Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11 · Questions · Question 1 – Question 7
1. Quest. Whether this vision in the 11. Chap. be diuers from the former vision in the 10. chapter.
1. Hierome, who taketh the first words of v. 1. to be vttered by Daniel, that he praied for the prosperitie of Darius, thinketh that this vision is diuers from the former, for that happened in the third yeare of Cyrus, c. 10. 1. this in the 1. of Darius: and so his opinion is, that at what time Daniel praied for Darius in his first yeare, then these things were reuealed vntounto him by the Angel: and so there is in the text a sudden change of the person: for in the 2. v. the Angel speaketh, behold, now I will shew thee: whereas the former words were vttered by Daniel. And this he saith is not vnusuall in Scripture, for a person suddenly to be brought in not mentioned before: as, Psal. 32. v. 7. after Dauid had said, thou art my secret place, then v. 8. the Lord is brought in speaking, I will instruct thee, and teach thee the way that thou shalt goe, &c. Of this opinion with Hierome are the author of the scholasticall historie, Albertus, and Carthusian. Hug. Cardin.
2. But the better opinion is, that this vision conteyned in this chapter, is continued with the former: which Lyranus prooueth, because this chapter beginneth with the Hebrewe coniunction va…, which sheweth a coherence with the former. And it may further be thus confirmed, in the former chapter, v. 14. the Angel saith, I am come to shewe thee, what shall come to thy people in the latter dayes: But these things are not there declared to the Prophet: the things then which should befall the people of God, which the Angel came to declare to the people, are those things which are expressed in this chapter.
3. Some doe make this verse a part of the former chapter, and will hauehave this to be the sense, as Michael helped me, so I againe helped Michael, Vatab. Bulling. But it shall appeare in the 3. question, that the Angel saith not here that he helped or strengthened Michael, but Darius rather.
Quest. 2. v. 1. Who it was that here saith, I stood vp, &c.
1. Hierome, whose opinion is in part shewed before, thinketh that Daniel speaketh these words, that he prayed vntounto God for Darius, that his kingdome might be confirmed and established, who had as much as in him lay, deliuered Daniel from his enemies, and sealed the stone vponupon the mouth of the lions denne, that none of his aduersaries should goe in to hurt him: But the phrase sheweth, I stood vp to strengthen him, that this is not vnderstood of prayer or desire to strengthen him, but of a power whereby he was strengthened.
2. Some thinke, that these words were vttered by the Lord Iesus Christ, as the former also in the 10. chapter, Oecolampad. But Christ needed not the assistance of any Angel, as he saith that Michael helped him, v. 13. and Michael which helped the Angel is rather vnderstood to be Christ, see before, c. 10. quest. 22.
3. Therefore this was the Angel Gabriel, who spake before vntounto Daniel, and continueth his speach still: for whereas he faith, I stood vp to strengthen him, he speaketh not this, as though he did it by his owne power, but in Dei persona, in the person of God, Calvin. and officium suum solum commemorat, the Angel sheweth onelyonly his office and ministerie, Polan. he did onelyonly strengthen him, as Gods minister therein.
3. Quest. Who it was whom the Angel stood vp to strengthen.
1. Lyranus vnderstandeth here Daniel, whom the Angel strengthened in offring vp his prayers vntounto God: that as Daniel prayed for Darius, so the Angel furthered therein Daniels prayers, quia efficacior est virtus angeli, quam hominis, because the strength of an Angel is greater then of a man: But beside that the Scripture doth not giuegive any such office vntounto the Angels, to be the presenters of our prayers, the Angel speaketh to Daniel in the second person, v. 2. I came to shew thee: but this speach is vttered in the third person, I stood vp to strengthen him.
2. Some doe take this to be Michael the Arkeangel, whom this angel strengtheneth, Oecolamp. Vatab. and some make this the sense, that these two Angels ioyned together to suppresse Sathan, who animated and stirred vp the Persians against the people of God, O…and. But in the first of Darius, nothing was attempted against the Lords people: all made for them: for the people then by the ioint edict of Cyrus and Darius, were set free: some expound it thus: that if these two angels Michael and Gabriel were able to assist Darius to ouercome the mighty Monarchie of Babylon, much more were they able to preserue the people of God now, Bulling. This sense is much to the purpose, sauing that he vnderstandeth Michael here to be an Angel, who is before prooued to be Christ himselfe, c. 10. quest. 22. who could not be helped by a ministring Angel, beeing the commander and helper of Angels himselfe.
3. The meaning then is, that the Angl helped Darius to subdue the Monarchie of Babylon: and herein is shewed the accomplishment of the vision of the hand, writing the destruction of Balthazar and his kingdome vponupon the wall, Dan. 5. which handwriting was made by the Ministerie of the Angels, who by Gods appointment assisted Darius in the subduing of the Babylonian state and Monarchie: so in effect the Angel thus reasoneth, that seeing by their ministerie, the Babylonian Monarchie was ouerthrowne, and the Persian state set vp: they are as able to bridle the rage and furie of the Persian kings, as they were first to set them vp, Calvi… ▪ and the Angel here maketh mention of Darius, because he would briefely set forth both the beginning and ende of the Persian Monarchie.
Quest. 4. Why the Persian Monarchie is so briefely touched, and the Grecians set forth at large.
These reasons may be yeelded thereof. 1. because that the Empire of the Persians, was not so greiuous vntounto the Iewes, neither did they so cruelly entreat the people of God, as did the Grecians, as the kingdome of the Seleucians, and P…olomies: therefore the Angel … them lightly ouer. 2. And an other reason is, seeing the people were to endure much affliction vnderunder the kings of Syria and Egypt, but especially of Syria, it was requisite, that the people should be comforted against those times: and therefore the Angel at large declareth such things, as should befall the people of God, vnderunder those kings, but chiefely vnderunder Antiochus Epiphanes, Iun. commentar.
Quest. 5. That there were more then three kings of Persia, as may be gathered out of the Scripture.
1. Concerning the iust number of the kings, that there were neither three onelyonly, as the Hebrewes, nor 5. as Tertullian lib. aduers. Iudaeos, nor 8. onelyonly as Isidor. lib. 5. Etymol. and Ioannes Annius, whom I…annes Driedo, and Ioannes Lucidus followe, not yet so many, namely 14. as Pererius, and the most doe hold, as is shewed before quest. 37. vponupon the 9. Chapter.
2. But the opinion of the Hebrewes, who most of them hold that there were but 3. kings of Persia, Cyrus, Assuerus the husband of Esther, and Darius whom Alexander ouercame: and some of them name a fourth beside, Cambyses betweene Cyrus and Assuerus: This opinion may euidently be refelled by Scripture: which maketh mention at the least of 5. kings of Persia: Pererius thinketh that sixe are named in Scripture: 1. Cyrus. 2. then Assuerus, called also Artaxerxes, which was Cambyses, who hindered the building of the Temple, Ezra. 4. 3. then Darius the sonne of Hystaspis, vnderunder whom the Temple was reedified, Ezra. 5. vnderunder whom the Prophets Haggie and Zacharie prophesied. 4. Artaxerxes Longimanus by whom Ezra and Nehemiah were sent, Ezra. 7. Nehem. 2. 5. the fift was Assuerus the husband of Esther, which is thought to be Artaxerxes Mnemon. 6. and the sixt was Darius whom Alexander ouercame, in whose time Iaddua was high Priest, Nehem. 12. 22.
But in this collection Pererius diuersely faileth. 1. in that he maketh Assuerus and Artashasht mentioned Ezra. 4. to be all one, whereas the last named was Cambyses, the other Darius Hystaspis, as is shewed before quest. 58. c. 9. 2. he thinketh the Temple beganne to be reedified vnderunder Darius Hystaspis, which was Darius Longimanus, as is shewed before likewise, quest. 45. c. 9. 3. he taketh Assuerus, Esthers husband to be Artaxerxes Mnemon, which was rather Darius Hystaspis, for Mordecai his age, who was one of the captiuitie of Iechonia, will not suffer the storie to be deferred so long: see before c. 9. quest. 44.
3. This then may be affirmed, that at the least fiue seuerall kings of Persia, are named in the bookes of Ezra and Nehemiah: as Cyrus is mentioned, Ezra. 4. 3. then Assuerus, which was Darius Hystaspis, and before him, Artashasht, that is Cambyses, which first hindered the worke of the Temple, Ezra. 4. 6, 7. afterward Darius, which was Artaxerxes Longimanus, Ezra. 6. 1. called also Artashasht, v. 24. and Darius the last king, Nehem. 12. 22.
Quest. 6. Who were these fowre kings of Persia here named.
1. Hierome leauing out Cyrus, because the account beginneth from him, nameth Cambyses, then Smerdes the vsurper, after him Darius Hystaspis, and the fourth Xerxes: so also Hugo Car. and vntounto this opinion inclineth Iunius in his commentarie: and he yeeldeth this reason thereof, because Smerdes, though he were an vsurper, yet quietly a while enioyed the kingdome: But this Smerdes is not to be counted any of this number, because both he was an vsurper: for this Smerdes, or as Polanus out of Ctesias calleth him Sphendadates, was he that accused Tanyoxares Cambyses brother, whom Cambyses caused to be taken out of the way by giuing him bulls blood to drinke, and then this Sphendadates was taken for Cambyses brother, and Cambyses beeing dead he vsurped the kingdome: But he beeing discouered by Tibethes Eunuch vntounto Amytis, Cambyses mother, the 7. gouernours of Persia conspired to kill him, and then Darius Hystaspis was elected king, because he procured by art his horse first to neigh at the rising of the Sunne, (whom the Persians worship as their God) as was agreed betweene them before. Beside, as this Sphendadates was an vsurper, so he raigned onelyonly 7. moneths, as Herodotus, therefore in both these respects, because he was an vsurper, and held not the kingdome long, he is to be excluded out of the number of the Persian kings, Bulling.
2. The Hebrewes thus count them, Cyrus, Cambyses, Artaxerxes Assuerus, making Darius the fourth, whom Alexander ouercame: But it is prooued before quest. 5. that the Scripture maketh mention of more kings of Persia then these: and this Darius, as Hierome saith, was the 14. king from Cyrus: but he was in true account the tenth at the least.
3. Pintus out of Metashenes thus setteth them downe, after Cyrus, the first was Artaxerxes Assuerus, then Darius Longimanus, after him Darius Nothus, and the fourth was Artaxerxes Mnemon: But here are two famous kings omitted: Cyrus, who must be numbered for one, because this vision was in the 1. of Darius: from him Cyrus was the first: and Xerxes, who was indeede that rich king of Persia.
4. Melancthon likewise omitteth Xerxes and nameth Artaxerxes Longimanus for the fourth, because he raigned at home while Xerxes made warre abroad in Europe: But this fourth king must be he, that stirred vp all against Grecia, which was Xerxes, and not Artaxerxes his sonne.
5. Oecolampadius and Pellican, doe thus name them. 1. Cyrus. 2. Cambyses. 3. Smerdes. 4. Darius Hystaspis: But this Darius of purpose inuaded not the Grecians, but set vponupon Asia minor, and then the Grecians chalenging Ionia to belong vntounto them, by that occasion Darius also encountred with the Grecians, and was ouercome by Miltiades at Marathon: But Xerxes continued the warre begunne by his father, and did of purpose prouoke the Grecians to battell, Iun. commentar.
6. These then were the three Rings. 1. Cyrus. 2. Cambyses his sonne. 3. Darius Hystaspis. 4. and the fourth was Xerxes, who is described by his riches, and his attempting of warre against the Grecians: to the three first kings the Grecians gaue these titles: Cyrus was called, foreign, a father, Cambyses, foreign, a Lord ouer them, and Darius, foreign, a merchant: a railer and extorter of tribute, H. Br. in Daniel. this reckoning followe Calv. Pol. Iun. in his annot. Osiand. Pappus.
Quest. 7. Of the fourth king of Persia his riches and power.
Two things are here expressed concerning this fourth king, 1. that he should be richer then they all: for beside the great summes of treasure which Darius Xerxes father had gathered together, he was 6. yeares after in making preparation for the warres of Grecia: and beeing thus growne to exceeding great riches, then he beganne these wars against the Grecians, which though intermitted a while, yet were not fully ended vntill the Monarchie of the Persians was finally ouerthrowne by the power of Grecia vnderunder Alexander. 2. it is said, he should raise all against the realme of Grecia; herein three things are to be considered: 1. the preparation to this warre. 2. the successe thereof. 3. the ende of this rich king. First his preparation was wonderfull, Polanus out of Ctesias saith his armie consisted of 800. thousand men, and a thousand shippes. Calvine reckoneth 900. thousand: Osiander out of Iostine counteth a 1000. thousand men, and a 1000. thousand shippes: but Herodotus goeth yet further, and maketh the whole summe 23. hundred thousand. Pererius exceedeth them all, collecting that the whole armie, quinquies continebat decies centena millia, conteined 5. times 10. hundred thousand. But this number seemeth to be incredible: yet without question he prouided an huge armie, in so much that it is said, he drunke vp riuers, made bridges ouer the Sea, cast downe huge mountaines, and made them euen with the ground. 2. now for his successe, he was ouercome in 4. battells, and within the space of two yeares, all this huge companie was vanquished and destroyed: first, he was foyled at Thermopilae, where 300. Lacedemonians discomfited the whole armie of the Persians: then he was ouercome by Sea at Artemisium, afterward at Salamine, where finding the bridge broken downe, he was constrained to flie away in a small boate: lastly Mardonius, by whose counsell he tooke that warre in hand, was vanquished at Plateae; And such was the successe of that warre. 3. Now the ende of Xerxes was this, at his returne he fell into inordinate lust and cruelty: he committed incest with his brothers wife, and daughter, and caused his owne brother Masistes to be slaine, and he himselfe was killed by Artabanus, who a while vsurped the kingdome after him: And this was the ende of this rich and mightie king of Persia.