Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Questions · Question 47
47. Quest. Why the third Monarchie is likened to the bellie and the thigh, and vntounto brasse.
1. This Monarchie must needs be vnderstood of the kingdome of Alexander the great, who ruinated the Persian Monarchie: be therefore succeeding next vntounto them, must needes make the third. The Rabbins here very ignorantly instead of Alexander the great sonne of Philip, whose kingdome they confound with the Persian, and make them both but one, doe supplie Alexander the sonne of Mammea, Emperour of Rome, because they would auoid so cleare a prophesie of the kingdome of the Messiah. But herein they shew their great blindnes and ignorance: for this Alexander was Emperour, when the halfe part of the Prouinces almost were fallen from the Romane Empire, and he had neuer any absolute gouernment, but was as it were pupill vntounto his mother: and he had an ignominious death, beeing slaine of his owne souldiers in his Tent. Calv. Prosper also, whome Paulus Orosius followeth,Prosper▪ in lib. de promi… … 2. c. 33. are deceiued, who take this third Monarchie for Carthage: for it succeeded not any of the other Monarchies.
2. This third Monarchie is resembled to the bellie and the thighs: 1. because, as the bellie is the next to the breast, so this Monarchie succeeded next vntounto the Persian. 2. like as the meate passeth through the bellie, but there staieth not; so Alexander got many kingdomes, but he long enioyed them not: they were quickly after his death diuided among his captaines. 3. This resemblance also fitteth the intemperancie and incontinencie of the Greeke state, which Alexander was not so much touched with, as his captaines that succeeded him. 4. And further the bellie signifieth gluttonie, excesse, and riot, to the which Alexander was much giuen: for his intemperate drinking of wine, obscured all his other vertues: he would drinke wine so excessiuely, that he did lie sometime three daies, till he had slept it out: he also appointed games and prizes for the best drinkers: one Protarchus for drinking vp foure great measures of wine, called congij, which eueryevery one contained a gallon, and a pint, was rewarded of him with a talent, but within three daies he died of drunkennes, and so did 41. more. In his drunken fit, at the enticement of his harlot Thais, he commanded the most famous citie of the East, of the Persians called Persepolis, to be set on fire: And at an other time in his drunken moode he killed Clytus his faithfull counsellour, which afterward so grieued him, that his friends could hardly stay him from killing himselfe: Hereupon this saying was taken vp of Alexander, that he was more gentle toward his enemies in battell, then toward his friends at bankers. Some doe excuse this his immoderate drinking of wine, by the hote and fierie constitution of his bodie: which is thought to be the cause of the sweete smell, that came from his bodie: as in hote countries there are the sweetest smells and perfumes. But the drinking of wine did more inflame him, beeing hoat by nature: as we see, that for the same cause in hote and burning feuers, Physitians forbid the vse of wine, or any hote drinke: therefore this doth nothing excuse his vnsatiable appetite that way.
3. By the brasse, 1. some vnderstand the eloquence of the Grecians, quia as tinnit clarius, because brasse maketh a better sound then other mettalls, Lyran. 2. some interpret it of Alexanders great fame, cuius sonus longe late que diffusus est, whose sound was spread farre and wide, Hug. 3. some applie it to his warrelike disposition, for they vsed brasen armour in times past: and hereby is signified the troublesome and vnquiet state of that kingdome: for in 12. yeares space he conquered all the East part of the world. Polan. 4. But this Monarchie is compared to brasse rather because it was more hard and troublesome not onelyonly to other nations, whome Alexander would neuer suffer to be in rest, insomuch that the Macedonians reioyced when Alexander was dead, as thereby gaining their rest and quietnes; but also to the people of God: for first he came against Ierusalem with an hostile and cruell minde, if the Lord had not staied him by a vision in the night, as he himselfe confessed, when Iaddua the high Priest met him the next day: and after that he gaue wicked Samballat leaue to build an other Temple in mount Garizim, which enterprise Nehemiah by his faithfull endeauour had hindred before, whereof he made Manasses, the brother of Iaddua, Priest: and by this meanes, both the state of the Church and Commonwealth was much weakned among the Iewes. Ioseph. lib. 11. c. 8. Alexander also was himselfe of a restles nature: for when he had heard, that his father Philip had conquered any citie, he would say, that his father left nothing for him: and when he likewise had heard of the Philosopher Anaximander, that there were many worlds, he wept, because he yet had not conquered one. Thus this Monarchie was brasen-like to the rest, because the state of the people of God more declined still, and waxed worse and worse.