Commentary on Daniel, Appendix · Exercise 8
The eight Exercise.
Wherein Graserus laboureth, in the explanation of the 42. and 43. verses, to remooue the receiued interpretation, which is of Antiochus exploits against Egypt and other countries, and to applie this prophesie vntounto the Romane Antichrist, and his attempts against forren nations.
Argum. 1. As before by the pleasant land he would hauehave vnderstood generally the whole visible Church: so by Egypt he insinuateth all those barbarous nations in the vnknowne parts of the world, in India America, whether the Romane Antichrist hath also extended his hand.
1. In all the prophesie before concerning Antiochus, the name of Egypt is not vsed, but it is described by the name of the South: which sheweth that an other kind of Egypt is here signified.
2. Neither is here any mention made of the king of the South: it was then such an Egypt, as the king of the South did not meddle with: which was not Egypt, for that was vnderunder Ptolome the king of the South.
3. If the land of Egypt were here properly signified, then a tautologie, or vaine repetition of the same thing should be admitted, seeing in that sense mention is made of Egypt in the next verse. p. 382. 383.
Ans. 1. Though this land be not in the prophesie concerning Antiochus expressely named Egypt, it sufficed to be so called once before in this chapter, v. 8. that it may be knowne in the rest of the prophesie following, what is meant by the king of the South.
2. Though here the king of the South be not named, yet Egypt is vnderstood to be his kingdome by the former parts of this vision: as v. 8. Egypt is expressely mentioned, and then it followeth v. 9. the king of the South shall come into his kingdome.
3. The contrarie followeth, because the same name of Egypt is againe repeated in the next verse, that it is not to be taken in an other sense, but rather the same word is to be vnderstood after one and the same manner, where the circumstances of the place otherwise inferre not: neither is it therefore a vaine repetition: for the same word is repeated, both by way of explanation, and for greater emphasis sake, that speciall note should be taken of this surprising euen of Egypt.
Argum. 2. By the Libyans and Cushites or Aethiopians, Graserus also would hauehave vnderstood, the Americans in the West, and by the Cushites the Indian countries in the East. His coniectures are these:
1. The words Lubbim and Cushim are not here fully expressed with van, as els where, but onelyonly with kibbutz in stead of vau schurech: which may signifie, that not the Aethiopians, which inhabited beyond Egypt toward the South eastward, nor the Lybians, which dwelt in the nearer parts of Africa toward Europe, but such nations are rather to be vnderstood, as came of them: such are the Indians and Mores of the West and East India. p. 389.
2. The phrase here vsed, of extending or stretching forth the hand, signifieth, that he should vnprouoked set vponupon these countries, and without any great labour take them, as by the putting forth of his hand: and beside, the distance of these places is hereby noted, that he should stretch out his hand vntounto them, as beeing not otherwise within his reach, or vnderunder his command. p. 391.
3. He shall hauehave power ouer the treasure of gold and siluer, and ouer all the precious things of Egypt: this cannot be vnderstood of Egypt literally: for though their might be abundance of siluer and gold, yet the hauing power ouer the hid treasures, and ouer precious things, as pe…rles; precious stones, so well agreeth not to Egypt: Hereby rather is signified the rich spoyles which the Spainyards, the Bishop of Romes right hand, hauehave taken from the poore Indians, and so hauehave corrupted all Europe with their Indian siluer and gold: And so Augustine speaking of Antichrist saith, dabit credentibus in se abundantiam auri & argenti, he shall giuegive to such as beleeue in him abundance of siluer and gold, Graser. p. 394. 395.
4. And this shall be done successiue & per certos progressus, successiuely, and by certaine pases as it were, and degrees: so Graserus interpreteth the word bemitzeghadau, at his footesteppes or pases. p. 386. But this was not true of Antiochus, whome Iunius supposeth to hauehave done all this in his last two yeares: nor yet of the Papists Antichrist, who they imagine, shall raigne but 3. yeares and an halfe. p. 398.
Answ. 1. It is a slender coniecture, that because cushim and lubbim, are writen without vau shurek, that thereby are signified such nations as came out of those countreys: for Zipphorah Moses wife is called Cushith, … Cushite, which word is written without vau shurek, Numb. 12. 1. and yet she was indeede of that countrey, a Cushite or Aethiopisse of Arabia, for there was one Aethiopia in Asia, which was Arabia, an other in Africa beyond Egypt: neither can it be shewed, that the East and West Indians had their beginning from the Lybians and Aethiopians.
2. The phrase of stretching out the hand, hath no such speciall signification, the phrase in Hebrewe is, shalach iado, he sent his hand, which is indifferently vsed, when any are assaulted neere or farre off, whether prouoked or not: as Exod. 24. 11. vponupon the nobles of the children of Israel, lo shalach iado, he layd not his hand.
3. Egypt was verie rich in siluer and gold and other precious things: It is said before, v. 8. that the king of the South hauing ouercome the king of the North, should carrie into Egypt precious vessels of siluer and gold: and v. 28. Antiochus returned thence with great substance: this therefore may very well agree vntounto Egypt literally, that he shall hauehave power ouer the siluer and gold.
4. The word bemitzeghadau, properly signifieth in his progresse, or at his footsteppes: for so the word tzaghad, of the same roote is taken for going: Prouerb. 30. 29. the words then are thus to be read, the Lybians, and Aethiopans at his footesteps or pases, that is, shall followe him: for the distinction athnah diuideth the Lybians and Aethiopians from the first clause: though Graserus thinketh, that it serueth rather for ornament here then distinction, p. 386. the meaning is, that the Lybians and Aethiopians, who ioyned vponupon Egypt, and vsed to assist the Egyptians in their warres, as may be gathered, Nahum. 3. 9. should leaue the king of Egypt, and ioyne with Antiochus, beeing allured by his promises and rewards: Here then no such successiue proceeding is signified, as Graserus supposeth: see c. 11. quest. 48. toward the ende.
Argum. 3. Graserus proceedeth to shewe the probabilitie of this his opinion, that by the Cushites and Lybians are vnderstood here the East and West Indians.
1. First the Americans are without all question descended of Noah, and most like of Cham, whose seede was accursed: and those beastly people of the Indians therefore may be thought to be of his line.
2. The coasts of Africa are nearest vntounto the West Indians, and parts of America, and most like in that behalfe to hauehave beene stored with people from thence.
3. The likenesse of beastly and bruitish manners, and the affinitie in colour betweene the Indians inhabiting betweene the tropike of Cancer, and the equinoctiall, doe shewe them to come of the same offspring with the blacke Mores and Aethiopians, p. 400. 401.
Answ. 1. The contrary is euident out of Scripture, that the East Indians are not descended of Cham, but of Sem: As Ophir and Havilah, who inhabited the golden Indians, were the sonnes of Ioktan, of Eber, and so of Sem, Gen. 10. 29. though the Americanes and West Indians should deriue their petigree from Cham, yet the other Indians in the East must certainely come of Sem.
2. America is more like to hauehave beene replenished from the East India, from the which it is thought either not at all to be deuided by Sea, or by a verie small cut, then from the coasts of Africa, from whence it is separated by the large and great Ocean: And if the old inhabitants of America had come from Africa, there would hauehave beene greater entercourse betweene them: whereas till of late, those parts hauehave beene vtterly vnknowne, both to the Africanes and Europians.
3. The similitude of colour is caused by the qualitie and condition of the climate: for otherwise, if their originall from blacke or tawnie Moores were the cause; not onelyonly in that climate, betweene the tropike of Cancer, and the equinoctiall, but in other climates and regions also the people would retaine the same complexion and colour, if it were naturall vntounto them in respect of their parentage and beginning, and not rather caused by the qualitie of the climate and region.
4. This co…ceit then of Graserus in taking these Lybians and Aethiopians to be the East and West Indians, hath no probabilitie: and we further reiect it vponupon these reasons. 1. The Lybians and Cushites are here to be vnderstood, according to the phrase of Scripture in other places: But where they are named elsewhere, they are taken for the people inhabiting in the parts of Africa neere vntounto Egypt, as Ierem. 46. 9. Nahum. 3. 9. therefore so are they also to be interpreted here. 2. the king of the North who throughout this whole prophesie is vnderstood to be the king of Syria, had power ouer these countryes: but the kings of Syria neuer stretched their hand vntounto the Indians. 3. the Bishop of Rome cannot be said to be the king of the North in respect either of the East or West Indians: but he is toward the East to the one, and Westward to the other. 4. by the king of the North one speciall king is signified, whose ende is described, v. 45. therefore not a succession of Kings or Popes.