Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11 · Questions · Question 49
Quest. 49. Of the Lybians and Aethiopians where they inhabited.
v. 43. Because mention is here made of the Lybians and Aethiopians, which should take part with Antiochus against the king of Egypt, it shall not be amisse briefely to describe what nations these were.
1. For the Lybians: they were people that inhabited Africa: but the countrey called Lybia, was either taken for the larger countrey of Africa, or for that part onelyonly which was next vntounto Egypt, called Cyrenaica, as Act. 2. 10. it is said by way of distinction, the parts of Lybia, which is beside Cyrene. And that larger countrey, and the remoter parts of Lybia, are called in Scripture, Phut, as Nahum 3. 9. the Phutei and Lybians are named together: they were so called of Phut one of the sonnes of Cham, Genes. 10. 6. in which countrey there was a riuer called Phut: The Lybians then here spoken of, were those people of the nearer Lybia to Egypt.
2. Cush here is taken for Aethiopia: so called of Cush the sonne of Cham: but there were two countreys called by that name Cush or Aethiopia: one was Arabia in Asia, and therefore Zipporah Moses wife, is called a Cushite or Aethiopesse, Numb. 12. of this Aethiopia was Zerah king, that came against Asa, with such an huge armie, 2. Chron. 14. 9. the king of the other Aethiopia, Se… a singular opinion of … concerning these Lybians and … Appendix Exercis. 8. argum. 2.which was in Africa beyond Egypt, he is not like to be, because of the great distance of the place, and there was no cause of hostilitie betweene them: the Aethiopians here spoken of, were of that larger countrey adioyning vponupon Egypt, see further Hexapl. in Genes. c. 10. quest. 9.
3. But Pintus by occasion of this word Cush, which signifieth a Niger, or blacke Moore, will hauehave it taken not only for one that is blacke in the colour and complexion of his bodie, but blacke also in manners and conditions: according to that saying of the Poet Herace, hic niger est, hunc tu Romane can…eto, &c. this is a blacke fellowe, thou Romane take heede of him:Whether Sa…l be called Cush in the title of the 7. Psalme. This his opinion he would warrant by the title of the 7. Psalme, Shigaion of Dauid, which he sang, &c. concerning the words of Cush the sonne of Iemini: which he taketh to be vnderstood of Saul the king, who is called Cush, because of his euill and cruell conditions: Now for the meaning of this place, there are diuerse opinions. 1. Some thinke that this is vnderstood of Chushai Dauids friend, who opposed himselfe to the counsell of Achitophel: of this opinion are Basil, Chrysostome, Theodoret, Euthymius, with others: but this cannot be so:
1. His name is Cushat, with other letters and prickes, this is Cush. 2. that Cushai was an Archite, that is, of Beniamin. 3. he was Dauids friend, but this was Dauids enemie, of whom he complaineth in this Psalme.
2. An other opinion is, that this Cush was Saul, because he was of Iemini, that is, of the tribe of Beniamin: Thus expoundeth Ionathas the Chalde paraphrast: as though Cush should be here taken for Cis the father of Saul: of the same opinion that Saul is here vnderstood, are Hierome, whom followe herein Raynerus, Isidor. Brixianus, Iansenius, Vatablus, Pintus, with others: But this we refuse also: for when the word is taken for a Cushite or Aethiopian, it is Cushi, not Cush: for so the Hebrewes ende their gentile names in I: so Cushi signifieth a Cushite or Aethiopian, Ierem. 13. 23.
3. Some doe here referre vsus to Shemei, that cursed Dauid, 2. Sam. 16. Genevens. as though he should be called by another name, beside Shemei: but there beeing no such thing mentioned in Scripture, I leaue it as a bare coniecture.
4. Wherefore it is more like, that this Cush was some other of Sauls followers that gaue in false information of him vntounto Saul: as Dauid complaineth of such vntounto Saul himselfe, 1. Sam. 24. 10. wherefore giuest thou an care to mens words that say, Behold Dauid seeketh euill against thee, Iun.