Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Daniel · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Ver. 1. IN the first year of Darius] i. e. Of Darius Priſcus, who, together with Cyrus the Perſian, took Babylon, and with it the kingdom or Monarchy of the Chaldaeans, chap. 5.31. by the conſent of Cyrus who married his daughter, and had the Kingdom of Media with her for a dowry, after Darius his death,Cyrop. l. 8. as Xenophon teſtifieth.
The ſon of Ahaſuerus] Called Cyaxares by the Greek hiſtorians. Both theſe names ſignify a great Prince, an Emperour: like as now we ſay the Great Turk, the Great Cham of Cataia, &c.
Ver. 2. I Daniel underſtood by books] Conſideravi in libris: Daniel was a great ſtudent in the Scriptures, and well knew that there was no readier way to ſpeed in heaven, then by putting the Promiſes in ſuit. The like alſo was done by Jacob. Gen 32.9, 12. (See the Notes there) by David, 2 Sam. 7.19, 25. by Eliah, 1 Kings 18.42. and others. If we ſpeak in our Prayers no otherwiſe then the Lord doth in his Promiſes, there ſhall be a ſweet conſort of voice, begun by the Spirit in the Promiſes, ſeconded in the ſpirit of faith by the Saints prayers, and anſwered by God in his gracious Providences. Daniel here took this courſe; and had not only what he begged, but a revelation concerning the Lord Chriſt, beyond expectation.
Ver. 3. And I ſet my face unto the Lord God] i. e. Toward the habitation of his holineſſe at Jeruſalem, but eſpecially in heaven: I looked up unto the hills,foreign. from whence I looked for help. This, Daniel did dayly, chap. 6.10. but now with more then ordinary intention and devotion, he preſenteth an inwrought prayer (as St. James calleth it, chap. 5.16.) edged with faſting, and downright humiliation. He doubteth not thereby to ſet God to work, as David did, Pſal. 119.126. He knew that a long look toward God ſpeedeth, Pſal. 34.4, 5. Jon. 2.4, 7. how much more an extraordinary prayer?
Ver. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confeſſion] The Saints themſelves, when they ſin againſt God, are ſuſpended from the Covenant: hence it is their cuſtom when they ſeek the Lord for any ſpecial mercy, to begin with humble confeſſions, as doth David, Ezra, Daniel.
O Lord the great and dreadful God] It is good in the beginnings of our prayers, to propound God to our ſelves under ſuch attributes and ſpiritual notions, as wherein we may ſee the very thing we pray for. Haec eſt ars orandi & mendicandi.
Ver. 5. We have ſinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled] Mark how full in the mouth the good Prophet is, and how he exaggerateth, confeſſing againſt himſelf and his people, laying on load. Good men extenuate not their offences: every ſin ſwelleth as a toad in their eyes.
Ver. 6. Neither have we hearkened] Sins of omiſſion are in a ſpecial manner to be lamented in prayer, Jer. 9.1, 10, 13. for as omiſſion of diet breedeth diſeaſes: ſo, of duties.
Ver. 7. O Lord, righteouſneſſe belongeth unto thee] Let God be juſtified in all his Judgements: ſay of him as Deut. 32.4.
Deo da claritatem, tibi humilitatem. Aug.A God of truth, and without iniquity: juſt and right is He. But unto us confuſion of faces] Whilſt we look upon flagitia aequè ac flagella noſtra, our ſins and miſeries, we cannot but bluſh and bleed before thee.
Ver. 8. O Lord, to us belongeth confuſion of face] The ſame again is acknowledged, not without a ſpecial Emphaſis. q. d. We are extreamly abaſhed, and abaſed to the utmoſt.
Ver. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercyes and forgiveneſſes] Matchleſſe mercyes, pardons ready prepared for poor penitents, not for proud Phariſees, ſuch as Bellarmine was, if at leaſt it be true that is reported of him, that when the Prieſt came to abſolve him, he could not remember any particular ſin to confeſſe, till he went back in his thoughts as far as his youth. Vae hominum vitae quantumvis laudabili, ſaith an Ancient: Woe to the beſt, unleſſe they may find mercy with the Lord. And Fuligat telleth us, that Bellarmine, when he came to dye indeed, begged of God to reckon him among his Saints, non aeſtimator meriti, ſed veniae largitor, not weighing his merits, but pardoning his offences.
Ver. 10. Neither have we obeyed] See on ver. 6.
The voice of the Lord our God] It is the Lord who ſpeaketh in, and by his Miniſters. This, becauſe men either know not or weigh not, they run another way when God calleth to them, as young Samuel did, 1 Sam. 3.5.
Ver. 11. Yea all Iſrael] There is a general defection, the whole body of Iſrael hath deeply revolted: a rabble of rebels have taken up arms againſt heaven, even a Giantlike generation.
Therefore the curſe] Confirmed by oath, by adjuration, and execration.
Is poured upon us] As by whole paileful…: the Vulgar hath it ſtillavit ſuper not maledictio, the curſe hath dropped upon us. There may be much poyſon in little drops howſoever.
Becauſe we have ſinned againſt him] This he hath never done with, but ſtill holdeth his finger on this ſore, as his greateſt grievance.
Ver. 12. And he hath confirmed his words] What he had ſpoken with his mouth, he hath fulfilled with his hand. There is an infallibility, as in Gods Promiſes, ſo in his Menaces.
And againſt our Judges] By whoſe remiſneſſe all was out of order: hence they ſmarted afore and above others.
For under the whole heaven] This verſe is an Abridgment of Jeremy's Lamentations.
Ver. 13. All this evil is come upon us] But unleſſe God ſet in and ſanctify, his hammers (afflictions) do but beat upon cold iron, Jer. 2.30.
Yet made we not our prayer] Little or no right prayer was made by the Captives all thoſe Seventy years (and yet they had their ſet yearly faſts, Zach. 7.) becauſe they failed therein both quoad fontem & quoad finem. See the Notes of Zach. 7.5.
That we might turn from our iniquities] This they had no mind to, therefore they loſt thoſe prayers they made; they fa…ted to themſelves and not to God, Zach. 7.5. See on Joh. 3.10.
And underſtand thy truth] Thoſe that turn from their iniquities, ſhall know more of Gods truth. The pure in heart ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.3.
Ver. 14. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil] To bring it at the juſt time, and when it might do us moſt miſchief; but all in a way of Juſtice, Iſa. 31.2. as Daniel acknowledgeth in the next words.
For the Lord our God is righteous] See ver. 7.
For we obeyed not his voice] Neither that of his word, nor that of his rod, Jer. 31.19. M…c. 6.9. Iſa. 9.13, 14.
Ver. 15. And now O Lord God, that haſt brought thy people] Thankſgiving is an artificial begging: and every former mercy is a pledge of a future, 2 Chron. 20.…0.7.12.
And haſt gotten thee renown] Heb. made thee a name, and yet a greater name haſt promiſed to make thee by bringing us back from Babylon, Jer. 16.15.
We have ſinned, we have done wickedly] Such as deſire mercies, muſt firſt deny their worthineſſe of them, 2 Sam. 5.18. confeſſing their ſins with utmoſt aggravation.
Ver. 16. O Lord, according to all thy righteouſneſſe] Not that of equitie, but the other of fidelity, 1 Joh. 1.9.
Thy holy mountain] So Jeruſalem is called, becauſe dedicated to the Holy One; who alſo choſe it for the ſeat of his royal reſiance, the place of his holy Oracle.
Thy people are a reproach] And this reflecteth upon thee, as needs it muſt, ſith they do quarter armes with thee.
Ver. 17. Now therefore O our God] Sith thou haſt ſhewn us our ſins, and ſeen our reproach, whereof we are ſure thou art very ſenſible, Pſal. 79.4.
Hear the prayer of thy ſervant] Who aſſumeth the boldneſs to plead his intereſt in thee, and his relation to thee.
And his ſupplications] Which are nothing elſe but prayers redoubled and reenforced, as Gen. 32.11. Eſay 63.16.
And cauſe thy face to ſhine upon thy Sanctuary] Do it, oh do it now: for the time to favour Zion, yea the ſet time is come. And this I can tell, becauſe thy ſervants take pleaſure in her ſtones, and favour the duſt thereof, Pſal. 102.13, 14. See the Notes there. That whole Pſalm, being a prayer for the afflicted, may ſeem to have been made by this Prophet Daniel.
For the Lords ſake] i. e. For thine own ſake, or for thy Son Chriſts ſake, the Mediatour and Advocate of his people: for ſo he was in the Old Teſtament alſo, Heb. 9.15. like as ſtill he is the high-Prieſt of the New: And as whil'ſt the people were praying without, the Prieſt was offering incenſe within the Temple, Luk. 1.9, 10. So is Chriſt interceding for us whil'ſt we are praying. Whatſoever therefore ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him, Coloſ. 3.17.
Ver. 18. O my God, incline thine ear and hear, open thine eyes and behold, &c.] Thus growing to a concluſion of his prayer he prayes more earneſtly: he ſtretcheth out his petitions as it were upon the tenters with thoſe good ſouls, Act. 12.5.foreign. he ſtirreth up himſelf and taketh better hold, as reſolved not to let him go without the bleſſing. The like, before him, did good Hezekiah, with whom he concurreth in the very letter of his requeſt, Eſa. 37.17. See the Notes there.
For our own righteouſneſſes] Which are nothing better then a rotten rag, a menſtruous clout, ſuch as a man would not dain to take up or touch.
But for thy great mercies] Through the merits of the promiſed Meſſiah.
Ver. 19. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive] This was to pray, yea this was to ſtrive in prayer, Luk. 13.22. to ſtrive, as thoſe of old did, in the Grecian exerciſes; ſome whereof were with fiſts and batts: to ſtrive and ſtruggle, even to an agony, as the Greek word ſignifieth, and as the Lord Chriſt did,foreign. Luk. 22.44. who being in an agony prayed yet the more earneſtly: he ſweat and ſweltered out, as it were, his ſoul, through his body in prayer. Be we now followers herein of Chriſt as dear children, and of Daniel here who is a worthy pattern to pray by. Cold ſuitours (who want the aſpiration of the ſpirit to pronounce Shibboleth) do but beg a denial.
O Lord hearken and do, defer not] This is coelum tundere, preces fundere, Tertul.miſericordiam extorquere, as thoſe Primitive Chriſtians did; to bounce at heaven gates,Beneficium ſe putabit accepiſſe, cum rogaretur ignoſcere. Ambr. orat. de exit. Theod. to tug hard with God, to wring the bleſſing out of his hands, who looks to be importuned; and counts it for a kindneſs to be asked forgiveneſs, as Ambroſe ſaith of Theodoſius the Emperour.
Ver. 20. And whilſt I was speaking and praying] When (haply) I had now new done: and yet not ſo done, but that my heart was yet lifting and lifting; as a bell-rope is oft hoyſing up, after men have done ringing the bell.
And confeſſing my ſins] So precious a Saint was not without his ſins. Theſe therefore he confeſſeth that he might be the fitter to beg mercy for the Church; having firſt made his own peace with God, and ſo in caſe to lift up pure hands in prayer. The like doth David, Pſal. 25, and 51.
For the holy mountain of my God.] This was his main requeſt, and to God marvellous acceptable. Surely if the Lord ſaw us (Daniel like) ſtudying his ſhare more then our own, we might have what we would, and God even think himſelf beholding to us, as one phraſeth it.
Ver. 21. Yea whileſt I was ſpeaking in prayer] This he recognizeth and celebrateth, as a ſweet and ſingular mercy. God ſometimes heareth his people before they pray, Iſa. 65.24. Pſal. 21.3. (David was ſure up betimes when he prevented the Lord with his prayer, Pſal. 88.13. and 119.147.) ſomet…mes whiles they are praying (as he did thoſe, Act. 4.31. and 12.5, 17. and Luther who came leaping out of his ſtudy▪ where he had been praying, with Vicimus, Vicimus in his mouth: that is, we have gained the day, got the conqueſt) but if not ſo, yet certainly when they have now prayed, Iſa. 30.12. Jon. 2.1. Jer. 33.3. Mat. 7.7. Luther affirmeth that he oft gat more ſpiritual light by ſome one ardent prayer,Ipſe ego in una aliqua ardenti oratione meae plura ſaepe didici quam ex multorum librorum lectione aut accuratiſſima meditatione conſequ… potuiſſem. Tom. 1. According to the account of Aſtronomers it muſt be ab…ve 160. millions of miles from heaven to earth. All this ſpace the Angel came flying to Daniel in a little time. then ever he could do by the reading of many books, or by moſt accurate meditation thereupon:
Even the man Gabriel] i. e. The Angel Gabriel in mans ſhape.
Whom I had ſeen in the viſion] And whom I had good cauſe to remember the longeſt day of my life, for the good offices he had done me formerly.
Being cauſed to fly ſwiftly] Heb. with wearineſſe of flight. Not that the Angels flee, as fouls (though a certain Frier (a lyar certainly) undertook to ſhew to the people a feather of the Angel Gabriels wings) or that they are ever wearied with ſpeeding Gods commiſſions and commands, for the Churches good: Sed datur hic aſſumptae ſpeciei, but theſe things are ſpoken to our apprehenſion.
Touched me] With a familiar touch, in token of encouragement: prenſando mimirum, ut ſolent qui contact… familiari promptam benevelam que mentem indicant.
About the time of the evening oblation] When the joynt prayers of Gods people were wont to come up before him, quaſi manu facta: and Daniel hopeth they may do ſo again. Qui nihil sperat, nihil orat.
Ver. 22. And he informed me and talked with me] Rather then the Saints ſhall want information and comfort, God will ſpare one out of his own train to do them any good office, Luk. 1.19. Gal. 3.19. neither will the greateſt Angel in heaven grudge to ſerve them.
I am now come forth to give thee skill] Not by infuſion (for ſo the Holy Ghoſt only) but by inſtruction, as was before noted. It is well obſerved by one, that this following Oration of the Angel containeth an Abridgment of the New Teſtament, and a light to the Old: for confirming Daniel, is touching the enſuing deliverance out of Babylons captivity, he further advertiſeth and aſſureth him of the ſpiritual deliverance which Chriſt ſhall effect by his Goſpel at his coming: and therefore, deſcribing the times moſt accurately, he plainly ſetteth forth the ſalvation of the Church Chriſtian, and the deſtruction of the ſtubborn and rebellious Jews, who judge themſelves unworthy of eternal life.
Ver. 23. At the beginning of thy ſupplications] Thy prayer was ſcarce in thy mouth, ere it was in Gods eare. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his eares are open unto their cry, Pſal. 34.15. See the Note. He heard at the very firſt, but anſwered not till Daniel had tugg'd with him. See Jam. 5.16, 17.
For th… art greatly beloved] Kimchi readeth it, a man of meaſures, a man every inch of thee. But the word is not Hamiddoth, but Chamudoth, a man of deſires, a favourite in heaven,Rerum expetendarum cupid…. Vatab. De deratiſſim… es. Trem. becauſe deſirous of things truely deſireable. Chriſt is ſaid to be totus totus deſiderabili… lovely all over, Can. 5.16. The Saints are alſo ſo in their meaſure, as on the contrary the wicked are not deſired, Zeph. 2.1. but loathed and abhorred, Prov. 13.5.
Therefore underſtand the matter] Good men ſhall know Gods ſecrets, Gen. 18.17, 19. Pſal. 25.14.
Ver. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people] i. e. Seventy weeks of years: ten Jubilees, which make up four hundred and ninety years. Thus the very time is here particularly foretold, when the Meſſiah ſhould be revealed, and put to death. The like hereunto is not to be found in any other of the Prophets, as Hierom well obſerveth. This therefore is a noble Prophecy: and many great wits have been exerciſed about it. Cornelius a L…pide ſpeaketh of one learned Gentleman, who ran out of his wits, after many years ſtudy upon it. The Doctours are much divided about the beginning and ending of theſe ſeventy weeks.I chuſe rather thus to compute then to diſpute. From the outgoing of the word, ver. 25. ſeemeth to me to fix the beginning of theſe weeks on Cyrus his decree concerning the holy City and the Temple to be reedified. The end and period of them muſt be at the death of Chriſt; though ſome will have it at the deſtruction of Jeruſalem by the Romans. It is well obſerved by the learned, that the Jews, after their ſeventy years captivity, have ſeven ſeventies of years granted, for the enjoying of their own country (Gods mercies bear the ſame proportion to his puniſhments which ſeven (a complete number) have to an unit) beſides the mercy of mercies, the grace of the Meſſiah.
Ʋpon thy people] Of whoſe welfare thou art ſo ſollicitous and inquiſitive.
To finiſh the tranſgreſſion] Tranſgreſſionem illam, that great tran…greſſion of our firſt Parents in Paradiſe, that whereby ſin entred into the world, and death by ſin, Rom. 5.12. Now Chriſt by his death took away the power, and deſtroyed the dominion of all ſin, Rom. 6.11, 12.
And to make an end of ſins] Heb. To ſeal up ſins that they come not into Gods ſight againſt us, ever to be charged upon us. A Metaphor ſay ſome, from the Jews manner of writing in Rolles, which being wrapped up and ſealed on the backſide, all the writing was covered.
And to make reconciliation for iniquity] viz. By the expiatory and propitiatory ſacrifice of himſelf for his Elect; whereby the divine Juſtice is fully ſatisfied.
And to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſſe] Thoſe righteouſneſſes of the Saints, Rev. 19 8. both Imputed and Imparted Righteouſneſſe, called here everlaſting, as that which ſhall make the Saints accepted of God for ever, never can be loſt as Adams was.
And to ſeal up the viſion and prophecy] i. e. To fulfill all the Prophetical predictions concerning the life and death of the Lord Chriſt.
And to anoint the moſt holy] This was done when Chriſt was baptized, ſay ſome: but others better, when he aſcended into heaven, conſecrating it to the ſervice of God therein to be performed by the Elect, throughout all eternity: like as Moſes once conſecrated the moſt holy place to the ceremonial ſervice there to be performed by the High-Prieſt.
Ver. 25. Know therefore and underſtand] See on ver. 24. Here the Angel brancheth the whole ſeventy ſevens into three heads, or into three diſtinct periods of time.
Shall be ſeven weeks] Which make forty nine years: theſe the Angel purpoſely ſpeaketh of a part; becauſe they chiefly concerned the reparation of the City made under the Perſian Monarchy. Within this firſt ſeven weeks or forty nine years, the ſtreet of Jeruſalem was rebuilt, and the wall with trench, though the times proved troublous▪ and full of ſtraits.
And threeſcore and two weeks] Which make four hundred thirty four years; the events of which are mentioned, ver. 26. as thoſe of the ſeven years following, ver. 27. out of which it might eaſily be ſupplyed, and is therefore here omitted by the Angel.
Ver. 26. And after threeſcore and two weeks] See on ver. 25. within theſe threeſcore and two weeks befel the Jews many memorable things, as may be ſeen chap. 8 & 11.
Shall Meſſiah be cut off] Excindetur, not abſcindetur, cut off, that is by wicked hands crucified and ſlain, Act. 2.23. not only caſt out of the ſynagogue and excommunicated, as that malicious Rabbine read and ſenſed this text. Others of the Jew Doctours by the evidence of theſe words have been compelled to confeſſe that Meſſiah is already come: and that he was that Jeſus whom their forefathers crucified. See for this R. Samuels Epiſtle to R. Iſ…ak ſet down at large by Dionyſ. Carthuſ. in his Commentary on this text. See alſo R. Oſea his lamentation for this inexpiable guilt of the Jewiſh Nation, recorded by Galatinus, lib. 4. c. 18. Polanus reporteth, that he living ſometime in Moravia where he uſed the help of ſome Rabbines for the underſtanding of the Hebrew tongue, heard them ſay that for this ninth chapters ſake, they acknowledged not Daniel to be authentical, and therefore read it not amongſt the people, leſt hereby they ſhould be turned to Chriſt, finding out how they had been by them deceived.
But not for himſelf] i. e. Not for any fault of his, nor yet for any good to himſelf, but to mankind: whence ſome render theſe words, There being nothing therein for him: Et non ſibi vel nihil ei.others, when he ſhall have nothing, i. e. nothing more to do at Jeruſalem, but ſhall utterly relinquiſh it and call his people out of it to Pella, &c.
And the people of the Prince that ſhall come] i. e. Titus his ſouldiers, whoſe rage he himſelf could not repreſs,Joſeph. but they would needs burn down the Temple, which he would fain have preſerved, as one of the worlds wonders. Meſſiah the Prince had a hand in it doubtleſs; whence alſo thoſe Roman forces are called his armyes, Mat. 22.7.
Shall destroy the City] That ſlaughterhouſe of the Saints.
And the Sanctuary] That den of thieves.
And the end thereof ſhall be with a flood] i. e. Their extirpation ſhall be ſuddain, univerſal, irreſiſtible, as was Noah's flood. How this was fulfilled, ſee Joſephus, Hegeſippus, Euſebius, &c.
And unto the end of the war, &c.] The Romans ſhall have ſomewhat to do; but after tedious wars, they ſhall effect it.
Ver. 27. And he (Meſſiah) ſhall confirm the Covenant] See ver. 24. with many] Heb. with his Rabbines, that is, with his Elect. Confer Eſa. 53.11. Job 32.9. Jer. 41.2.
For one week] i. e. In the laſt ſeven years of the ſeventy.
And in the midſt of the week] i. e. In three years and a half, he ſhall by his paſſion, diſannul the Jewiſh ſacrifices and ſervices.
And for the overſpreading (or wing) or abominations] i. e. For the abominable outrages committed by the ſeditious Jews thoſe zelots (as they called themſelves) who filled the Temple with dead bodyes. Others, from Mat. 24.15.16. with Luk. 20.20, 21. think the Romans to be meant who ſet up their Eagles (their enſignes) in the Temple, together with the images firſt of Caligula, and then of Titus their Emperours.
Perpetuâ & conſummatiſſ. conſumptione urgentur.Even untill the conſummation] Until the end, and to the utmoſt. The Jews have oft attempted, but could never yet recover their country, nor are like to do.
Shall be poured] As if the windows of heaven were opened, as once they were at the flood: See ver. 26.