Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Ver. 1. IN the third year of the reign of King Belſhazzar] Which was his laſt year, when Babylon was cloſe beſieged: therefore Daniel was not now really at Shuſhan, but in viſion only, ver. 2.
A viſion appeared unto me] Whileſt waking, likely: and for further explication of the former viſion, chap. 7. whereof becauſe Daniel made ſo good uſe, ampliorem gratiam accipit, ſaith Oecolampadius, he now receiveth further grace.
Ver. 2. I ſaw in a viſion] God revealed himſelf to men waking in viſion (as well as in dreams, Heb. 1.1.) wherein the Prophets ſaw things actually done, which hereby they knew were to be done, 1 King. 22.17.
Anthenaeu….I was at Shuſhan] Which ſignifieth a lilly, ſo it was called for the pleaſantneſs of the place: now it is called Valdac, of the poverty of the place. Here it was that Alexander found fifty thouſand talents of gold, beſides ſilver great ſtore. It was once the ſeat-royal of the Kings of Perſia, and gave name to the whole Province Suſi…nt. See Neh. 1.1. Eſth. 1.1.
And I was by the river of Ʋlai] Called by Heathen Authors Eulaeus; but better foreign.Plin. l. 6. c. 27. It compaſſed the Temple of Diaena at Shuſan round, and (as ſome ſay) the whole City. Pliny ſaith, that the waters of this river were highly eſteemed, ſo that the Perſian Kings drank thereof.
Ver. 3. There ſtood before the river a ram] With a golden fleece, and full of fleſh. This was the Perſian Monarch: who is alſo ſaid to ſtand, becauſe of his ſlow motion, and ſluggiſh diſpoſition; and before the river, becauſe the Perſians ruled over many Nations, ſignified by waters, Rev. 17. A ram ſtalketh ſtately before the flock, as a Captain; but they are only ſheep which he leadeth: let a dog but lay his noſe over the hedge, and away they run all: ſo did the ſheepiſh cowardly Perſians before Alexander.
Which had two hornes] Theſe were the States of Media and Perſia.
But one was higher then the other] i. e. The Perſians at length became higher then the Medes, and overtopped them.
And the higher came up laſt] Cyrus after Darius, uniting both nations into one Monarchy.
Ver. 4. And I ſaw the ram puſhing Westward, &c.] Hereby are ſet forth the Perſian wars; and eſpecially thoſe waged by Cyrus, who ſubdued many nations, and grew very great, as did alſo his ſucceſſours, but eſpecially Darius Hyſtaspes.
Neither was there any] None could reſiſt his rage, nor eſcape his reach.
Ver. 5. And as I was conſidering] Such as are ſtudious, ſhall ſee more of Gods mind, Rev. 1.12.
Behold an hee-goat came from the Weſt] i. e. From Greece and Macedon, Weſt from Perſia. This goat, more nimble, ſwift and potent then a ram, was the Grecian Monarch Alexander, who came capering and praunſing over the whole earth, that is, over the whole Perſian Monarchy, and more; ſetting fire on all Aſia, as the Magicians foretold he would do, as being born the ſame day that Diana's Temple at Epheſus was ſet on fire. This Alexander the great was Dux gregis ipſe caper: of all whoſe victories we have here a notable abridgment,Joſeph. more like an hiſtory then a Prophecy. The high-Prieſt Jaddus is ſaid to have ſhewed it to Alexander in his march againſt Darius Codomannus the laſt King of Perſia: who thereby much encouraged in his enterprize, beſtowed upon the Jews many favours, and freedoms.
And touched not the ground] Alexander was notably nimble, thinking nothing too hard for him to atcheive, and ſl…pping no opportunity.Apelles picture… Alexander with a thunderbolt: ſignifying his great ſwiftneſs in his exploits. When he was to encounter with Darius his army at Graxicum, Parmenio perſwaded him to ſtay till the next day: but he would not: neither was ſucceſſe wanting. With wonderful celerity, in ſix years ſpace, he overrun ſo great a part of the habitable world, that he might rather ſeem to fly then to march.
And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes] This notable horn is Alexander founder of the Grecian Monarchy. The Macedonians were at that time called Aegeades, i. e. goatiſh (the occaſion whereof ſee in Juſtin, lib. 7.)Sic Darius dicitur Aiil. i. e. Aries Perſiae Hebraice & Chaldaice Elam. Alexander is here fitly called hircus caprarum, an hee-goat, or the horn of ſight, between the eyes of that goat. A ſit emblem of a good Prince, whoſe vertues are conſpicuous as an hornis, who defendeth his people and offendeth their enemies: who like this horn riſing up betwixt the eyes, is circumſpect and well-adviſed, doing all with counſel, Prov. 24.6. Alexander had his father Philips counſellors about him, who were excellent in wiſdom, beyond any that came after them in the ſame Empire.
Ver. 6. And he came to the ram that had two hornes] He came: this may betoken the ſlower preparations of Philip King of Macedony.
And ran unto him] Alexander did, by quick and furious marches:
Nil actum credens dum quid ſupereſſet agendum
Fertur atrox.—De Caſ. Lucan…
Ver. 7. And I ſaw him come cloſe unto the ram] Who ſtood for a while in his ſtoutneſſe, and brought ſeveral huge armyes into the field; not leſs then fifteen hundred thouſand: but all would not do. The faireſt ſtates are ſubject to change in their greateſt flouriſh, Ezek. 31.18.
In ſo magna ruunt: laetis hunc numinarebus
Creſcendi poſuere modum.—Lucan.
And he was moved with choler againſt him] Neither would he be pacified with promiſe of great gifts, and of part of the Kingdom, and the marriage of his daughter.
And ſmot the ram] By overthrowing the Perſian armyes in three main battles at Granicum, …t Iſſum, and at Arbela, foreign. Strabo.not far from which is the mountain Nicatorium ſo called by Alexander as a conſtant trophie of that famous victory.
And there was no power in the ram to ſtand before him] In that laſt battle at Arbela, the whole power of Perſia was overturned: and Darius Codomannus was ſlain by Beſſus one of his own Captains. It is obſerved, that great Kingdoms oft fall and are deſtroyed under ſuch Kings as are of the ſame name with the founders thereof: Darius here for inſtance: ſo Philip of Macedon, and Philip the Father of Perſeus the laſt King of that Country: ſo Conſtantine the Great, and Conſtantine Palaologus: Auguſtus and Auguſtulus, &c.
And ſtamped upon him] i. e. After full conqueſt, he crowed, inſulted, triumphed: at the inſtance of his concubine Thais, he cauſed the moſt goodly palace in the world at Perſopolis, to be ſet on fire.
Ver. 8. Therefore the hee-goat waxed very great] The Greeks became Lords of all: their Emperour was & re & nomine magnus, not called great for nought: he began to take upon him as a god, and would be counted ſon to Jupiter Hammon. He called for divine honours, and ſlew Calliſthenes (his Tutor) becauſe he would not yeild thereto.Alexander orbi magnus, Alexandro orbis anguſtus eſt. Seneca. Athenaeus. This intolerable pride was a ſure forerunner of his fall: his heart ſwelled ſo faſt that the caſe could no longer hold it, but cracked. The world was a cage or little-eaſe to him: therefore is he ſoon turned out of it: and of heavens darling, made the diſdain of all.
And when he was ſtrong, the great horn was broken] Surfetting and drunkenneſs caſt him into a fever, whereof he dyed in the flower of his youth, and height of his enjoyments: ſuch is the inſtability of earthly Monarchs worldly glory. Magna repente ruunt, ſummacadunt ſubito. Being not unlike thoſe Flores horae very pleaſant for the time, but dead and withdrawn in a trice. The vanities of this life, ſaith one, at our moſt need, and when we leaſt think,Turk. hiſt. 331. quite forſake us: leaving even them that moſt ſought after them, and moſt abounded in them, ſhrowded oft-times in the ſheet of diſhonour and ſhame. Great Alexander lay unburied thirty dayes together: his conqueſts above ground purchaſed him no title for habitation under ground. The like befel Pompey the Great, out William the Conquerour, and other like.
And for it came up four notable horns] i. e. Four potent Princes, out of the ſhipwrack of his Empire: which four, in proceſſe of time, came to two, Dan. 11.5, 6.
Ver. 9. And out of one of them] Out of the poſterity of Seleucus King of Syria.
Came forth a little horn] This was Antiochus ſirnamed Epiphanes, Illuſtrious: Polybius called him Epimanes, the mad man. He is here called a little horn, becauſe he was vile and baſe from the very firſt to the laſt of him. Indeed he was born a Prince, but without a Kingdom: a meer Nullatenenſis, till he became an V;ſurper. He was ſent for an hoſtage to Rome by his father Antiochus Magnus, whom the Romans had …ndgeld into a treaty: taking away from him the beſt part of his Kingdom. After his fathers death, he ſtole away from Rome and ſeized upon the Kingdom of Syria, caſting out of it his nephew Demetrius who was the right heir. Afterwards, he got into his hands alſo the Kingdom of Egypt, under colour of Protectour to his young nephew Pt…lomy Philometor. And being therehence diſcharged by the Romans, and made to anſwer Parebo, I will be gone, he went thence in a rage, and like a mad man recked his teem, as we ſay, upon the poor Jews, playing the devil amongſt them.
Toward the South] i. e. Egypt.
And toward the Eaſt] Perſia, which he alſo conquered.
And toward the pleaſant land] i. e. Judaea, called here Decus, Capreolus, the delectable and deſireable Country, by reaſon of its great prerogatives. So Ezek. 20.6. Pſal. 48.2. See there.
Ver. 10. And it waxed great even to the hoſt of heaven] Or, againſt the hoſt of heaven, ſo the Church militant is called. The Saints are the worlds great luminaries▪ yea the only earthly Angels; although wicked people count and call them the filth and off couring of all things.
And of the ſtars] Such as ſhone in the light of holy doctrine, Rev. 1.10. Perſecutors ſpite is ſpecially againſt ſuch, Zach. 13.7.
Ver. 11. Yea he magnified himſelf] extolled, or extended himſelf, ſuch was his inſolency.
Even to (or againſt) the Prince of the hoſt] Chriſt the Captain of his peoples ſufferings, and of their ſalvation, Heb. 2.10. he bare an hoſtile ſpirit againſt the God of the Jews (ſuch an hell-bound hardly ever was born) caſting him out of his place, and ſetting up in his room J…piter Olympius, that is, the devil: he defaced alſo and burnt up the books of the Law, all he could light on, 1 Mac. 1.59.
Ver. 12. And an hoſt was given him] Or, the host was given over, for the traſgreſſion againſt the daily ſacrifice: The Jewes were grown to a great height of profaneſſe, even in Malachies dayes, as is to be ſeen, chap. 1, 2, 3. And by this time doubtleſſe, they were become much worſe. God therefore, for puniſhment, turned this Tiger looſe upon them.
And it caſt down the truth to the ground] The doctrine of truth, together with the Profeſſors thereof. The like whereunto is ſtill done by the Romiſh Antichriſt, to whom ſome apply all this part of the Chapter, as the proper and genuine ſenſe of the Text. See the viſions and Prophecies of Daniel expounded by Mr. Thomas Parker of Newbery in New-England, pag. 43, 44, &c.
And it practiſed and proſpered] Wicked practiſes againſt Religion may proſper for the time, Acts 12.1, 2, 3. It was therefore no good argument that the Earl of Darby uſed to George Marſh Martyr, telling him that the Dukes of Northumberland and of Suffolk, and other of the new perſwaſion had ill luck: Act. & Mon. 1421.and were either put to death, or in danger ſo to be. And again, he rehearſed unto him the good hap of the Queens highneſſe, and of thoſe that held with her: and ſaid, that the Duke of Northumberland confeſſed ſo plainly.
Ver. 13. And I heard one Saint ſpeaking] i. e. One holy Angel: for they are ſollicitous of Gods glory, and ſenſible of the Saints ſufferings, whereof they would have a ſpeedy end: and ſhould not we be ſo too, weeping with thoſe that weep, and rejoycing with thoſe that rejoyce?
And another Saint ſaid unto that certain Saint which ſpake] Anonymo illi qui loquebatur, ſo Piſcator rendereth it: others To the wonderful Numberer who ſpake, i. e. who commanded Gabriel to declare the viſion to Daniel, ver. 16. This was Jeſus Chriſt, the Wiſdom and Word of God: He who knoweth all the ſecrets of his Father as perfectly as if they were numbred before him.
How long ſhall be the viſion] It appeareth then that Angels know not all ſecrets, but that their knowledge is limited: they know not ſo much, but they would know more, Epheſ. 3.10. 1 Pet. 1.12.
Concerning the daily ſacrifice] The loſſe whereof was a juſt matter of lamentation to godly minds. See Zeph. 3.18.
And the tranſgreſſion of deſolation] Tranſgreſſion is a land-deſolating evil, Lam. 1.9.
And the hoſt to be trodden under foot] i. e. The Profeſſors of the truth were over-turned: ſome by perſwaſion, others by perſecution.
Ver. 14. And he … unto me] Not to the Angel, but to me, who ſhould have propoſed the queſtion: the holy Angel did it for me.
Ʋnto two thouſand and three hundred dayes] Heb. to the evening and morning two thouſand and three hundred, i. e. to ſo many natural dayes conſiſting of 24. hours, which in all do make up ſix years, three moneths, and twenty dayes. This point of skil Daniel here learneth of the Wonderful Numberer Chriſt, who hath all ſecrets in numerato, and will put a timely period to his peoples afflictions. Not full ſeven years did they ſuffer here, much leſſe Seventy, as once in Babylon. How he moderateth the matter, See on Rev. 2.10. How this Prophecy was fulfilled, See 1 Maccab. 1.12, 13, 14. 2 Maccab. 4.12, &c. with 1 Maccab. 4.52.
Ver. 15. And it came to paſſe when I, even I Daniel] Not another, as that black-mouthed Porphyry ſlanderouſly affirmed, that not the Prophet Daniel ſaw,Porphyr. cont. Chriſtian. l. 12. Hieronym. and uttered theſe Prophecyes ſo long before they fell out, but another who lived after the reign of Antiochus wrot an hiſtory of things paſt, and entitled it falſely to Daniel, as a prophecy of things to come. O…durum!
Then behold there ſtood before me] They who ſeriouſly and ſedulouſly ſeek after divine knowledge, ſhall finde means to attain unto it. Rev. 13.1.
Ver. 16. And I heard a mans voice] This was the Man Chriſt Jeſus the great Doctour of his Church, and Commander of Angels, viro ſimilis, quia incarnandus.
Make this man to underſtand] Angels and Miniſters make men to underſtand ſecrets, give the knowledge of ſalvation to Gods people, Luke 1.77. not by infuſion but by inſtruction.
Ver. 17. So he came near where I ſtood] Let our obedience be like that of the Angels, prompt and preſent.
I was afraid] Through humane frailty and conſcience of ſin.
Ʋnderſtand O ſon of man] Ezekeil and Daniel only of all the Prophets, are ſo called: haply leſt they ſhould be exalted above meaſure with the abundance of the revelations.
For at the time of the end ſhall be the viſion] i. e. That this viſion of the daily ſacrifice intermitted for ſo many years, and the abomination of deſolation (the picture of Jupiter Olympius) ſet up in the Sanctuary, ſhall be toward the end of the Greek Monarchy.
Ver. 18. I was in a deep ſleep] In a Prophetical ecſtaſy, or Traunce, wherein I was laid up faſt, loſing, for the time, all manner of action and motion, that my ſoul might be more free to receive divine revelations.
But he touched me and ſet me upright] Heb. made me ſtand upon my ſtanding, who was yet all the while in a deep ſleep. The touch of the Angel kept him from reeling to and fro; and made him ſtand firmly.
Ver. 19. In the laſt end of the indignation] In the final end of the Greek-perſecution, which ſhall not paſſe the Lords appointed time.
Ver. 20. The ram which thou ſaweſt] See ver. 3.
Ver. 21. And the rough-goat] Hircus, hircus. See on ver. 5.
Ver. 22. Now that being broken] See ver. 8.
Ver. 23. And in the latter time of their kingdom] In the 137 year of the Greek-Monarchy.
When the tranſgreſſours are come to the full] Heb. are accompliſhed: when the Jewes are grown ſtark naught. This was the reaſon why God ſet over them ſuch a breathing-devil, as was Antiochus; for a puniſhment of their open impiety and formal Apoſtaſie. When Phocas the traytour had ſlain Mauricius the Emperour, there was an honeſt poor man, ſaith Cedrenus, who was earneſt with God in prayer to know why that wicked man ſo proſpered in his deſign: To whom anſwer was returned by a voice, that there could not be a worſe man found: and that the ſins of Chriſtians and of Conſtantinople did require it.
A King of fierce countenance] Heb. hard of face, that is brazen-faced, impudent, and withal,Acutus & aſtutus. acute, ſubtile, and of a deep reach. Antiochus, Julian, the Duke of Alva were ſuch.
Ver. 24. Not by his own power] but by his policy-rather, and by the perſidy of others, Dan. 11.23.
And he ſhall deſtroy wonderfully] Mirificentiſſime. In three dayes he ſlew fourſcore thouſand in Jeruſalem: forty thouſand were put in bands, and as many ſold.
And ſhall proſper and practiſe] Shall do whatſoever he liſteth: as if he were ſome petty-god within himſelf.
And ſhall deſtroy the mighty] So the Jews are called becauſe ſtout and undaunted, and whiles they kept cloſe to God, inſuperable: as when otherwiſe, weak as water. See Hoſ. 13, 1. with the Note.
And the holy people] Federally holy, at leaſt.
Verſ…tulus & varſatilis.Ver. 25. And through his policy alſo] Incumbens intelligentiae ſuae, leaning on his own wit, and that great Elixar called Reaſan of State, which can make, for a need, Candida de nigris, & de candentibus atra.
And by peace ſhall deſtroy many] Undoe them by promiſes of proſperity and preferment, which are dangerous baits, Marke 4.9. they were ſawn aſunder, they were tempted, Heb. 11.37. Julian the Apoſtate went this way to work: and prevailed to make many Apoſtates.
He ſhall alſo ſtand up againſt the Prince of Princes] God almighty; by deſtroying the daily ſacrifices, and by ſetting up idolatry in the Temple.
T…tro morbo.But he ſhall be broken without hand] i. e. By the viſible vengeance of God (See 1 Maccab. 6.8, &c. and 2 Maccab. 9.5, &c.) who laid upon him a loathſom diſeaſe, and wrapt him up in the ſheet of ſhame.
Ver. 26. And the viſion of the evening] See ver. 14. Lyra by the the morning would have underſtood the time of Antiochus; by the evening the time of Antichriſt, who was prefigured by Antiochus.
Is true] Heb, truth, and ſo plain, that I need ſay no more of it.
Wherfore ſhut thou up the viſion] Keep it to thy ſelf in ſacred ſilence: and reſerve it in writing, for poſterity: See chap. 12.49. Iſa. 8.16.
For it ſhall be for many dayes] i. e. For about 300 years hence. The Lord would have viſions concealed, till toward the accompliſhment.
Ver. 27. And I Daniel fainted and was ſick] So deeply affected was he with the viſion, and ſhould we be with the word preached: it ſhould work upon our very bowels, and go to the hearts of us, Jer. 4.19. Acts 2.37.
Afterwards I roſe up and did the Kings buſineſſe] Viz. King Belſhazzar's, with whom, though he was out of grace, yet not out of office under him, and will not therefore be indiligent. Malo mihi malè eſſe, quam molliter. Seneca.Let us not neglect the work of the Lord, though leſſe able to perform it. A ſick childs ſervice is double-accepted.
But none underſtood it] Daniel diſſembled his ſorrow for Sion before ſcorners, Eſth. 5.1. Taciturnity is no contemptible vertue.