Observations Upon the Old Testament, Commentary · Daniel
Daniel.
DANIEL was carried Captive in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, and the third or fourth of Jehojakim, Dan. I. 1,—6. And at this time began the Babylonian Monarchy: and the Jewes Subjection or Captivity, which lasted seventy years.
Daniel living, and young, was so famous for Prayer and Piety, That in the thirteenth or fourteenth year of his Captivity, He is matched with Noah, and Job, Ezek. XIV. 14. And in the eighteenth or nineteenth year, He is held such an unparallel'd patterne for Wisdom, That the King of Tyre, who thought himself so wise above others, is taunted in these words, Behold, thou art wiser then Daniel, Ezek. XXVIII. 2.
His Book begins with his own Captivity; reacheth to our Saviours time, Dan. IX. 25. And ends a while after, with the final Destruction of the Temple, and Citie of Jerusalem, by the Romanes, Dan. IX. 27. Daniels Prophecies stretch not beyond Daniels owne People the Jewes.
Some reckon the times thus; seventy years in the Babylonish captivity, or subjection to Babylon: seventy years seven times, or seven weeks of years; that is, four hundred and ninety years, thence to our Saviours death. And fourty thence to Jerusalems Destruction, and the end of the Jewes Common-wealth: in all, six hundred years. But others rather, upon more likely grounds, extend the number of years to a great summe.
His Book is Historical, in the first six Chapters Prophetical, in the rest.
The Language of it is Chaldee, from chap. II. v. 4 to chap. VIII. A little Arabique being intermixt in the sixth Chapter. Because, as some conceive, the matters contained in those Chapters mostwhat concerne the Chaldeans, and were things known to them; or at least such as no danger by the knowledge of them accrued to the Jewes. In all the rest, before, and after, it is Hebrew, the Churches dialect, and treasure. And yet here are sometimes some kinde of concealments from the Hebrews themselves, in the darkest Visions, chap. VIII. 26. and chap. XII. 4.
The Chapters in Daniel fall within the reigns of several Kings, Thus, In the reign of
Nebuchadnezzar; in his
I. Year, Chapter I.
V. Year, Chap. II.
VI. Year, most likely, Chap. III.
XXXV. Year, Chap. IV.
Belshazzar, in his
I. Year, Chap VII.
III. Year, Chap. VIII.
Last year, Chap. V.
Darius, in his first year, Chapters VI. and IX.
Cyrus, in his third year, first monethmonth, Chapters X. and XI. and XII.
So that in the Order of the Chapters, there is this Transposition; That the seventh and eighth Chapters, as now they stand numbered and placed, in order of time go before the fifth and sixth Chapters.
And for the matter of some Chapters; Those Prophetical Dreames, and Visions, Chap. II. and IV. and VII. and VIII. and XI. seeme mostwhat to expound one another; falling so oft upon the same matters, lesse or more; and going over them, or some of them still: Nebuchadnezzar, and the Babylonian, is the Golden Head, Chap. II. the Tree, Chap. IV. the Lion, Chap. VII. The Mede and Persian, is the Breast and Armes of silver, Chap. II. the Beare, Chap. VII. the Ram, Chap. VIII. and Chap. X. 1, 13, 20. and Chap. XI. 1, 2. The Grecian Alexander, is the Belly and Thighs of Brasse, Chap. II. the Leopard, Chap. VII. the he-Goat, Chap. VIII, and Chap. X. 20. and Chap. XI. 3, 4. The Grecian divided, chiefly into the Seleucide, and Lagide, are the Legs of iron, and Feet, part of iron, and part of clay, chap. II. The fourth Beast, chap. VII. and the Kings of the North, and of the South, chap. XI.
Daniel having his suit denied by the Prince of the Eunuchs, makes his addresse to his Steward, and prevails, chap. I. 10, 11.
That second year, Dan. II. 1. is not of Cyrus, the last word of the former chapter; But of Nebuchadnezzar: Nor of his Reigne, or Monarchy either; But in his reigne; as the Hebrew distinctions in the Context seeme to import; Namely, the second year, after the three years of Daniels education were past, and he brought in to stand before the King; which falls in with the fifth year of Nebuchadnezzars reigne, and Daniels Captivity, and with the eighth or ninth of Jehojakim. In the second year, in Nebuchadnezzars reigne, Nebuchadnezzar had this Dreame; and Daniel was then sought for to be slaine, with the rest of the Wisemen and Magicians.
That huge Image of gold, though hollow within, as the two brazen Pillars were, Jer. LII. 21. which was set up to be worshipped, Dan. III. seems to be soone after the former Dreame, and before Jehojacins Captivity; Being Daniels three companions only, newly advanced, are accused; and no other Jewes; for not worshipping it, and committing such grosse and open Idolatry.
That Dreame and Vsion of the Great Tree, chap. IV. being when Nebuchadnezzar was at rest, after all his Victories, chap. IV. 4. And flourishing in his Palace, after his conquest of Egypt, which was in the twenty seventh year of Jehojacins Captivity, Ezek. XXIX. 17,—20. seemes to be some thirty years after the former Dreame, chap. II. and in the thirty fifth year of Nebuchadnezzars owne reigne, and Daniels Captivity. A year after this Dreame, he fell mad, chap. IV. 29. and continued so seven years, verse 16, 25, 3. even so long as Solomons Temple was in building, which he destroyed. And about two years after his restoring to his wits, and Kingdome, v. 26, 34, 36. in the fourty fourth or fourty fifth year of his reigne, and thirty seventh of Jehojacins Captivity he died, Jer. LII. 31.
Evilmerodach, the sonne of Nebuchadnezzar, in the first year of his reign, advanced Jehojacin, 2 Kings XXV. 27,—30. Jer. LII. 31,—34.
Belshazzar, the grandchilde of Nebuchadnezzar, was the last of Babels Monarchs, Jer. XXVII. 7. Dan. V. 28, 30, 31. Though he be called the sonne of Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadnezzar be called his father, Dan. V. 11, 13, 18, 22.
The Romane Empire is none of the four Beasts, chap. VII. But the Greeks are the Dealers in the end of wrath. Antiochus Epiphanes, the last of the ten Hornes of the fourth Beast, was the most furious Persecutor of the Jewes, and their Religion. See of him largely, Dan. VII. v. 8, 11, 20, 21. and chap. VIII. v. 9,—14. and v. 23, 24, 25, 26. and chap. XI. 21,—45. and chap. XII. He raged terribly, for two thousand three hundred dayes, chap. VIII. 14, 24, 25, 26. that is, six years, three moneths, and some twenty dayes, viz. from the one hundred fourty second year of the Kingdom of the Greeks, when after wicked Jason, worse then Menelaus had got of Antiochus to be High Priest, having in him the fury of a cruel Tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast, 1 Macc. I. 11. and v. 20,—53. 2 Macc. IV. 25. from this time Antiochus continuing his rage until the one hundred fourty eighth year, ninth monethmonth, twenty fifth day, 1 Macc. IV. 52, 53, 54. But raging most of all for a time, times, and the dividing of time, Dan. VII. 25. and, chap. XII. 7. that is, three years, and ten dayes; from the time he took away the daily Sacrifice, and set up the abomination of desolation, till the restoring of Gods worship againe, 1 Macc. I. 54, 57, 59. and chap. IV, 52, 53, 54. Or three years, and a half; beginning so at 1 Macc. I. 30. And againe, from that time of taking away the daily Sacrifice, and setting up the abomination of desolation, were one thousand two hundred and ninety dayes, to the end of those sad times of the Churches troubles. But the one thousand three hundred thirty fifth day, which was fourty five dayes after the former, was the last end of the indignation, the Blessed time perfectly to finish those furious persecutions by Antiochus, by the death of Antiochus himself, Dan. XII. 6, 7, 8, 11, 12. 2 Macc. XI. 33. 1 Macc. VI. 16. And at the end of the Kingdome of the Greeks, subdued soone after by the rising up of the Romane Empire, Christ came, and erected his everlasting Kingdome; and all Dominions shall serve and obey him, Dan. II. 34, 35, 44, 45. and Chap. VII. 9, 10, 13, 14, 27. But of these things see more in my Annotations upon Daniel, in the large Annotations upon the whole Bible, printed, Anno 1651.
Gabrieal the only Angel in Scripture that hath a proper name, Dan. VIII. 16. and chap. IX. 21. L…ke. I. 19, 26. Michael being understood of Christ.
Darius the Median, the sonne of Ahasuerus, Dan. V. 31. and VI. 28. and Cyrus, the Persian, Dan. IX. 1. seeme fellowes in Empire: and Cyrus, the Survivor, and sole Monarch.
Messiah a proper name, Dan. IX. 25. And hence famous in the New Testament, John I. 41. and IV. 25.
The Abomination of Desolation hath reference to Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan. VIII. 13. and chap. XI. 31. and chap. XII. 11. And to the Romanes, Dan. IX. 27. Matth. XXIV. 15.
like the Sonne of God] Or rather like a sonne of the gods. chapter III verse 25 For a Heathen King, utterly ignorant of the Mystery of the Trinity, could not dreame of the second Person, the Sonne of God. And so is that to be understood, Psal. LXXXIX. 6. As a phrase not unlike, is in Judg. VIII. 18. Many of the Ancient Fathers, being desirous to get proofs of the Mystery of the Trinity, and of Christs Humanity, out of the Books of the Prophets, did catch at all occasions, and made use of any thing in them, that might have the least shew and shadow to look that way. And so they have wrested, though not rightly, this speech of Nebuchadnezzar to that purpose.
great Babylon] The compasse of it within the walls was about four hundred furlongs, chapter IV verse 30 or sixty miles. The walls of it fifty foot, if not Cubits broad, so as two Charets with four horses on breast might easily meet on them: And high at least fifty Cubits. See my Annotations on this place. And the learned Annotations on Jer. LI. 53, 58. It is said to sit upon many waters, Jer. LI. 13. to have a Sea, ver. 36. Esay XXI. 1. by reason of the great river Euphrates whereon it was seated; and the vast lakes, meeres, and pooles that were made out of it in that great plaine of the Land of Shinar and Babylon; Gen. XI. 2. This is an ancient Citie, built by Nimrod, Gen. X. 10. And was under the Assyrian Empire. Manasseh King of Judah was carried hither by Esar-haddon the Assyrian Monarch, 2 Chron. XXXIII. 11. The Kings of it, when it came from under the Assyrian Empire, we reade in Scripture to be these, Merodach Baladan, Nebuchadnezzar, Evilmerodach, Belshazzar, Esay XXXIX. I. 2 Kings XXV. 27. Dan. V. 1, 11. Jer. XXVII. 7. Yet some interpose one Assur, and Labarssardach, before Belshazzar, for short times; But not out of Scripture. This Citie of Babylon is called Sheshach, Jer. XXV. 26. and LI. 41. (though a King of Egypt was of the like name, 2 Chron. XII. 2.) And likely this name is from some Babylonian Idol; whence Michael might by the Babylonian Chamberlaine be termed Meshach, Dan. I. 7. And haply hence the Sacean Festival in Babylon for eleven dayes together, which …erosus, and Ctesius do mention, took that name: A Feast not unlike the Greek and Latine Saturnalia, and our Christmas. And in the time of which Feast probably was Babylon taken by Cyrus; as Her… dote, and Xenophon do report. And the Prophet Jeremie himself by naming it Sheshach, may seeme to point as it were with the finger to the very time of that Feast, wherein Babylon, and that State was to receive its fatal blow. See Dan. V. 1. V. 30.
to the Medes and Persians] Medes coasted upon the Caspian Sea. chapter V verse 28 Persians lay upon the Persian Gulph, Esay XIII. 17. Medes descended from Madai, the sonne of Japhet, Gen. X. 2. 1 Chron. I. 5. They, and the Persians, in some sort one people, as well for vicinity, as affinity; and acknowledging one King, Esay XXI. 2. Jer. LI. 11. Dan. V. 28. and IX. 1.
like the sonne of man] Rather like a sonne of man. chapter VII verse 13 For Christ is not there likened to himself, but to a man in general. As Ezekiel is called a sonne of man; and as men in Scripture are usualy called the sonnes of men. And so is that place to be understood, Apoc. I. 13. Like a sonne of man. And againe, chap. XIV. 14. Like unto a sonne of man.
Province of Elam] Elam is Persia; chapter VIII verse 2 from Elam the sonne of Sem, and brother to Asshur, and Arphaxad, Gen. X. 22. 1 Chron. I. 17. The Province of Elam is that part of Persia that bordered upon the Medes: whereupon Elamites and Medes are joyned together, Esay XXI. 2. Jer. XXV. 25. They served under the Assyrian Monarchs Salmanesar and Sennacharib, and under the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar against the people of God, Esay XXII. 6. And therefore are judgements denounced against them by the Prophets, Jer. XXV. 25. and chap. XLIX. 34, 38. And they became afterwards Gods instruments to execute his vengeance upon the Babylonians, and to deliver his people from their bondage and captivity, Esay XXII. 6. and XLI. 2, 25. and XLIV. 28. and XLV. 1, &c. and XLVI. 11. and XLVIII. 14. See more in the Annotations on Esay XIII. 17.
Uphaz] Where the finest gold seemeth in those times to have beene, chapter X verse 5 Jer. X. 9. This some suppose to be the same with Paz, or Phaz, Job XXVIII. 17. Psal. XXI. 3. Esay XIII. 12. and Mupaz, 1 Kings X. 18. 2 Chron. IX. 17. Some take it to be Phez in Africa.