of Iehoiakim, who raigned 11. yeares, was there eight yeares of Iehoiakims raigne, and then followed the 6. yeares of Iechonias captiuitie: but the occasion of Pappus error is, for that he maketh the third yeare of Iehoiakim, which he counteth from the time when he became tributarie to the King of Babel, which was in his 8. yeare; in deede the eleuenth yeare of his raigne: which shall be shewed afterward to be otherwise, in the 1. v. of the 1. chapter.

2. But Pappus collecteth well, that 5. yeares after this, the same yeare wherein Ierusalem was taken, that Daniel was celebrated by Ezechiel for his singular wisdome, c. 28. 3. which was in the 11. yeare of Iechonias captiuitie, Ezech. 26. 1. and the last yeare of Zedekiah his raigne: which was in the yeare of the world 3365.

3. When Nebuchadnezzer set vp the golden image, c. 3. it is vncertaine, the time beeing not expressed: but it is like it was after the destruction of Ierusalem and other nations, when Nebuchadnezzer was now become great, and puffed vp with his victories.

4. Pappus thinketh that 10. yeares after, in the yeare 3375. Nebuchadnezzer had his second dreame of the great tree, c. 4. but that cannot be: for this dreame the King had after he had conquered the nations, and subdued Egypt, which was the last, and this was after the 27. yeare of the captiuitie of Iechonia, Ezech. 30. 1. but the 3375. was but the 21. yeare of his captiuitie, 10. yeare after the taking of Ierusalem, in the 11. yeare of Zedekiah. Therefore I thinke rather with Iunius, that this second dreame of the King,Annot…o Ezek. c. 30. 1.Ezek 30:1 was some 10. yeares before the ende of Nebuchadnezzers raigne, about the 27. of Iechoniah his captiuitie, in the 37. yeare of whose captiuitie Evilmerodach began to raigne after Nebuchadnezzer, 2. king. 22. 27. and it was in the 35. yeare of Nebuchadnezzers raigne, and the yeare of the world 3382.

5. Then follows in order, within one twelue monethmonth after, how the King was taken from among men, and liued among beasts 7. yeares: after which time beeing restored, he raigned not 7. yeares, from yeares 83. to 90. as Pappus, but onelyonly two yeares. Iun. ibid.

6. The visions which Daniel had in the 7. and 8. chapters, which were in the 1. and 3. yeare of Belthashar, were shewed him when Daniel was 80. yeare old, as Pererius thinketh: but he was then at the least 90. yeares of age: for he had beene in captiuitie 75. yeares: from the beginning of Nebuchadnezzers raigne (which concurred with part of the 3. and 4. yeare of Iehoiakims raigne, Ierem. 25. 1.) who raigned 45. yeares, and Evilmerodach his sonne 30. Bulling. chron. and Daniel is supposed to hauehave beene 17. or 18. yeare old, when he first was caried vntounto Babel.

7. Pererius taketh it, that Daniel expounded the writing vponupon the wall to king Balthazar, when he was an 100. yeare old: but that cannot agree with his former computation, seeing he holdeth that he was but 80. yeare old, when he saw these visions in the 1. and 3. yeare of Balthazar: for he raigned in all but 3. yeares: though indeede Daniel was then toward an 100. yeare old. Againe, Pappus is deceiued, who maketh 10. yeares space betweene the time of these visions, c. 7. and 8. and the vision of the handwriting vponupon the wall, which was, as he setteth it downe, ann. 3434. the other vision beeing ann. 1423. as he casteth it: for Balthazar had but three yeares in all, as it may thus be gathered: The captiuitie continued 70. yeares: which must begin from Iechoniah his captiuitie, in the 37. yeare whereof began Evilmerodach to raigne 30. yeares: and after him Belthazar 3. yeares, which in all make 70. yeares.

8. The next yeare following, which was the first of Darius, Daniel was aduanced to be one of the 3. chiefe Rulers, c. 6. and the same yeare he had that prophesie reuealed of the 70. weekes. c. 10. 1. Perer. Papp. About this time was Daniel toward an 100. yeare old: and this was in the yeare 3425. Bullinger, not ann. 3435. Pappus.

9. The next yeare after this was Daniel cast into the Lyons denne, as is declared c. 6.

10. The visions in the 11. chap. Daniel had in the first yeare of Darius: the visions in the 10. chap. in the 3. yeare of Cyrus, which Pappus reduceth to the yeare 3438. but it was the yeare 3427. Bullinger.

p. 6Quest. 7. Of the whole time of Daniels age, and time of prophesying.

1. Isidorus giueth vntounto Daniel an 110. yeares, and thinketh he liued vntounto the raigne of Darius Hystaspes: but this assertion ouerthroweth it selfe: for from the third yeare of Iehoiakim, when Daniel went into captiuitie, vntill the raigne of Darius Hystaspes, are counted an 128. yeares, vntounto the which the age of Daniel beeing added, which Pererius holdeth to hauehave beene but tenne, all his yeares will make an 138. Perer. praefat.

2. Pappus counteth from Daniels first captiuitie ann. 3354. vntounto the 3. yeare of Cyrus, which he maketh ann. 1438. 92 yeares: but he is much deceiued: for they can come but to 82. yeares: for the 3. yeare of Iehoiakim, was 8. yeares before Iechonias captiuitie, from the which the 70. yeares must be numbred, which ended the first yeare of Cyrus, then 2. yeare more of Cyrus raigne must be put too, which in all make but 82.

3. Therefore Osianders reckoning hath the best ground; who iudgeth that Daniel liued an 100. yeares: he was 18. when he went into captiuitie, in the third yeare of Iehoiakim, from whence to the 3. yeare of Cyrus, are yeares 82. which beeing added to the former number, make iust an 100. yeares.

Quest. 8. Why Daniel is not mentioned to hauehave returned with the rest out of captiuitie.

Iosephus writeth, lib. 10. Antiquit. that Daniel built at Ecbatane in media a goodly tower, which remained vntounto his time, so fresh and beautifull, as if it had been but lately builded: which the Kings of Persia made such account of, as that they made it the place of their sepulture, and committed the keeping thereof to one of the Iewish Priests: but Daniel himselfe was buried at Babylon: whereupon this question is mooued, seeing Daniel liued vntounto the third yeare of Cyrus raigne, after the Edict was sent forth for the restitution and returne of the Iewes, why that he returned not with the rest: To the which it may be answered: 1. That Daniel beeing now striken in yeares, an 100. yeare old, was vnfit in respect of his great age, to take so long a iourney. 2. Or rather that he remained to be the protector or defender of the Iewes which were left behind in Babylon, as many there staied still. 3. But of all other it is most like, that he was thought a necessarie man to be imployed about the king for the good of his Nation, and to helpe forward their cause: as Theodoret thinketh, that Cyrus was taught of Daniel that prophesie of Isai, c. 45. wherein Cyrus is brought in by name, that he should procure the deliuerance of the Lords people.

Quest. 9. Of the times wherein Daniel liued, compared with f…rr…n Curonicles, and of the memorable things which happened therein.

1. The third yeare of Iehoiakim, where Daniel began his captiuitie, Pererius thinketh to fall out iust in the 32. Olympiad, and the 105. yeare from the building of Rome, and the 3. yeare of Cyrus raigne, vntounto the which Daniel attained, he maketh to concurre with the 3. yeare of the 55. Olympiad, and from the building of Rome 200. Bullinger accounteth it otherwise: the first time, which was the 3. yeare of Iehoiakim, he maketh answerable to the 3. yeare of the 38. Olympiad, and the 125. yeare from the building of Rome: the 3. of Cyrus he setteth against the 59. Olympiad, and the 209. yeare from the founding of Rome: therefore of these things there is no great certentie.

2. The memorable things which happened in the time of Daniels captiuitie, which Pererius maketh to containe 90. yeares, but in iust account they make but 82. yeares (as is before shewed) were these: for within this compasse of time happened three captiuities of the Iewes, vnderunder Iehoiakim, Iechonia, and Zedekiah, with their deliuerance, and returne into their countrie: three great Prophets were amongst the Iewes, Ieremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. Among the Romanes were kings Ancus Martius, Tarquinius Priscus, Seruius Tullus: among the Grecians flourished the 7. wise men: At this time was Craesus king of Lydia: among the Chaldeans Nebuchadnezzar: of the Medes Cyaxares: and Cyrus founded the Empire of the Persians: the kingdomes of the Iewes, Chaldeans, Medes were dissipate, and three famous cities, Ierusalem, Nineueh, Babylon destroyed. Perer.

Quest. 10. Of the excellencie, vse, and vtilitie, of this booke of Daniel.

1. This booke is commended by the worthines of the author, the Prophet Daniel a man beloued of God, to whom he reuealed the mysteries and secrets of his will, whom the Prophet p. 7for his pietie and vprightnesse ioyneth with Noah and Iob, Ezech. 14. 14. and commendeth for his wisdome, Ezech. 28. 3.

2. Beside, the excellencie of the matter doth set forth the price of the worke. 1. First, concerning ciuill matters, it treateth of the change and alteration of states and kingdomes: 2. For Diuine it hath the most cleare prophesies in all the olde Testament of the time of the Messiahs comming. 3. Therein are set forth examples of excellent vertues, of abstinencie in Daniel: of constancie in the three children, which were put into the fierie ouen: of pietie in Daniels thrice praying in a day vntounto his God. 4. Therein are contained the heauenly doctrines of the blessed Trinitie, of the resurrection of the bodie, c. 12. of redemption and remission of sinnes purchased by Christ death. c. 9. 5. Many admirable and miraculous things are here set forth, as the walking of the three children vntouched in the fierie ouen, of Daniels beeing in the Lions denne, of the transplantation of Nebuchadnezzer from beeing a king, to liue amongst bruite beasts. 6. yea therein are conteined all wayes of Prophesying, which are either by dreame, or vision, sensible apparitions, or illumination of the mind, all which wayes and meanes the Lord vsed to reueale and declare his will to his seruant the Prophet.

Quest. 11. Of the authoritie of the prophesie of Daniel.

1. The Iewes doe derogate much from the authoritie of this booke, not counting it among the Propheticall writings, of the which there are three opinions: 1. Some thinke that the Iewes doe not reiect the prophesie of Daniel, but onelyonly count it among the bookes called foreign, holy writings: for they diuide the olde Testament, into the lawe contained in the fiue bookes of Moses, and the Prophets which are eight, Iosua, the Iudges, Samuel, the Kings, Isaiah, Ieremie, Ezekiel, the twelue Prophets: and into the holy writings, as they call them, whereof there are nine, Iob, Dauid, the Prouerbs, Ecclesiastes, the Canticles,Hug. in prologom. Hieron. in Daniel. the Chronicles, Daniel, Ezra, Ester. So Pererius praefat. Likewise Hugo Cardinal, who maketh two kind of Prophets, some that had onelyonly gratiam prophecialem, the gift and grace of prophesie: others, which beside the gift were especially called and sent to that ende to prophesie, and in this sense onelyonly the Iewes hold neither Dauid, nor Daniel to be Prophets.

2. Theoderet doth simply reprehend the Iewes for denying Daniel to be a Prophet,Theodoret. praefat. in Daniel. and this booke to be any of the propheticall writings: so also Iunius affirmeth, that the Iewes denie this booke to be counted among the Hagiographa, or holy writings.

3. But the truth is, as Polanus setteth it downe, that the Elder Iewes did acknowledge this booke to be authenticall and canonicall, and equall in authoritie to the booke of the Psalmes, the Prouerbs of Salomon, the Lamentations of Ieremie, and diuerse of them hauehave written commentaries, vponupon this booke, as R. Salomon, R. Leui, Ben Gerson, R. Abraham, Aben Ezra, R. Saadia, with others: but the later Rabbines doe denie the booke of Daniel to be authenticall, and therefore seldome reade it, as he speaketh of his owne experience, how diuerse Rabbines in Moravia whose helpe he vsed,Polanus in Prologo… did confesse, that they seldome did reade the prophesie of Daniel: the occasion whereof he thinketh to be this, because Daniel doth so euidently point out the time of the Messiah his comming.

4. But this errour of the Iewes in reiecting this prophesie of Daniel may thus further be refuted. 1. The bookes which are called Hagiographa, holy writings, were of three sorts; either they are taken for those bookes which were laid vp by the Arke, and had the miraculous & extraordinary approbation by the Vrim and Thummim, & other visible demonstrations: or for such canonicall books, which though they had not that allowance, being written after the captiuitie, when those visible monuments of the Arke, the Vrim and Thummim ceased, yet were written by the spirit of God, and commended to his Church: and thirdly, those bookes were called holy writings, which were not made of Canonicall authoritie, but onelyonly preferred before other humane writings, and receiued of the Church into some higher order, though not made equall to the the Scriptures. Now though the prophesie of Daniel be not of the first sort, yet that it is authenticall and canonicall of the second, it thus may appeare.

The authoritie then of this booke is set forth by testimony both internall and externall: the externall is either diuine or humane: the diuine, essentiall or accidentall: the humane is either Ecclesiasticall and domesticall, or forraine or prophane: these further shall thus be declared p. 8in their order.

1. The internall testimonie est spiritus testificatio, the inward witnesse of the spirit, which cleareth our vnderstanding: that by the same spirit we acknowledge the Diuine prophesie of Daniel, by the which he wrote it.

2. The Diuine externall testimonie, which is called essentiall, is consensio cum diuino canone, the agreement which this prophesie hath with the rest of the Scriptures: and the warrant which Daniel hath from the testimonie of Christ, Matth. 24. 15.

3. The Accidentall is à signis, & euentis, from the signes which God ioyned with the prophesie; as Daniels interpretation of dreames, and his preseruation from the lyons, c. 6. The euents were the true and sensible accomplishment of the predictions and prophesies conteined in this booke, as all histories, which doe write of these Kingdomes doe beare record: and where these two doe concurre with the truth of doctrine, namely, the signes and euents, they are diligently to be regarded, Deut. 17.

4. The Ecclesiasticall testimonie, is the consent of Gods Church, and generall approbation of the seruants and worshippers of God; which though it be not so forcible to perswade vsus as the former, yet it is a good motion and inducement ioyned with the rest: hereunto may be added that testimonie of Iosephus, Ioseph. lib. 2. contr. Appio.that all the bookes which were written vntounto the time of Artaxerxes were of diuine authoritie.

5. The forraine testimonie is the authoritie and allowance, which this booke found euen among the Heathen: as is euident in that a great part of this prophesie is written in the Chalde tongue, which sheweth that the truth thereof was euen euident to the Chaldeans: Iunius. And here may be remembred, how laddus the high Priest, shewed Daniels prophesie vntounto Alexander the great, and by name that vision, c. 8. how the goate, which signified the Grecians, ouercame the ramme, which betokened the Persian Monarchie, as Iosephus reporteth: whereupon this booke was had in great admiration of Alexander.

Quest. 12. Of the difficultie and obscuritie of this prophesie.

Pererius giueth these foure reasons, and causes thereof. 1. Because diuerse things are otherwise reported of forraine historiographers, then they are remembred in this booke: as in the 2. chap. Nebuchadonazer is made the mightiest King vponupon the earth, whereas Herodotus much more extolleth the power of Cyaxares, who raigned about that time among the Medes. c. 5. Balthazar is said to be depriued both of life and kingdom by Darius king of the Medes, whereas other writers ascribe it to Cyrus. c. 11. the Angel foretelleth but of three kings after Cyrus vntounto Alexanders time, whereas there were many more.

2. The transposing of the storie, which is often vsed in this booke, is an other cause of the darkenesse and obscuritie: as the prophesies conteined in the 7. and 8. chap. which were shewed vntounto Daniel vnderunder the raigne of Balthazar, in order should be set before the 6. c. Pererius addeth, that the historie of Susanna, which happened when Daniel was yet a child, and the storie of Bell and the dragon, which was done the Empire of the Chaldes yet standing, should be placed t…e one before the second, the other before the 5. chap. But concerning these two pretended histories, there is no certaintie of the truth of them, at the least when and at what time they were done, and therefore this instance might be spared.

3. The prophesies and visions themselues are darke and obscure, as that c. 9. of the 70. weekes, which terme when it should take beginning, and how it proceeded, and was continued, is a matter of deepe vnderstanding.

4. The varietie of histories, which must be vsed as helpes for the vnderstanding of this prophesie: and the change and alteration of so many states and kingdomes, in this booke decyphered, doe make this prophesie intricate: specially because many of those historicall writers, whose workes are necessarie for the opening and vnfolding of this mysticall prophesie, are now lost and perished. As Hierome sendeth vsus to the histories of S…et…nius, Callinicus, Possidonius, Thean, Andronicus, Polybius, Diodorus, Titus Linius, Tr…gus Pompeius; whose histories concerning these matters here prophesied of by Daniel, are now either in part or in whole wanting.

5. And thus much was signified by the Angel, that this historie should seeme obsure, vntill the things therein contained were accomplished: as he saith to Daniel, Goe thy way Daniel, for the words are closed vp, and sealed, till the ende of the time: vntill then they should be obscure to all: but euen afterward also, when the fulnesse of time is come, none of the p. 9wicked shall hauehave vnderstanding: and least we should be discouraged altogether, it is added, but the wise shall vnderstand.Dan. 12. 9, 10.Dan 12:9Dan 12:10

4. Places of doctrine.

1. The doctrine of Gods prouidence notably is set forth in this booke, that he then most of all taketh care for his Church, when he seemeth most to neglect it:1. Doctr. Of Gods prouidence. that nothing falleth out by chance, but that the confusion and alteration of states and kingdomes are by the prouidence and disposing of God:Matth. 10 29Matt 10:29 for a sparrow cannot fall vponupon the ground without Gods will: much more is the fall and ruine of kingdomes disposed of by the Lord, Caluin.

2. In this booke many profitable doctrines are laid forth, as of the Trinitie, c. 7. of the redemption and remission of sinnes by Christ, c. 10. of the resurrection,2. Doct. Of the Trinitie, of the passion of Christ, of the resurrection. chap. 12. Pere.

3. In this booke is set forth the continuance and perpetuitie of Christs kingdome, when all terrene and earthly dominions shall cease: regna mundi caduca esse ostendit, he sheweth that the kingdomes of the world are vaine, and the kingdome of Christ onelyonly shall continue as the stone,Dan. 2. 36. Isa. 4. 7.Dan 2:36Isa 4:7 which was cutte without hands, broke the image in pieces, as the Prophet saith, the increase of his kingdome, &c. shall hauehave no ende. Bullinger.

5. Places of controuersie.

1. Controv. The vulgar Latine translation not the best.

1. Pintus in his Prooeme vponupon Daniel saith, that the vulgar Latine translation is, omnibus alijs illustrior & prestantior, is a more excellent and worthy translation then any other: and so he preferreth it before the originall Hebrew and Chalde text: therefore that the blind presumption and boldnesse of these Romanists may herein appeare, it shall not be amisse to note some speciall places wherein the Latin translation hath greatly erred.

1. c. 6. v. 15. The Latine translator readeth, Viri intelligentes regem dixerunt, &c. the men vnderstanding the king, said, &c. whereas in the originall the word is, hargishu, they came together. A. I.

2. c. 7. v. 18. The Saints shall take the kingdome. L. where it is truely translated thus: they shall take the kingdome of the Saints. A. P. I.

3. c. 8. 2. I was by the gate of Vlai. L. but in the originall, I was by the riuer Vlay: A. P. I. V. the word is vbal, a riuer.

4. c. 8. v. 9. and against strength, L. against or toward the pleasant or delectable (land.) V. A. P. I. G. hatzebi, beautie or delight it selfe.

5. c. 8. v. 13. and he said to him. L. he said to me. A. P. V. I. &c. the word is eelai, to me.

6. c. 11. 6. to make friendship. L. to make an equall (peace.) A. P. I. V. mesharim, rectitudines, equalitie, rightnes.

7. C. 11. v. 8. he shall carrie captiue their gods, and their grauen images, L. their gods and their Princes. A. P. V. G. I. nesichehem, their princes: nesich, a prince.

8. C. 11. v. 22. the armes of the fighter shall be subdued. L. the armes of the ouerflowing shall be ouerthrowne. A. P. V. I. shataph, to ouerflow.

9. C. 11. 45. he shall plant the tabernacle of (Apadno.) L. the tabernacle of his pallace. A. P. V. I. G.

10. C. 12. 2. some to shame, vt videant semper, that they may alwaies see. L. some to shame and perpetuall contempt. A. P. V. G. I. the word is diron, contempt.

By these few places giuen in instance, a coniecture may be made of the rest of the translation, that beeing so erroneous it can not be compared for grauitie or authoritie to the originall. The other places of moment, wherein this translation often slippeth, shall be noted in the diuers readings vponupon eueryevery Chapter.

2. Controv. The historie of Susanna, the Song of the three children, and of Bell and the Dragon, are no parts of Daniel, nor of the Canonicall Scripture.

The Romanists would thus perswade, that these histories which are annexed to Daniel, and make in the vulgar Latine translation the 13. and 14. chap. to be Canonicall.

1. Because the Councell of Trent hath so defined them to be held for Canonicall Scripture.

2. They are vsed and recited in the Romane leiturgie and Masse as Canonicall Scripture.

p. 103. They are cited and alleadged by diuers of the Fathers.

4. Diuerse of the Fathers of the Greeke Church, as Origen, Athanasius, Chrysostome, Cyril, doe hold these parcells to be Canonicall. Thus Bellar. lib. 1. de verb. Dei. c. 9. Pintus in prooem. Perer. lib. 16. in Daniel, in praefat.

Contra. 1. The Tridentine Councell or Chapter rather, was no true generall Councell; but a partiall conuenticle of the Romanists, wherein there were not so many Bishops congregate or assembled together, as hauehave beene in many prouinciall Synods. 2. And though it had beene a lawfull Synod, yet it had no lawfull authoritie to make the canon of the Scripture, which belongeth onelyonly vntounto God: the Church onelyonly is to declare, not to constitute the sacred Canon. 3. Neither can they produce any generall Councell, wherein the Pontificiall canon of Scripture hath beene confirmed.

2. Pererius himselfe giueth instance of many things which are rehearsed in the Popish Masse,Peter. ibid. which are not canonicall: as the legend of S. Catharine, how her bodie was placed by the Angels in mount Sinai: the Masse of the immaculate conception of the virgin Marie: and somewhat is taken out of the 4. booke of Esdras: all these he himselfe confesseth not to be of Canonicall authoritie, though publikely recited and sung in their Masse: the argument therefore followeth not.

3. Neither is all taken to be Canonicall, which is cited by the Fathers: for they many times doe alleadge the testimonies of Poets, and heathen writers: and the later writers doe produce the authorities of the Elder fathers, Iustine, Tertullian, Ireneus, Cyprian, Origen: are their works therefore to be held canonicall?

4. Though some of the Greeke Fathers, therein following the Greeke translation, which was of great authoritie, doe make these histories Canonicall; yet their testimonie is not sufficient to make that part of Scripture, which is not. And against their iudgement, we may oppose the sentence of other Fathers, as of Hierome, Hieron. prolog. cum Paulúm & E… stach.who doubteth not to call the historicall narrations of Bel and the Dragon, fables: likewise he alleadgeth how Eusebius and Apollinarius would not answer Porphirie his cauillous exceptions against these supposed parcels of Daniel, because they were not found in the originall, neither were held to be of diuine authoritie. Pererius here answereth, Nobis cuae non sit, quid isti senserint, quidve scriptis prodiderint: mihi pluris est divus Ignatius Martyr, Athanasius, Chrysostomus, &c. We neede not care what these thought, or what they set forth in writing: I make more account of holy Ignatius Martyr, Athanasius, Chrysostome, &c. In which indifferent answer, he teacheth vsus what to say: If he care not what Eusebius, Apollinarius, Hierome thinke or write on this matter; why should it mooue vsus, what Ignatius, Athanasius, with the rest, testifie in this cause? neither doe I see why the one should be more accounted of, or held of greater authoritie then the other.

Our contrarie Arguments against the Canonicall authoritie of these additions, are these which follow:

1. They are not extant in the Hebrew and Chalde originall.

2. They containe some things contradictorie to the Canonicall histories: as the Apocryphal storie saith that Daniel was of the tribe of Levi, whereas he is said in the true storie to be of the tribe of Iudah, c. 1. v. 6.

3. Iosephus making mention of all the other histories recorded in this booke,Lib. 10. antique. yet omitteth these two as Apocryphal relations.

4. Hierome toucheth certaine obiections propounded by a Iew against these Apocryphall additions.Prolog. in Dan. 1. That it is not like, that the three children had so much leisure, as to goe through all the elements and creatures in their hymne or song. 2. It was no such miraculous thing, but a naturall worke to kill the Dragon with gobbets, and balls of pitch. 3. And it is without example, that any Prophet was so transported in bodie, as Abacuk was taken vp by the haire of the head to goe and minister vntounto Daniel.

Answ. Here the Romanists doe giuegive vsus this slender satisfaction. 1. That this booke might be translated by Theodotian out of the Hebrew or Chalde, which is now extant: or it might be written in the Greeke tongue originally, by some stirred by the spirit of God, as the author of Ecclesiasticus was. Perer.

2. There might be two Daniels, one of Iudah, an other of Levi. Bellarm.

3. Iosephus omitteth many things in his historie of the Iewes antiquities. Perer.

4. 1. So Ionas prayed in the Whales bellie, beeing in great danger, as the other were in p. 11the fire. 2. Salomon though mooued by the spirit of God, yet by humane wisdome decided the controuersie betweene the two harlots. 3. Henoch and Helias were translated in their bodies. Hug. Card. in proleg. Hieron. in Daniel.

Contra. 1. It is euident that this booke was not translated either out of Chalde or Hebrew, by the Greeke allusion: foreign, as if one should say, alluding to a cutting or pricking tree, he will cut thee: and in the Greeke tongue originally were none of the Canonicall books of the old Testament written: for vntounto the Iewes were committed the oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2. but the bookes set forth in the Greeke could not be committed to the Hebrewes.

2. If there were two Daniels, why are those additions annexed to the prophesie of Dani…l, as parts thereof, he beeing not the author?

3. Iosephus omitteth many matters of circumstance, but complete histories, and the same memorable, he seldome omitteth: but this argument is vrged, not as necessarie, but onelyonly probable.

4. 1. It is one thing to pray in distresse as Ionas did, an other to giuegive thanks at large vntounto God, before riddance from the daunger: for that had beene in some sort to tempt God, to stay longer in the daunger then there was cause. 2. That experiment of Salomons wisdome is set forth as an act of a prudent and wise man, directed by the spirit of God: but the other is set downe as a propheticall act: therefore the instance is not alike. 3. Henoch and Helias were translated out of the world, but not from place to place, as this Abacuk is supposed to hauehave beene: and it cannot be gathered, that they reteined their bodies still, when they were taken vp: but rather, that by the power of God they were dissolued: which we are to thinke for the honour of Christ, who was the first that in his whole humanitie entred the heauens.

6. Morall observations.

1.1. Obser. The infallible certentie of faith in Christ to be the onelyonly Redeemer. In that in this prophesie of Daniel, there is a manifest prophesie pointing out the very time of the comming of Christ, c. 9. quam clarum & firmum est hoc testimonium, &c. what a cleare and sure testimonie is this, which we may oppose against Sathan, and all Atheists, and other gainsayers, that Christ is the true Redeemer, that was to come into the world. Calvin.

2.2. The profit that commeth by affliction. In that the Lord did such wonderfull things for his people in captiuitie, in so much that the glorie of God was propagated more, disperso & afflicto populo Dei, quam regnante, & agent… in pace, &c. the people of God beeing dispersed and afflicted, then while they raigned and liued in peace: it sheweth the profit that commeth by the crosse, Bulling. both in generall to the whole Church, and in particular to eueryevery member thereof, as the Prophet Dauid saith, It is good for me, that I hauehave beene afflicted, Psal. 119. 71.

3.3. The wicked though neuer so mightie shall be punished. Further, illustria gloriae divinae documenta sunt iudicia in reges, the iudgement of God vponupon Kings and vponupon their kingdomes, are notable demonstrations of Gods glorie, Polan. as the Prophet Isai saith, Topheth is prepared of old, it is prepared for the king, Isa. 30. 33.

4.4. The Church of God must stil looke for afflictions in this world. In that Daniel after the prophesie of the comming of Christ, yet foretelleth many afflictions, c. 10. 11, 12. which should befall the Church of God in this world, vntill the blessed day of the resurrection which is spoken of, c. 12. when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes; thereby is declared that the Church of God, and the faithfull members thereof must looke for no firme and sure state in this world to continue, but make account through many afflictions to enter into the kingdome of heauen: sic Genev. in the argument of the booke: for as the Apostle saith, Here we looke for no continuing citie, but seeke one that is to come, Heb. 13. 14. But now by the grace of God I will proceede to the booke it selfe, hauing staied long enough in these generall obseruations.

CHAP. I.

1. The Argument and method.

THis Chapter hath three parts. 1. The first sheweth how that after the King of Babel had besieged and taken Ierusalem, he caried diuers into captiuitie. 1. c. 1, 2.

2. In the next part the education of Daniel and of his other companions is described, from v. 3. to v. 18. where these three things are contained. 1. The Kings charge vntounto the chiefe of the Eunuches for their education, to v. 7. 2. Daniels abstinence and refusall to eate of the Kings meate, whereunto was made a way by that fauour which p. 12God gaue vntounto Daniel in the sight of the chiefe of the Eunuches, to v. 14. 3. The successe thereof, they were encreased with gifts both of minde and bodie. v. 15, 16, 17.

3. Then the euent followeth, their ministerie before the King, and their aduancement, especially of Daniel, v. 18. to v. 21.