Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Daniel · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
HEre the Prophet beginneth first with the History of Jehoiakims being carryed V. 1, 2.away captive by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of his reign, of which see 2 King. 24. as the Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah relate some histories in their Prophesies also. But betwixt the time here spoken of and there, is the difference of 8 years, for whereas here 3 years are spoken of, there it is 11. Sol. This difference hath been by me already observed, 2 King. 24. and reconciled. Jehoiakim 2 King 23. 36. 2 Chron. 36.having reigned 3 yeares under Nebuchadnezzar, and then rebelling was taken by his Forces and bound to be carryed into Babylon, and of this carrying away, when also the vessels of the Lords House were carryed away, it is here spoken; as for the whole time of his reign being 8 years more, the Sacred History saith nothing, how after this hee came to reign again, but because it is said, he certainly did, and that, as may be conceived by the favour of the King upon his faith given unto him, being released from his bands and sent home again, but after this, Nebuchadnezzar being again provoked sent and destroyed him, as may be gathered, 2 King. 24. 2. For of none other being bound to be carryed into Babylon doe we read touching him, but only that third yeare, but when his reign ended the 11 year together with his life, it was by forces of Caldees and others coming against him, by whose hands he was slain and cast out of the gates of the city, as an Asse, according to Jer. 22. But hereby it appeareth that Daniels beginning to prophesie the next year after Ezekiel, as was noted in the Preface out of Polanus, was a mistaking, for so much as Ezekiel prophesied not till the fifth year of Jehoiakims captivity, which was 13 years after Jehoiakims carrying into Babylon, with whom Daniel and his fellows were carryed away also, and therefore if he ministred to the King of Babylon one year after that, and then were the beginning of his prophesying, he began 12 years before Ezekiel, But to leave this as uncertain, it may suffice, that he prophesied at the same time with Ezekiel, and so either of them had the more comfort of one anothers assistance, and if he prophesied so long, as it seemeth that he did, because till the dayes o… Cyrus, when the 70 yeares of captivity were ended, he is placed rightly next after Ezekiel, because he prophesied after him, especially in those things, wherein the greatest burthen of his Prophesie lyeth, chap. 7. 8. &c. to the end. And for his beginning to minister to the King, it was not, as the same Authour hath it, one yeare after his coming into Babylon, but 3 as appeareth, vers. 5. Now for the occasion of Daniels coming first to be known to Nebuchadnezzar it was this. The King commanded Ashpenaz, the master of his Eunuchs to take some of the children of Israel, of the Kings seed, and the V. 3.Princes, and to teach them the Caldean tongue, nourishing them up in the best manner at the Kings charge, till 3 years were expired, that then they might V. 5.stand and minister before the King. Whereby it appears, that Daniel and his three fellows were either of the bloudroyall, or descended from Princes of Judah. That which was regarded in the choice of them, was the comelinesse of th…ir persons, and their understandings. For the language, which the King would have them taught, the Caldean. For the people thus called, Polanus saith, that they were the off-spring of Arphaxad, of whom also the Hebrews Gen. 10. 2.came, for Arphaxad begat Shelach, and Shelach Heber, of whom came the Hebrews. And Abraham was born in Caldea, so that it hereby appeareth to Gen. 11. 28.have been the countrey wherein Hebers posterity dwelt, and that the Israelites and Caldeans had one common Ancestour of whom they came, Arphaxad, and so their languages were near one to the other, the Caldean coming from the Hebrew as the fountain, and having the like characters, but not so pure as the Hebrew, yet some Caldee is more pure then other, as that used by Daniel and Ezra, from chap. 4. to the 7. then that which Jonathan and Onkelus wrote in their Caldee Paraphrases. The Caldee and Syriack saith Mercer, are all one; but Tremelius, that there were some difference between; the Caldeans when Daniel wrote, were the Inhabitants of Babylon; and some Caldeans there were specially so called for their skill in Astrology and great learning, as being the Philosophers of the Assyrians, as Strabo saith, some having skill in calculating Strabo Geog. l.Nativities, and foretelling things to come by the starres, and some in Necromancy. Some, saith Jerome, hold that the Hebrew and Caldean tongues Hieron.were both one; but this is confuted from hence, because if so, they should not have needed to be taught the Caldean, and some also say, that by their being put under the hand of the Master of the Eunuchs, it is implyed that they were made Eunuchs, and so the Prophesie of Esay to Hezekiah touching those Esa. 39. 7.that should come of him, was fulfilled, that they should be carryed a way and be Eunuchs to the King of Babylon. Vers. 5. And the King appointed them V. 5.a portion of his meat dayly, and of the wine that hee dranke; which he did not for any favour, that hee bare to them, saith Polanus, more then to other Jews, who fared Polanus.full hardly, but that being delitiously brought up they might bee by the pleasures of the Court fascinated so, as to prefer a Caldean life, and be willing, forgetting their own countrey and religion, to turn to their superstition. And there hee would have them thus fed and instructed a sufficient time, viz. three yeares, that they might afterwards stand before and minister to him, as other Caldeans and Astrologers did, and be set over the affaires of the kingdome, as the most able and expert of them were. Therefore most probably when hee took order, that they should be taught the Caldean tongue, he meant not onelyonly the tongue, but the learning and skill of the Caldeans also. And to this end their names were changed from Daniel, Ananias, Azarias and Misaell, to Belshazzar, V. 6, 7.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that is, from names implying them to be the servants of God, to names derived from idols, they being thus, so far as in them lay, that made this change, dedicated to the service of the said idols and false gods of the Babylonians. For Daniel signifieth a judge of God; Ananias, the grace of God; Azarias, the help of God, and Misael, one that was of God, in every of these names there being the name of God, foreign or foreign. But now contrariwise they had names from idols. Daniel from Bel, the great god of the Babylonians, Belshazzar signifying Bels treasurer. Ananias from Ra…h signifying King; that is the Sun, which they worshipped as the King of the World. Shadrach being as much as the inspiration of the King. Misael from Shachah, a goddesse of pleasure. Meshach being as much as who is Shacahs▪ Misael from Nego, the fire which was also worshipped as a god; and therefore Abednego was as much as the servant of the fire. Thus idolaters endeavour by all means to draw the people of God from his service to the service of idols, by carefully instructing them in their wayes, providing for their dainty and delicate keeping, and giving them names accordingly, and something like unto this did the Pharisees of old compassing Sea and Land to make one Proselyte. And therefore the carelessenesse of Christian people is hereby reproved, who have no care what names they give to children, but as their carnall phantasies lead them, and as for their education in godly learning it is set at six and seven, and this redounds to the Note. great shame of this whole land, wherein no care hath been had of education of Papists children in the knowledge of the truth, although we have had them in our power above 80 years.
V. 9. But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion V. 9.of the Kings meat. Here Daniel onelyonly is named, but the other three are also to be understood, they would none of them thus defile themselves. If it be demanded, how could they be defiled with his meat? Polanus answereth first Polanus.because some of the meats used, and served unto his table were unclean, and so determined of by Gods Law. 2. Idols were praised therefore, as by whose ben…ficence he enjoyed them, for so it is said touching Belshazzars feasting and drinking with his Princes and Concubines, that when they were thus doing, Dan. 5. 4.they praised their gods of silver and gold. And besides all this, the other Jews might have been hereby scandalized, if such men as they should have taken liberty against the Law of God in this kinde, the weak being incouraged by their example to doe likewise, and others brought to an ill opinion of them, that being fascinated by the pleasures of the Kings Court had bidden adieu to all piety. Lastly, such delicious fare hath power by pampering the flesh to corrupt the minde, thus indangering men to be lead more by the flesh then the spirit, as is noted in the rich man, that fared deliciously every Luk. 16. Esa. …. 8. Eccles. 11. 2. Deut. 15.day, he was a very belly-god and cared not for God, or the charge given by him to break his bread to the hungry, to give a portion to six and to seven, to give and lend to the poor and needy; whereunto we may adde, that the kings fare was too high for poore captives, who were in the afflicted estate of a people conquered by the enemy, and therfore had need forbeare feasting to fast and feed themselves with the coursest meat and slenderest diet, herein choosing rather, as Moses, to suffer affliction with their brethren the people of God, Heb. 11.then to live in excesse and fulnesse, because at such times the Lord expects that we should thus humble our selves by abstinence, and reproveth it as a great sinne in those, that doe otherwise. According to this example, it is our duty 1. to avoid any thing, whereby our weake brethren may be scandalized, as Esa. 22, 12, 13.…om. 14. 2. To take heed, that by things edible and potable, that be pleasant Note. to the palate, we be not drawn away to sin hereby, as gluttons and drunkards, and such as dayly pamper the body are. 3. That no favour shewed us by great persons or names, whereby men are pleased to call us, implying, that we should be according to their hearts, who are wicked; prevail so far with us to make us such. 4. We learn that is is no part of felicity in respect of worldly things to have wherewithall, to eat and drink dayly of the best, if we doe no unhappinesse to be fed poorly and meanly, because the one commonly nourisheth the flesh, and makes it stronger to rebell against the spirit; for which it is said, Woe to them that are full now, the other is a means the more to subdue the flesh to the spirit. 5. That there ought to be in us a sympathizing with our brethren in distresse, not feasting when they are in adversity, because this is complained of Amos 6. 6. but shew, that we are one with them in spirit, by weeping with those that weepe, and abstaining with those that abstain.
Daniel and his sellows, as they requested, eating pulse and none of the kings V. 15.meat, and drinking none of his wine, … ten days end were fairer and fatter, then those that did, yea and increasing in understanding & learning above them all, V. 17.in so much as that the King examining them, found them to excel herein all the Caldeans of the land, being ten times better then any of them. Whereby wee V. 20.may see another benefit comming through Gods blessing upon an abstemious Note. course of life, the lesse the belly is filled the more is the minde filled with understanding and wisdome, but the more it is forced with delicious meats and drinks, the more stupid and dull it is made in respect of Divine understanding: for now it is as Jerome saith, a fat belly but a lean minde; and therefore Pinguis venter, ma…ra mens. Dan. 9. 3. Ezra 10. 16.Daniel to understand divine things fasted long and prayed, and so did Ezra that perfect scribe, who was so prompt in the Law of God. Note also, that for the very body, God can by his blessing make such as be poorly fed as thriving, and to be in as good or better plight, then those that daily eat and drink of the best and fill their body. A little with Gods blessing satisfieth the godly, better then aboundance worldlings, that every one having but necessary food 1 Tim. 6. 6.and rayment may be content, and the lesse bodily food they have, the more fill his minde with heavenly contemplations, that neither the Devill nor World may prevaile with him to steal or deceive to get for the body, but trusting in Psal. 37. 7. Ephes. 4. 28. Exod. 16. Matth. 14. Hieron.God, and working in his calling expect by him assuredly to be sed, as the children of Israel in the wilderness, & the followers of Christ in the Desert with 5 loaves and a few fishes, and the widow of Sarepta and her son with a very little meal and oil a long time. Jerome upon Daniels learning of the Caldee tongue, inserreth that it is not unlawful to study any Art, to attain the knowledg even of those that are wicked, such as the Caldeans Philosophers were, so that it be to know the secrets thereof to confute them, not to practise any such unlawfull Arts. Whereas these four are said to have excelled all the Caldeans, it is to be understood in the knowledge of that which was by them professed, and their excellency lay further in this, that they knew by revelation from God what the Caldeans by study could not attain unto, so that their answers to the Kings demands gave him more satisfaction, then any that the wisest of the Caldeans could make. And hereby they came into greatest favour, being singularly chosen before others continually to minister to the King, as his Counsellours, which favour they obtained not through any good will, that Tyrant of himselfe bare unto them, but God inclining his heart thus to doe, as he had before inclined the heart of Melzar, so that they were in great grace V. 11.with him. And thus he can doe by others, that be his faithfull servants, he can Note. make his enemies his friends, as Nebuchadnezzar to Jeremiah, and Gamaleel and Pliny the second to Christians in the time of Trajan the Emperour, who wrote for them, and obtained a cessation of their persecution, according to which he saith, that he will make peace for them with the beasts of the field, &c. For Hos. 2. 18.Daniels continuing to the first year of Cyrus, it is further verified, chap. 10. 1. yea and longer, to his third year, to the first of Cyrus is meant as long as the Caldean Monarchy stood all Evilmerodachs time, and all Belshazzars, whilest the poor Jews were held in misery, for their greater comfort. And after this hee prophefied still for their instruction in the divers mutations that should be in the world afterwards, and of their sufferings and deliverance as there is to be seen.