Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Questions · Question 50 – Question 56
Quest. 50. That this fourth Monarchie diuided into two kingdomes, resembled by the two legges of the image, was the kingdome of Syria and Egypt.
When Alexander was dead, which happened in the 33. yeare of his age, his kingdome was diuided into foure parts: Seleucus had Babylon and Syria, Ptolome Egypt, Cassander Macedonia, and Antigonus held Asia: but the two first were the mightiest kingdomes, and did most afflict the people of God, which are here shadowed forth by the two yron legges; as thus may be shewed.
1. The occasion of Nebuchadnezzars dreame is an argument thereof, which was to knowe, what should become of his kingdome after him; the greatest part whereof fell vntounto the share of these two, Seleucus that obtained the kingdom of Syria, and Ptolome of Egypt.
2. The scope and ende of this vision, was to describe vntounto the Iewes their state and condition vnderunder these kingdomes vntill the comming of the Messiah: which was most hard and yron-like vnderunder the tyrannicall command of these two houses, the Seleucians, and the Ptolomies: so the captiuitie and bondage of the Israelites in Egypt is compared to an yron fornace, Deut. 4. 20. and now vnderunder Egypt againe they endure an other yron fornace.
3. This vision is opened and expounded by other visions, and prophesies afterward, cap. 7. 8. but most euidently, cap. 11. 4. where the kingdome of Alexander is foretold shall be diuided into 4. parts, and that among the rest the king of the North, which is Babylon and Syria, and the king of the South, namely of Egypt, shall be the chiefe: But the Romanes could neither be this king of the South, nor of the North.
4. The euent in these two kingdomes answereth to the prophesie: for here 4. things are foreshewed. 1. the condition and manner of gouernment towards the people of God, which should be yron-like, ver. 40. and so indeede were the kings of the North and South hard as yron, and cruell towards the people of God.
2. The constitution of these kingdomes is set forth, vers. 42. which as two legges did issue forth of the brasen bellie and thighs, that is Alexanders Monarchie, the strength whereof remained in them.
3. Then the inconstant and variable state of these two kingdomes is described, they should be part of yron, part of clay: sometime one should be the stronger, sometime the other: as Ptolomeus Euergites, had the better against Seleucus Callinicus, and Ptolomie Philadelphus to reuenge his daughter Berenice her death, against Antiochus Megas: but for the most part the king of the North was the stronger.
4. The matrimoniall league betweene these kingdomes is also foreshewed, which yet should not hold: Ptolome Philadelphus, gaue his daughter to Antiochus Theos to make perfect agreement betweene them: but this bond could not hold: for Antiochus had a former wife, Laodicea, who caused Berenice to be poysoned, whereupon ensued great warres betweene these two kings: likewise Antiochus surnamed the great, gaue his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolome Epiphanes: and thus euerie part of this prophesie was truely fulfilled in these two kingdomes, as shall be shewed more at large, in the opening of the 11. chap. Iunius.
5. The prophesie of Ezekiel against Gog, cap. 38. herein concurreth with this vision; which is there ver. 15. expounded to be the kingdome of the North: that vsed the helpe of the Persians, who were tributarie vntounto Antiochus Epiphanes: 1. Mac. 3. 31. and of the Arabians, ver. 5. against the people of God.
6. It is well obserued by some learned men, that the Romanes are but thrice mentioned in all the prophesie of Daniel, once, cap. 11. 18. where it is said, a Prince shall cause his shame: the Romanes sent their Consul against Antiochus Megas: againe in the same chapter, vers 30. the shippes of Cittim shall come against him: the Romanes sent Popilius to stay Antiochus Epimanes, and chap. 9. 26. where it is said, the people of the prince which shall come, and destroy the citie, the Romanes are vnderstood. In other places of his prophesie no mention is made of them: this prophesie then is not extended vntounto them.
But it will be thus obiected on the contrarie, that this last Monarchie cannot be interpreted of these two kingdomes of Syria and Egypt.
1. Obiect. It is said, that in the dayes of these kings, the kingdome of the Messiah should be set vp: but these kingdomes were destroyed and dissolued by the Romanes before the Messiah came: Pappus.
Answ. The kingdome indeede of Syria was before subdued by Pompey, and the house of the Seleucians was then extinguished, which might be about 70. or 80. yeares, or thereabout before the birth of Christ: but the kingdome of Egypt continued still vntill the raigne of Herod, (vnderunder whom Christ was borne) who was confirmed in his kingdome by Antonie and Cleopatra the daughter of the last Ptolomie surnamed Piper: so that Egypt had some part of the Images toe vntill the Lords birth.
2. Obiect. This last Monarchie is called a kingdome, it was then but one, but these were two kingdomes, one of the South, the other of the North: they therefore cannot be vnderstood to be the fourth Monarchie.
Answ. 1. It is called one kingdome in two respects. 1. because they both issued out of the kingdome of Alexander, which after his death was diuided: as also because one of these two kindomes was of greater strength, and had the chiefe superioritie, which was the kingdome of the North. 2. it is euident in the text that diuerse states and regiments are comprehended in this fourth Monarchie: for it is said, ver. 43. in the plurall number, they shall mingle themselues with the scede of men: and they are said to be Kings, ver. 44. in the dayes of these kings, &c.
3. Obiect. Alexanders kingdome was diuided into 4. parts, as is before shewed: but here by the two legges two kingdomes onelyonly are signified.
Answ. 1. Though Alexanders kingdome were diuided among his foure chiefe captaines, Cassander, Antigonus, Seleucus, Ptolome, yet soone after Seleucus vanquished and killed Antigonus, and Cassander of Macedonia was not of like power vntounto the rest. 2. wherefore these two kingdomes are onelyonly spoken of, as the mightiest, and because they two onelyonly had to doe with the people of God, oppressing them continually, and keeping them vnderunder.
4. Obiect. The Empire of the Romanes is held of all to be the fourth Monarchie of the world, and the most flourishing: This image therefore representing the foure great Monarchies of the world, is to be extended to the Romane state.
Answ. It is not denied, but that the Romane dominion maketh the fourth generall Monarchie of the world: yet this remaineth to be prooued, that in this vision, the generall state and condition of the world is described: the argument therefore followeth not, Foure principall kingdomes and Monarchies are set fourth in this vision: therefore the Romane is one of them: for onelyonly these kingdomes are here described, which then had to deale with the people of God, and which did beare sway vntill the comming of Christ, and then determined: Iun. annotat. But seeing we are fallen to make mention of these 4. generall Monarchies; it shall not be amisse briefly to shewe the beginning and continuance of them.
Quest 51. Of the beginning and continuance of the foure generall Monarchies of the world.
1. The Babylonian Empire, which is made one with the Assyrian, tooke beginning from Ninus, of whom the citie Niniue is thought to hauehave beene so called, and it continued aboue, a 1000. yeares: yet it neuer flourished more then vnderunder Nebuchadnezzar the great; who subdued vntounto his kingdome, all Syria, Phoenice, Iudea, Idumea, Egypt, Lybia, with other countries: And this his large dominion began in the first yeare of his raigne, when he besieged Ierusalem, but it was not at the height till the 23. yeare of his raigne, in the 38. Olympiad. and so it held 60. yeares vntounto the raigne of Cyrus, which was in the 55. Olymp.
The Persian Monarchie beginning in Cyrus, flourished about 230. yeares, as Pere. 228. as Bullinger, and was dissolued by Alexander in the 112. Olympiad.
3. The Grecian Empire was first founded by Alexander, who held the same 6. yeares, then it was diuided into foure kingdomes, which were soone turned to three: the Syrian kingdome, whereunto was annexed also all Asia Minor, which Seleucus possessed, continued in that house vntounto Olympiad 175. and afterward was held by Tygranes king of Armenia, 12. yeares, and then in the 179. Olympiad, was by Pompey subdued to the Romane Empire. The second kingdome, which was of Macedonia, in the 150. Olympiad, was made subiect to Rome, with Perseus the last king thereof. The third kingdome of Egypt held out vntounto the 187. Olympiad, and then Antonie who had married Cleopatra Queene of Egypt, was ouercome of Augustus Caesar.
4. The Romane kingdome simply beganne from the building of Rome in the 7. Olym. but it was not an absolute Monarchie vntill the 44. Olympi. after the ende of the second Punike warre: for then all Italy, Spaine, Sardinia, Sicilia, and Carthage, were brought vnderunder the Romane obedience. And their dominion was much enlarged in the 147. Olympi. when Antiochus the great was vanq…ished by the Romanes: but most of all in 179. Olympiad: when Pompey subdued the East countries: So that Asia the lesse, which was before the bounds of the Romane Empire, was then but counted in the middes: In this glorie it continued the space of 500. yeares from the second Punike warre, till it was taken of the Gothes: vntounto which time frō the first building of the citie were a 1164. yeares, or thereabout: Varr… writeth lib. 18. Antiquat. that Vectius the Augur, by those 12. vulturs, which Romulus coniectured by when he built Rome, did forespeake that Rome should continue so many hundred yeares: but this may worthily be held to be a fable. ex Pere.
Quest. 52. vers. 43. Of the meaning of these words, they shall mingle themselues with the seede of men.
1. Vatablus vnderstandeth it of the diuerse nations and people which should be admitted into the commonwealth, and were donati ciuitate, priuiledged with the immunities of citizens: but the phrase of mingling themselues with the seede of men, signifieth more.
2. Osiander thus expoundeth it, that the princes of the Romane state iuncturi essent affinitates cum Regibus, should ioyne in affinitie with other kings: but the text sheweth, that the kings of this fourth Monarchie should be ioyned in mariage among themselues.
3. Pappus with others interpret it of the affinitie betweene Caesar and Pompey who maried Iulia Caesars daughter: and when she was dead he would hauehave giuen him in mariage Octauia his sisters daughter: and desired also to hauehave maried Pompeys daughter: so Augustus gaue vntounto Antonie his sister Octauia: But Caluin calleth this frigidum, a weake conceit, to ayme at some speciall mariages: he thinketh it was the continuall practise of that state, to combine and linke themselues together by mutuall mariages: But this matrimoniall coniunction here spoken of, is between diuerse kings; not in the same slate and commonwealth.
4. Some vnderstand it of the societie and league betweene the Romanes and Macchabees, which first beganne vnderunder Iudas Macchabeus: but the phrase, as is before shewed, doth signifie a league and coniunction by mariage.
5. Some referre it to herod, who beeing a stranger, would hauehave maried one of the Macchabees daughter, that his sonne might peaceably enioy the kingdome: but the maide killed her selfe for griefe, and he is said to hauehave abused her beeing dead: ex Lyran. But the kingdome of the Iewes was no part of this fourth Monarchie.
6. The true meaning then is, that these two kingdomes, signified by the two legs, that is, the kings of the South and North, should linke together in mariage, as is shewed before, Quest. 46. argum. 4.
Quest. 53. vers. 44. What manner of kingdome the Prop…et speaketh of, which God shall set vp.
1. Porphyrius and the Hebrewes doe interpret this of the kingdome of the Iewes, which in the ende of the world shall, as they dreame be most mightie, and subdue all other kingdomes:lib. 10. antiquit. cap. 11. it seemeth also that Iosephus had some such conceit: for when he commeth to make mention of this stone, he forbeareth to giuegive any interpretion of it, putting off the matter thus; mihi hoc narrare non libuit, cui propositum est non futura, sed praeterita scribere, &c. Daniel also giueth an interpretation of the stone: but it liked me not to declare it, whose purpose is to write of things past, not of things to come. It seemeth he was loath to offend the Romanes, of whom he had receiued so great grace and fauour, which he should hauehave done, if he had giuen his opinion, that the Romane Empire should in the ende hauehave beene ruinated by his nation.
But how vnlike a thing this is, that the Iewes should obtaine such a temporall dominion, it is euident to all the world, they beeing now a dispersed nation, without either king or priest, Church or commonwealth: And our Blessed Sauiour hath assured vsus, that his kingdome is not of this world: they then dreaming of such an outward kingdome, doe therein shewe their infidelitie, that they hauehave no part in the true Messiah, who is blessed for euer.
2. The heretikes called Chiliastes, which hold that 6. thousand yeares expired from the creation of the world, there shall be a resurrection of iust men, who shall raigne with Christ a thousand yeares in the earth, doe expound this place of that terrene kingdome: But their hereticall fansie is confuted by the verie words of this text: for the kingdome here spoken of shall stand for euer: it shall not then onelyonly continue for a 1000. yeares.
3. Wherefore this Scripture euidently describeth the spirituall kingdome of Christ, in this world ruling and gouerning the hearts of his seruants by his grace, and propagating his truth and Gospell ouer all the world, exercising his power vponupon the enemies of his Church: which kingdome shall be perfected in his euerlasting glorie: of this eternall, and euerduring kingdome, the Prophet Isay saith, the Encrease of his gouernement and peace shall hauehave no ende.Isay 9. 7.
Quest. 54. Whether the stone cut out of the mountaine, doe signifie Christ or his kingdome.
1. The most doe vnderstand this of Christ himselfe, who is signified by this stone, of which opinion are of the ancient writers, Iustinus Martyr, dialog. cum Tryphone: Ireneus lib. 3. aduers. haeres. cap. 28. Cyprian, lib. 2. aduers. Iudaeos, sect. 17. and sometime Augustine enarrat. in Psal. 98. and so interpreteth Lyranus: and of the newe writers, Bullinger by this stone would hauehave Christ vnderstood: as Psal. 118. 22. the stone which the builders refused, is become the head stone of the corner: and Isay 28. 16. Behold I will lay in Sion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: to the same purpose Melancthon: likewise Perorius beside these testimonies of Scripture, sheweth how Christ this precious stone was prefigured by certaine typicall stones in the old Testament: as by the stone Iacob pitched, and annointed it with oyle: and the rocke which Moses smote with the tod, and water gushed out: by the stone that bare vp Moses hands, Ezod. 17. and by that rocke where Moses was set when he saw the Lords backe parts, Exod. 33. Further in these fower respects Christ is compared to a stone. 1. for the continuance. 2. for the strength, he is the fundamentall stone. 3. a rocke of refuge vntounto them that beleeue. 4. and a rocke of offence for the wicked to stumble at.
2. Some doe by this stone vnderstand the kingdome and Church of Christ: as Augustine in Psal. 42. and 44. so also Caluine, comparat regnum Christi cum omnibus illis Monarchijs, &c. he compareth the kingdome of Christ, with all those Monarchies, &c. so is the Church of God likened to a stone, Zach. 12. 3. in that day I will make Ierusalem an heauie stone for all people, all that lift it vp shall be torne, &c.
3. But these interpretations are not contrarie one to another; they may well stand together: for Christ is not here considered apart by himselfe, but together with his Church, he as the head, and the other as his bodie; So the Apostle sometime by Christ vnderstandeth the whole mysticall bodie consisting of Christ and his Church, as 1. Cor. 12. 12. As the bodie is one, and hath many members, so is Christ: so the Church is called the bodie and fulnesse of Christ. Ephe. 1. 23. Then in this place, Christ is not vnderstood without his body the Church, but both Christ and his kingdome, which is the Church, are ioyned together: for ver. 44. Daniel speaketh of a kingdome which God should set vp. Polan.
Quest. 55. Whether this prophesie be fulfilled in the first, or second comming of Christ.
1. Tertullian expoundeth it of Christs second comming, lib. contra Iudaeos. So also Theodoret, beeing mooued with this reason; because at the first comming of Christ all these kingdomes were not destroyed, for the Romane Empire then flourished, but at his second comming this prophesie shall be fulfilled: but this argument is soone answered: the kingdomes here spoken of, were all dissolued at the comming of Christ in the flesh: the Romane Empire is not comprehended in this vision, as is before shewed at large. quest. 49.
2. Some thinke, that this prophesie agreeth vntounto the first comming of Christ, inchoate & aliquatenus, in some sort and by way of beginning, and that in the ende, it should dash in peices the Romane Empire: but it shall most fully and absolutely be accomplished at Christs second comming: Pere. Pap.
3. But it shall appeare by these arguments, that this Scripture must onelyonly be referred to the first comming of Christ, and not at all to the second, but onelyonly by way of analogie, and by a consequent.
1. This kingdome shall be set vp in the times of these Kings: but in the euerlasting kingdome of Christ in the next world, there shall be neither any such kings, nor any more time.
2. This stone was but small at the beginning, but afterward it grew into a mountaine: but Christ, when he commeth in his glorie, shall then shew himselfe in his greatnes: he shall not be as a small stone.
3. And this stone became a great mountaine, and filled the whole earth: which sheweth, that Christs kingdome here spoken of, should increase by little and little: but after his second comming, it shall be at the full, not still encreasing: therefore the kingdome of Christ here in this world of necessitie must be here described.
4. Yet by way of analogicall collection, this prophesie may be applyed vntounto Christs second comming: when as Christ shall make a perfect conquest of all earthly kingdomes and powers, and of all other aduersaries vntounto his kingdome.
5. Of this opinion, that this prophesie concerneth the first comming of Christ, are all they which expound this phrase, of the cutting out of this stone without hands, of the miraculous conception and birth of Christ, of the virgine Marie, as Lyran. gloss. ordinar. Vatab. Pin. with diuerse of the auncient fathers: Caluin also, though he refuse that interpretation of Christs birth; yet holdeth the first comming of Christ to be here signified: by this reason: propheta admonet exordia regnt Christi fore contempta, the Prophet admonisheth, that the beginning of Christs kingdome shall be base and contemptible, &c. because he likeneth it to a small stone at the first: but the second comming of Christ, shall be glorious.
Quest. 56. The description of the kingdome of Christ by the Prophet, vers. 44. 45.
1. It is described by the adiunct of time, when it should come, in the time of those kings, which held the fourth Monarchie, toward the ende thereof. 2. by the manner it shall be raised vp as from a small beginning. 3. by the efficient, it shall be set vp by God. 4. by the eternitie of it, it shall stand for euer, neither apt to fall of it selfe, neither shall it be surprised by any other: for these two are the causes of the alteration of kingdomes; internall within themselues, or externall by foorren power. 5. by the effects, it shall breake and destroy all other kingdomes, as the Prophet Zachatie sheweth, cap. 12. 3. 6. by the firmenes and surenesse thereof, compared vntounto a stone. 7. by the originall or beginning, it was cut out of a mountaine: the beginning thereof was from heauen, from abnue, as our blessed Sauiour himselfe, Iohn. 3. 13. no man hath ascended into heauen, but he that came downe from heauen, the sonne of man which is in heauen. 8. by the manner of his comming, which shall be sudden and vnlooked for, as a thing that is cut out at once. 9. by the manner of administration, it shall be cut out without hands, that is, any humane helpe. 10. by the power thereof, it shall breake in peices, &c. Polan.