Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Questions · Question 44 – Question 46
44. Quest. v. 39. Why the Persian Monarchie is said to be inferiour to the Babylonian.
The Persian Monarchie was not inferiour in glorie, power, or dominion: for Assuerus king of Persia raigned from India vntounto Ethiopia ouer an 127. Prouinces, Est. 1. 1. And Xenophon also testifieth, that the Persian Monarchie was so large, that it had for the bounds on the East, the redde Sea, on the West, Cyprus and Egypt, on the North, Pontus Euxinus, on the South Ethiopia. And seeing Cyrus ioyned the Empire of Babylon to his owne dominions, it could not chuse but be greater.
1. Some thinke therefore that it is said to be inferiour, in respect of the continuance, for the Persian Monarchie exceeded not aboue 240. yeares, whereas the Chaldean and Assyrian Monarchie from Ninus continued a 1500. yeares: Perer. But Daniel ascendeth not so high in this comparison: he saith, it shall be inferiour to thee, that is, to thy kingdome, as it now standeth.
2. Pererius hath an other answer, that the Persian Monarchie is said to be inferiour in respect of the present time, not as it should be afterward: but it is euident that Daniel speaketh of it, as it should be then, when it should rise vp after the other, that it should then be inferiour.
3. Calvine vnderstandeth it of the generall corruption of manners, which waxe worse, that mundi conditio deterior esset, &c. that the state of the world should be worse vnderunder the second Monarchie: but these Monarchies are compared one with an other, that as siluer is worse then gold, so the second Monarchie should be inferiour to the other.
4. Polanus thinketh that it is said to be inferiour, because the Babylonian regiment, plus habuit regiae tranquillitatis, had more princely rest and tranquillitie: but the Persian state was full of trouble: for presently after the death of Cyrus, his sonnes Cambises, and Tana…zares contented for the kingdome: and after Cambises the Magi vsurped the kingdome, and after them Darius Hystaspis was chosen king by the neying of his horse.
5. But I thinke rather with Iunius, that it is called inferiour, and siluer-like in respect of the others golden state, because their gouernment was more tolerable and equall toward the people of God.
45. Quest. Whether the Monarchie of the Chaldeans or of the Persians was more cruell toward the Iewes.
1. Though Cyrus first gaue libertie to the people to returne, and afterward Artaxerxes gaue licence to Ezra and Nehemiah to build the Temple; yet other kings of Persia hindred the building of the Temple, as Cambises, and Ahassuerus, who by the fraudulent and malitious deuice of Haman, would vtterly hauehave destroied the people of the Iewes: So that this comparison is not in respect of some one or two particular persons of their kings, but of the disposition of the whole state, which was harder toward the people of God, then was the first Monarchie of the Babylonians.
2. For Nabuchadnezzer, though vnderunder him the people of God was afflicted and endured much, yet he shewed them some clemencie and fauour: As first when he besieged Ierusalem in the 3. yeare of Iehoiakim, he made not hauocke of all, but carried away part onelyonly of the vessels of the Temple, and a few of the noble mens children: And after that for the space of 19. yeares he suffered the kings of Iudah to hauehave their kingdome, till he was prouoked by the vnfaithfulnes of Zedekiah to take reuenge: and yet when he had set the citie and Temple on fire, he suffered the people to inhabite the countrey still, to plant vineyards, and till the ground, and he set ouer them Gedaliah a good man, one of their owne countrey. So that in respect of these heroicall and princely parts in Nabuchadnezzer, the Persian Monarchs were but as siluer, and farre inferiour vntounto him. Osiand.
46. Quest. Why the Persian Monarchie is compared to siluer.
1. Pererius thinketh this resemblance to be made, propter immensam Persici imperij opulentiam, for the great wealth and riches of the Persian Empire: for Cyrus ouercame Craesus the rich king of Lydia, of whome that prouerb was taken vp, ditior Craeso, richer then Craesus. Plinie writeth that Cyrus when he ouercame Asia,Lib. 33. c. 3. got 34. thousand pound waite of gold, beside golden vessels, and wedges of gold, and 500. thousand talents of siluer, which may amount of our money to 300. millions: beside he tooke craterem Semiramidis, the great bowle or standing piece of Semiramis, which waighed 15. Egyptian talents, and an Egyptian talent is 80. pound. And what the wealth and magnificence of the Persian Monarchs was, that sumptuous feast sheweth, which Assuerus made to his Princes, Est. 1. and the great expedition of Xerxes in that huge armie, which he prepared against Greece. This is agreeable to that prophesie of Isai long before of Cyrus, The Lord saith, I will giuegive thee the ireasures of darknes, and the things hid in secret places. Isa. 45. 3. Lib. 12. sub initio.Athenaeus also writing of the great wealth of Darius the last king of Persia, telleth how that the Persian kings were growne to such delicacie, and excessiue riches, that in the vpper ende of the kings bedchamber in a little closet there was alwaies in store 5. thousand talents of gold, which maketh 3. hundreth times an hundreth thousand crownes: and this closet ws called the kings bolster or pillow: and at the beds feete there was an other closet, wherein there were laid vp 3. hundreth talents of siluer: beside in the bedchamber, there was, an ouerspreading vine made of gold, beset with pretious stones: the bunches of grapes were also made of most costly pretious stones. Q. Curtius writeth, that the treasure which Alexander tooke from Darius, was an 159. thousand talents: Strabo nameth an 180. thousand talents, which maketh of Italian money, a thousand and eight hundreth thousand crownes.
2. Lyranus thinketh this Monarchie is compared to siluer, quia multum vacabant sapientia & eloquentiae, &c. because they gaue themselues much to the studie of learning and eloquence, which is signified by the brightnes and cleare sound of siluer.
3. But the reason rather of this comparison is, because this Monarchie had lesse maiestie, then the first, and was not so equall and fauourable toward the people of God. Polan.