Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7 · Argument method – Doctrines 1
1. The Argument and Methode.
THis Chapter containeth, 1. a vision of foure beasts rising out of the Sea: 2. the interpretation thereof.
1. In the vision, 1. are set forth certaine circumstances, of the time, when, the person, to whome this vision was shewed, and the manner how, v. 1, 2. 2. the matter of the vision, which is, 1. of the foure beasts, of their flourishing and prosperous estate, to v. 9. then of the iudgement of God against them, v. 15.
The beasts are described, 1. in generall, v. 3. by the efficient cause, the winds blew; by the number, they are foure; by the place, they came out of the Sea; by their qualitie, they were one diuers from an other.
2. In particular. 1. the three beasts are briefly set forth, v. 4, 5, 6. which are eueryevery one expressed, 1. by their similitude or resemblance, by their parts, and by their euents. 2. the fourth beast is described in generall, by the qualitie, it was fearefull and strong, the parts, it had yron teeth, and tenne hornes, and by the effects, it deuoured, &c. then the little horne is particularly set forth. 1. by the qualitie of it and the place, it was a little one, and came vp among the other hornes. 2. by the effects, it pluckt away three other hornes. 3. by the parts, the eyes and mouth.
2. The second part of the vision is of the iudgement. 1. the manner and forme, see the parts thereof, quest. 30. following. 2. the effects, which are two, 1. in the destruction of the fourth beast, v. 11. and of the other with it, v. 12. 2. in setting vp the kingdome of Christ, where 1. his person is described, 1. by his name, the Sonne of man. 2. by the place, in the cloudes. 3. by his authoritie, he approched to the Ancient of daies. 2. his kingdome is described by the vniuersalitie of it, all nations shall serue him: and the eternitie, it shall be for euer.
2. The interpretation followeth. 1. the manner first is shewed how he came by the interpretation of it, v. 15, 16. An Angel declared it. 2. then the interpretation it selfe is set downe. 1. of the beasts. 2. of the iudgement. The beasts are expounded in generall, v. 17. then in particular, the fourth beast: where is first a repetition of the vision, v. 19. to 23. then the declaration, 1. of the fourth beast, v. 23. 2. of the tenne hornes, v. 24. 3. of the little home, what it shall doe, it shall rage against kings, against God, against his people: and how long, v. 25.
Then the iudgement is set forth by the two effects thereof, the destruction of all other kingdomes, and the aduancing of the kingdome of Christ, v. 26, 27.
The conclusion followeth, which sheweth the effect of this vision in Daniel by these three operations. 1. his perplexed cogitations. 2. the change of his countenance. 3. his deepe meditation, I kept it in mine heart.
2. The text with the diuerse readings.
1▪ In the first (one. C.) yeare of Belshatzar king of Babel, Daniel saw a dreame, and visions of his head (were G. B.) vponupon his bed: then he wrote the dreame, and declared the summe (the head. C.) of the matter.
2 Daniel spake, and said, (L. det.) I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the foure winds of heauen stroue (did fight, C.) vponupon, (or in, I.) the great Sea:
3 And foure great beasts came vp from the Sea, diuers one from an other (this from that. C.)
4 The first was as a Lyon (lyonesse. L. cor.) and had eagles wings: I beheld, till the wings thereof were pluckt off, and it was lifted vp from the earth, V. A. B. G. (better, then taken away from the earth, L. S. for the Chaldean Monarchie hereby expressed, was not vtterly dissolued: or by the which (wings) it was lifted from the earth, I. Pol. for the decaying state of this Monarchie is signified: and the meaning is, that whereas it had before eagles wings, and did soa…e aloft, it could now scarce heaue or carrie it selfe from the ground) and set (caused to stand. C.) vponupon his feete, as a man▪ and a mans heart was giuen him.
5 And behold an other beast, the second was like vntounto a beare, and it stood vponupon one side (it stood on part, L. det. it erected one dominion. I. B. but the other reading is the better, see q…. 14. following) and he had three ribbes (three orders. L. three morfels, V.) in his mouth betweene his teeth, and they said thus vntounto him, Arise and deuoure much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, (I was seeing. C.) and lo, there was an other like a leopard, and it had foure wings of a foule vponupon his backe, (vponupon him, L.) and dominion was giuen him.
7 After this I saw in the visions of the night, (by night. B. G.) and behold, the fourth beast was fearefull and terrible, and exceeding (maruelously, B. very, G. too strong. L.) strong: and it had great yron teeth, it deuoured, and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue vnderunder his feete: and it was diuers from (vnlike to. L. B. G. but the preposition (min) signifieth from) the beasts that were before it: and it had ten…e hornes.
8 I considered the hornes, and behold the last horne beeing little I. (an other little horne, caeter, but (achari) signifieth the last, as well as an other) did come vp among them, and three of the first hornes were pluckt away before it, and behold eyes as the eyes of a man, were in this horne, and a mouth speaking presumptuous things (great things. C.)
9 I beheld, till the thrones were set vp, (taken away. I. V. but the words following, which describe Gods glorious sitting in his throne, doe confirme rather the first reading) and the Ancient of daies did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the haire of his head like pure wooll: his throne was like the flame of fire, and the wheeles thereof (that is, of his throne: for so the vse was for Princes thrones to be set vponupon wheeles) as burning fire.
10 A streame of fire issued, and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministred vntounto him, and ten thousand times tenne thousand (not tenne thousand thousand. B. G. or tenne thousand times an hundred thousand. L. S. the word is (rhibo) which signifieth tenne thousand, in the which sense (rebobah) is taken, Levit. 26. 8.) stood before him: the iudgement was set, and the bookes opened.
11 Then I beheld from the time that the voice of presumptuous words begunne, I. V. (from the voice of presumptuous words. C. because of the voice of presumptuous words, caeter. but the preposition (min) signifieth (from) which the horne spake: I beheld, vntill (not, because. L.) the beast was slaine, and his bodie destroied, and giuen to be brent in the fire. B. (vntounto the burning of the fire. C.)
12 And of the rest of the beasts there dominion was taken away, (they had taken away, C.) but their liues were prolonged (a length or space in life was giuen them) for a time and season (a time and time. L. A. but there are two diuers words vsed in the originall.)
13 I beheld in the visions of the night, and behold with the (in the. V. B. G. but the preposition signifieth with) cloudes of heauen one like the Sonne of man comming: and he approched vntounto the Auncient of daies, and they presented him before him.
14 And dominion was giuen him, I. V. S. (he gaue him dominion. L. B. G. but the verbe is of the passiue signification) and honour, and a kingdome, that all people, nations, and languages should serue him: his dominion is an euerlasting dominion, which shall not faile (passe away. C. shall not be taken away. L. B. G.) and his kingdome is that, which shall not be destroied (corrupted. C.)
15 My spirit was troubled (pierced. C.) yea I Daniel in the middes of my bodie, V. (I Daniel was troubled in spirit in the middes. B. G. L.) and the visions of my head made me afraid:
16 I came then vntounto one of the standers by, and asked him the truth of all this: so he told me, and shewed me (made me to vnderstand. C.) the interpretation of these things.
17 These great beasts, which are foure, are foure kings (not kingdomes, L. S. yet that is the meaning) which shall arise out of the earth.
18 And they shall take the kingdome of the most high Saints (not the most high Saints shall take the kingdome. L. V. and it is better read, the most high Saints, V. I. then Saints of the most high. L. B. G. for the word (high) is in the originall in the plurall number) and they, (that is the Saints, see qu. 48.) shall possesse the kingdome for euer, yea for euer, and euer.
19 After this I desired (or wished, I.) to know the truth concerning the fourth beast which was so diuers from (vnlike to, B. G.) all these, exceeding fearefull, whose teeth were of yron, and his nayles of brasse: he deuoured, and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue vnderunder his feete.
20 Also concerning the tenne hornes, which were in his head, and of the last, Iun. (the other, caeter. see before, v. 8.) which came vp, and three hornes fell before it: of this horne (I say) which had eyes, and a mouth speaking presumptuous things, whose looke was more stout (great, C.) then his fellowes.
21 I beheld, and the same horne made battell with (against, L. B. G.) the Saints, and preuailed against them.
22 Vntill the Auncient of daies came, and iudgement was giuen vntounto the most high Saints: (Saints of the most high, L. S. see before, v. 18.) and the time approched, that the Saints possessed the kingdome.
23 Thus also he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdome in the earth, which shall be diuers from (vnlike to. B. G. greater then. L. S.) all the kingdomes, and shall deuoure the whole earth, and shall tread it downe, and breake it in pieces.
24 And tenne hornes out of this kingdome (that is, tenne kings shall arise: and the last (I. Br. an other. L. S. V. see before, v. 8.) shall rise vp after them, and he shall be diuers from the former (not greater. L. or shall ouer come all the euill, that were before him. S.) and he shall subdue three kings,
25 And he shall speake words against the most high (better then on the side, or behalfe of the most high. A. or of diuine things. V. the word (letzad) here signifieth against) and shall consume (not deceiue. S.) the Saints of the most high, and he shall thinke that he may change times and the law, (lawes, L. S.) and they shall be deliuered into his hand, V. L. (by his hand. I.) vntill a time, and times and the deuiding of time. (a long time or a short. V. the halfe of time. L. a part of time. I. pelag signifieth a part or diuision.)
26 But the iudgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, in consuming and destroying it I. (to consume and destroy it. B. G.) vntounto the ende.
27 And the kingdome and dominion, and the greatnes of the kingdomes (not kingdome, L. B. G. for the word is in the plural, nor of the kings. S.) shall be giuen to the people of the high Saints, A. V. B. (the people of the Saints of the most high. L. the most holy people of the most high. G. but the word (galonin) is in the plurall, and answereth to Saints) whose kingdom is an euerlasting kingdome, and all powers shall serue and obey it. B. (him. G. that is, the people before spoken of.)
28 Hetherto the ende of these words (of this matter hetherto. V. or, this is the ende of the matter. G.) euen me Daniel many cogitations troubled V. (troubled me. C. à pleonasm…s. better: then as for me Daniel, many cogitatious troubled me. Pol. or I Daniel had many cogitations, which troubled. B. G. for here many words are inserted not in the originall) and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the words (the matter. G.) in mine heart.