Verse 14. The Lord watched upon the tL-il] Inconsequence of our manifold rebellions he hath now watched for an opportunity to bring these calamities upon us.
Verse 17. And cause thy face to shine\ Give us proof that thou art reconciled to us.
Verse 19. Thy city and thy people are called by thy name.'] The holy city, the city of the greal King. I think it scarcely possible for any serious man to read these impressive and pleading words without feeling a measure of the prophet's earnestness.
Verse '3 1. The man Gabriel] Or the angel Gabriel, who had appeared to me" as a man. WiA ish is the same here as pcr.son — the person Gabriel.
Being caused to fly.stciftly] God hears with delight such earnest, humble, urgent prayers; and sends tlie speediest answer. Gabriel himself was ordered on this occasion to make more than uaual.'speed.
most important prophecy, and has given rise to a variety of opinions relative to the proper mode of explanation; hut the chief difficulty, if not the only one, is to find out the time from which these seventy icecks should be dated. What is here said by the angel is not a direct answer to Daniel's prayer. He prays to know when the seventy ivec/cs of the captivity are to end. Gabriel shows him that there are seventy weeks determined relative to a redemption from nnnther sort of captivity, which shall commence with the going forth of the edict to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, and shall terminate with the death of Messiah the Prince, and the total abolition of the Jewish.sacrifices. In the four following verses he enters into the parti culars of this most important determination, anil leaves them with Daniel for his comfort, who has left them to the Church of God for the confirmation of its faith, and a testimony to the truth of Divine revelation. Thev contain the fullest confirmation of Christianity,
25 '' Know therefore and understand, that ' from the going forth of the commandment '' to restore and to build Jerusalem unto ' the Messiah ™ the Prince shall be
and a complete refutation of the Jewish cavils and blasphemies on this subject.
Of all the writers I have consulted on this most noble prophecy, Dean Prldeaux appears to nie the most clear and satisfactory. I shall therefore follow his method in my explanation, and often borrow his words.
Seventy weeks are determined — The Jews had Sabbatic years. Lev. x.xv. 8, by which their years were divided into weeks of years, as in this important prophecy, each week containing seven years. The seventy weeis therefore here spoken of amount to four hundred and ninety years.
In ver. 24 there are six events mentioned which should be the consequences of the incarnation of our Lord: —
I. To finish (nSdS lechalle, to restrain) the transgression; which was effected by the preaching of the Gospel, and pouring out of the Holy Ghost among n. To make an end of sins; rather niNOn DfinSl ulehathem chataoth, " to make an end oi sin-offerings;" which our Lord did when he offered his spotless soul and body on the cross once for all.
in. To make reconciliation (ijJDbl ulechapper, " to make atonement or expiation") for iniquity; which he did by the once offering up of himself.
IV. To bring in everlasting righteousness,U'01'J pTi' tsedek olamim, that is, " the righteousness, or righteous One, of ages;" that person who had been the object of the faith of mankind, and the subject of the predictions of the prophets through all the ages of
V. To seal up (DnnSl velachtom, " to finish or complete") the vision and prophecy; that is, to put an end to the necessity of any farther revelations, by completing the canon of Scripture, and fulfilling the prophecies which related to his person, sacrifice, and the glory that should follow.
VI. And to anoint the Most Holy, D'tyip lyip kodesh kodashim, " the Holy of holies." ntJ'O mashach, to anoint, (from which comes n'il'O mashiach, the. Messiah, the anointed one,) signifies in general, to consecrate or appoint to some special office. Here it means the consecration or appointment of our blessed Lord, the Holy One of Israel, to be the Prophet, Priest, and King of mankind.
Veise 25. From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem] The foregoing events being all accomplished by Jesus Christ, they of course determine the prophecy to him. And if we reckon back_/bur hundred and ninety years, we shall find the time of the going forth of this command.
Most learned men agree that the death of Christ lappened at the passover in the month Nisan, in the
seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street " shall be built again, and the " wall, p even i in troublous
four thousand seven hundred and forty-sixth year of the Julian period. Fotir hundred and ninety years, reckoned back from the above year, leads us directly to the month Nisan in the four thousand two hundred and fifty-sixth year of the same period; the very month and year in which Ezra had his commission from Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, (see Ezra vii. 9,) to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. See the commission in Ezra, chap. vii. 1 1-26, and Prideaux's Connexions, vol. ii. p. 380.
The above seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, are divided, in ver. 35, into three distinct periods, to each of which particular events are assigned. The three periods are,-^
To the first period of seven weeks the restoration and repairing of Jerusalem are referred; and so long were Ezra and Nehemiah employed in restoring the sacre<l constitutions and civil establishments of the Jews, for this work lasted _/br(y-nme years after the commission was given by Artaxerxes.
From the above seven weeks the second period of sixty-two weeks, or four hundred and thirty-four years more, commences, at the end of which the pro» phecy says, Messiah the Prince should co?ne, that is, seven weeks, or forty-nine years, should be allowed for the restoration of the Jewish state; from which time till the public entrance of the Messiah on the work of the ministry should be sixty-two weeks, or four hundred and thirty-four years, in all four hundred and eighty-three years.
From the coming of our Lord, the third period is to be dated, viz., " He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week," that is, seven years, ver. 27.
This confirmation of the covenant must take in the ministry of John the Baptist with that of our Lord, comprehending the term of seven years, during the whole of which he might be well said to confirm or ratify the new covenant with mankind. Our Lord says, " The law was until John;" but from his first public preaching the kingdom of God, or Gospel dispensation, commenced.
These seven years, added to the four hundred and eighty-three, complete the four hundred and ninety years, or seventy prophetic weeks; so that the whole of this prophecy, from the times and corresponding events, has been fulfilled to the very letter.
Some imagine that the half of the last seven years is to be referred to the total destruction of, the Jews by Ttlus, when the daily sacrifice for ever ceased to be offered; and that the intermediate space of thirlv oi. cir. LX. 3. two wceks ' shall Messiah be cut
shall come "^ sliall destroy the city ^ and the sanctuary; '' and the end thereof shall be
• with a flood, and unto the end of the war
* desolations are determined.
and [(Ac Jews\ they fhail be no more his people; chap. si. 17, or, seven years, from our Lord's death till the destruction of the city, is passed over as being of no account in relation to the prophecy, and that it was on this account that the last seven years are divided. But Dean Prideaux thinks that the whole refers to our Lord's preaching connected with that of the Baptist. 'Xm vachatsi, says he, signifies in the half part of the week; that is, in the latter three years and a half in which he exercised himself in the public ministry, he caused, by the sacrifice of himself, all other sacrifices and oblations to cease, which were instituted to signify his.
In the latter parts of ver. 36 and 27 we find the THIRD p.\RT of this great prophecy, which refers to what should be done after the completion of these seventy weeks.
Verse 26..htd the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary^ By the " prince" Titus, the son of Vespasian, is plainly intended; and " the people of that prince" are no other than the Romans, who, according to the prophecy, destroyed the sanctuary, tyipn haktcodesh, the holy place or temple, and, as 3. flood, swept away all, tiU the total destruction of that obstinate people finished the war.
Verse 27. And for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate] This clause is remarkably obscure, □oiyo D'Slpty ^jJ kenaph shikkutsim meshomem, " And upon the wing of abominations causing amazement." This is a literal translation of the place; but still there is no determinate sense. A Hehrew MS., written in the thirteenth century, has preserved a very remarkable reading here, which frees the place from all embarrassment. Instead of the above reading, this valuable MS. has yip'B; rVTC SjTini ubeheychal ythyey shikkuts; that is, " And in the temple (of the Lord) there shall be abomination." This makes the passage plain, and is strictly conformable to the facts themselves, for the temple was profaned; and it agrees with the prediction of our Lord, who said that the abomination that makcth desolate should stand in the holy 'place, Matt. xxiv. 15, and quotes the words as spoken Sm Aavij;X Ton (ppotpriTou, by Daniel the prophet. That the above reading gives the true sense, there can be little doubt, because it is countenanced by the most eminent ancient versions.
The Vulgate reads, Et erit in templo abominatio, "And in the temple there shall be abomination."
" covenant with '' many for one 01. cir. LX. 3. week: and in the midst of the r. Roman.,' week he shall cause the sacrifice "'"■ '""""' " and the oblation to cease, ' and for the overspreading of '^ abominations he siiall make it desolate, ^ even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured '^ upon tlie desolate
"Or, it shall be ait off by desolations. i>Or, a. «Isa. xlii.
battlements shall be the idols of the desolalor. f Matt. xxiv. 15;
The Septuagint, Kai stri to ispov ^Ss'kxjyfi.oi. tuv Epij/Aui'sojv, " And upon the temple there shall be the abomination of desolation."
The above reading is celebrated by /. D. Michaelis, Epist. De Ebdom. Dan., p. 120: Vix insignius exemplum reperiri posse autumem, ostensuro in codicibus Hebrffiis latere lectiones dignissimas quae eruantur, &c. " A more illustrious example can, I think, hardly be found, to show that various readings lie hid in Hebrew M.SS., which are most worthy of being exhibited." Vid. Bib. Heb. Kennicott, Dis. Gen.
I have only to add that this mode of reckoning years and periods by weeks is not solely Jewish. Macrobius, in his book on Scipio's dream, has these remarkable words: Sed a sexta usque ad septimam septimanam fit quidem diminutio, sed occulta, et quae detrimentum suum aperta defectione non prodat: ideo nonnullarum rerumpublicarum hie mos est, ut post sextain ad militiam nemo eogatur; Somn. Scip., lib. i. c. vi.. in fine. " From the sixth to the seventh xceek, there is a diminution of strength; but it is hidden, and does not manifest itself by any outward defect. Hence it was the custom in some republics not to oblige a man to go to the wars after the sixth vieek, i. e., after forty-two years of age."
Having now gone through the whole of this important prophecy, and given that interpretation which the original seemed best to warrant, I shall next proceed to notice the principal various readings found in the Collections of Kennicott and De Rossi, with those from my own MSS., which the reader may collate with the words of the common printed text.
Verse 84. Seventy weeks are determined] This is a
Verse 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and the city of thy sanctuary:
From the edict which shall be promulgated, to return and rebuild Jerusalem, there.shall be seven weeks.
Verse 26. And after sixty-two weeks the Messiah shall be slain, and have no justice.
Afterwards he shall waste the city and the sanctuary, by the prince that is to come.
And his end shall be in straits; and to the end of the war desolation is appointed.
Instead of " the street shall be built again, and the wall," ver. 25, he translates ]'nni 2\m (with the prefix 3 bclh instead of 1 van, in the latter word,) " it shall be fully (the city and all its walls) rebuilt with anxiety."
Instead of lb J'X1 " but not for himself," he translates, " Nor shall justice be done him;" supposing that I'T "justice" was originally in the verse.
Instead of " the people of the prince," ver. 26, he translates " by the prince," using DJ-' im as a preposition, instead of Dj' am, " the people."
Instead of " and for the overspreading," he translates f]:D Si'l " in the temple;" following the Septnagint, xai 5*1 TO lEpov. This rendering is at least as good as ours: but see the marginal readings here, and the preceding notes.
Houbigant contends also that the arrangement of the several members in these passages is confused. He proposes one alteration, which is important, viz., From the proiTiulgation of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem shall be seven weeks; and unto Messiah the prince, sixty-two weeks. All these alterations he vindicates in his notes at the end of this chapter. In the text I have inserted Houbigant's dots, or marks of distinction between the different members of the verses
Verse 24. DV30, □'VUK' weehs written full, so as to prevent mistakes, in thirteen of Kennicott''s,four of De Rossi^s, and one ancient of my own.
ah^h " to restrain." rhj^ " to consume," is the reading of twenty-nine of Kennicotfs, thirteen of De Rossi's, and one ancient of my own.
□nn'71 "and to seal up." Forty-three oi Kennicott's, twelve of De Rossi's, and one of my own, have □nnbl " to make an end." One reads DinilSl, more full.
niNOn " sins." nuan " sin," in the singular, is the reading of twenty-six of De Rossi's; and so, in the second instance where this word occurs, two of my MSS.
D'r^Sl' " everlasting." Tivo of my oldest MSS. read DT37iy, and so in the next instance.
Verse 25. NSIO p " from the publication." One MS. of De Rossi's omits the p " from," and instead of either, one of my oldest MSS. has Xi'io'? " to the publication."
n'IS'O " Messiah." Nine MSS. read the word with the point sheva, which makes it read, in regimine, " the anointed of the prince." But this is evidently the effect of carelessness, or rather design.
n;'3ty Wy'liS " seven weeks." One of Kennicott's has nJiy WyTiit " seventy years."
D'\>/!i/ " sixty." A few add the conjunction 1;■«!(, " and sixty;" and another has TMi/iS " six;" and another DV^C " seventy." Wherever this word signifies iveeks, two of my oldest M.SS. \vrite it full, D'>'1D"iy. In one of my MS.S. W'li/'^ D'i'l^tJTl are omitted in the text, but added by a later hand in the margin.
vnni " and the ditch." One MS. has T;'n " the city." And for 3m " street," one of mine has 2im of the same meaning, but more full.
pVj'Dl " and in straits," or anxiety. One MS. without and, as the Vulgate and Septuagint.
Verse 26. syTpm " and the holy place or sanctuary." But tico of my most ancient MSS., atii four of Kennicott's, leave out the 1 vau, and read i^1pr\ "I'i'ri' " and the holy cit}'," or " city of holiness," instead of " the city and sanctuary." In one MS. 1 is omitted in T;"ni.
1Vpl " and its end." One MS. omits the conjunction 1 and; one omits the following ]'p " the end;" reading thus: " and unto the war." But a more singular reading is that of one of niv own MSS
A Dtvine messenger
nnty' " shall be destroyed." Dy " the people." Di' im, " with," is the reading of one rnd;" and one has 4j'1 " and upon." yp " the end." One has r\y " the time;" and another
MSS. numbered three hundred and thirteen in Kennicott's, has ylp'iy n"n' '7DTI31 " and in the temple is countenanced by our Lord, Matt. xxiv. 15. After be genuine, but is less liable to suspicion, as the MS. appears to be the work of some Christian; it is wTitten from the left to the right hand, and is accompanied by the Vulgate Latin,) if this be an attempt to accommodate the Hebrew to the Vulgate, it should be stated that they who have examined this MS. closely, have asserted that there b no evidence that the writer has endeavoured to conform the Hebrew to the Latin te.xt, unless this be accounted such. The ancient versions give this reading great credit. D Slpty " abominations." One of mine has less fully
□ ■irpi?. DDtyn " desolation." One of mine has more fully D'JlB'"^. IJ'I " and unto," is wanting in one of mine; ^i'l " and upon" is the reading in one other. D'31iy 4;' " until the desolation." DrDlt? " the desolation." One of mine has 0:3;? without the 1 van. 'l]? is wanting; but is added in the margin, by a later hand, in another of these ancient JISS. I have thus set down almost all the variations mentioned by Kennicott and De Rossi, and those furnished by three ancient MSS. of my own, that the learned reader may avail himself of every help to examine thoroughly this important prophecy. Upwards of thirty various readings in the compass of four verses, and several of them of great moment.
This and the two following chapters give an account of Daniel's last vision, wherein the succession of the Persian and Grecian monarchies is described, together with the wars that should take place between Syria and Egypt under the latter monarchy. The last part of the vision {from chap. xi. 36) seems to relate chiefly to the persecutions of the Church in the times of Antichrist, till it be purified from all its pollutions; after which unll follow that glorious kingdom of the ■■saints spoken of in the seventh and eighth chapters. This chapter begins with an account of Daniel's fasting and humiliation, 1-3. Then ice have a description of the Divine person who appeared to the prophet, not unlike him who appeared to the apostle in the isle of Patmos, 4-21. See Rev. i. 10-16.
TN the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, ^ whose name was called Belteshazzar; *> and the thing nms true, " but the time appointed it^as 'J lohg; and " he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three ^ full weeks.
Verse 1. In the third year of Cyrus'] ^Vhich answers to the first year of Darius the Mede.
The time appointed was long] Snj N2V1 vetsaba gadol, but the warfare long; there will be many contentions and wars before these things can be accomplished.
Verse 2. / — was mourning three full weeks.] The weeks are most probably dated from the time of the
3 I ate no? pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, '^ neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is ' Hiddekel;
5 Then ''I lifted up mine eyes, and looked,
Verse 3. T ate no pleasant bread] This fast was rather a general abstinence; living all the while on coarse and unsavoury food; drinking nothing but water; not using the bath, and most probably wearing haircloth ne.xt the skin, during the whole of the time.
6 His body also was p like the berjd, and his face i as the appearance of lightning, ' and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arras ' and his feet like in colour to polished brass, ' and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I Daniel " alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, '' and there remained no strength in me: for my " comeliness ^ was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: ^ and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 ^ And, behold, a hand touched me, which * set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
the Tigris, the great river of A.ssyria; as the Euphrates of Syria, and the Nile of Egypt.
Verse 5. Clothed in linen] The description is intended to point out the splendour of the garments.
Verse 6. His body also was like the beryl] The description of this person is very similar to that of our Lord in Rev. i. 13-15.
Verse 7. The men that were with me saw not the vision] An exactly parallel case with what occurred at the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Acts ix. 7. There was a Divine influence which they all felt, but only Daniel saw the corporeal appearance.
Verse 10. A hand touched me] Nothing was appa- 'ent or palpable but a hand. A hand had written Belshazzar's fate upon the wall; and the hand is frequently mentioned when the poxoer or majesty of God is intended. Perhaps by hand God himself may be meant. It is remarkable that in a very ancient MS. of the Septuagint, more than a thousand years old, now in the imperial library of Vienna, adorned with paintings which have been engraved for the catalogue of Lambechius, and transferred to that of Nesselius, all the appearances of God are represented by a hand m the clouds.
Ver.se 12. I am come for thy words] On account of thy prayers I am sent to comfort and instruct thee.
Daniel, " a "= man greatly beloved, oi. LXI. 3. understand the words that I speak ""superbl!'"" unto thee, and <> stand upright: for «■ Roman., i. unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
1 2 Then said he unto me, " Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, ^ thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 ^But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, '' Michael, ' one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people '' in the latter days: ' for yet the vision is for many days.
15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, "" I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16 And, behold, ^ one like the similitude of the sons of men ° touched my lips: then 1
Verse 13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia loithstood me] I think it would go far to make a legend or a precarious tale of this important place to endeavour to maintain that either a good or einl angel is intended here. Cyrus alone was the prince of Persia, and God had destined him to be the deliverer of his people; but there were some matters, of which we are not informed, that caused him to hesitate for some time. Fearing, probably, the greatness of the work, and not being fully satisfied of his ability to execute it, he therefore for a time resisted the secret inspirations which God had sent him. The opposition might be in reference to the building of the temple.
But lo, Michael] Gabriel, who speaks, did not leave Cyrus till INlichael came to take his place. Michael, he who is like God, sometimes appears to signify the Messiah, at other times the highest or chief archangel. Indeed there is no archangel mentioned in the whole Scripture but this one. See Jude 9; Rev. xii. 7.
Verse 14. For yet the vision is for many days.] There are many things which remain yet to be revealed, and the time of their accomplishment is very distant.
Verse 15. I set my face toward the ground] He was standing upright, ver. 11, and he now bent his body in reverence, and looked down upon the ground.
A'erse 1 6. Like the similitude of the sons of men]
p my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strenglli.
17 For how can ithe servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway tlicre remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
I think Gabriel is here meant, who appeared to Daniel in a human form; and so in ver. 18, and see also chap. ix. 21.
By the vision] The vision that 1 have already had, and of which I have not a proper knowledge, has greatly afflicted rae, because 1 see it intimates grievous calamities to my people. See chap. is. 26.
Verse 17. Neither is there breath] He could not breathe freely; he was almost suffocated with sorrow.
Verse 19. O man, greatly beloved] nnon tJ?'K ish chamudoth, man of delights; the most amiable of men.
Let my lord speak] I am now so strengthened and encouraged, that 1 shall be able to bear any revelation that thou mayest make.
Verse 20. Knowesl thou wherefore I come] So high art thou in the favour of God, that he hath sent me unto thee to give thee farther satisfaction; though I was elsewhere employed upon a most important mission, and I must speedily return to accomplish it, viz.: —
To fight with the hing of Persia] To remove aU the scruples of Cyrus, and to excite him to do all that God designs him to do for the restoration of my people, arid the rebuilding of the city and temple of Jeru- Bale.n, Nothing less than a supernatural agency in
when he had spoken unto me, 1 Superbi, was strengthened, and said. Let ^- ^°""'" ■ ' my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight ' with the king of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that " holdeth with me in these things, " but Michael your prince.
the mind of Cyrus can account for his decree in favour of the Jews. He had no natural, no political inclination to it; and his reluctance to obey the heavenly motions is here represented as s. fight between, him and the angel.
The prince of Grecia shall come.] I believe this refers to Alexander the Great, who was to destroy the Persian empire. See the second and third verses of the following chapter.
Verse % I. Noted in the scripture of truth] Perhaps this refers to what he had already written down. See the preceding visions, which Daniel did not fully understand, though a general impression from them had filled his heart with sorrow.
Michael your prince.] The archangel mentioned before, ver. 13, and who has been always supposed to be appointed by God as the guardian of the Jewish nation. It appears that God chose to make use of the ministry of angels in this work; that angels, as they could be only in one place at one time, could not pro duce influence where they ivere not; and that, to carry on the operation on the mind of the Persian king, it was necessary that either Gabriel or Michael should be present with him, and when one went on another commission another took his place; see ver. 13. But we know so little of the invisible world that we cannot safely a£!rm any thing positively.
This chapter gives a more particular explanation of those events which were predicted in the eighth chaptci The prophet had foretold the partition of Alexander's kingdom into four parts. Two of these, in which were included Egypt and Syria, the one to the north, the other to the south, in respect of Judea, appear to take up the chief attention of the prophet, as his people were particularly concerned in their fate; these being the countries in which by far the greatest number of the Jews were, and still are, dispersed. Of these countries he treats (according to the views of the most erdightened expositors) dozen to the conquest of Macedon, A. M. 3836, jB. C. 168, when he begins to speak of the Romans, 1-30; and then of the Church under that power, 31-35. This leads him to speak of Antichrist, who was to spring up in that quarter, 36-39; and of those powers which at the time of the end, or the latter days of the Roman monarchy, (as this term is generally understood,) were to push at it, and overthroxo many countries, 40-43. By the king of the south in the fortieth verse, the dominion of the Saracens, or Arabs, is supposed to he intended, ichich teas an exceeding great plague to the Roman empire in the east, and also to several papistical countries, for the space of one hundred and fifty years, i. e.from A. D. 612, when Mohammed and his Vol. rV. ( 39) 609 followers first began their depredations, to A. D. 762, when Bagdad was built, and made the capital of the caliphs of the house of Abbas; from which epoch the Saracens became a more settled people. By the king of th'' NORTH in the same verse the prophet is supposed by some to design that great scourge of eastern Christendom, the Ottoman or Othman empire, by which, after about a hundred and fifty years of almost uninterrupted hostilities, the Roman empire in the east was completely overturned, A. D. 1453. The chapter concludes with a prediction of the final overthrotc of this northern power, and of the manner in which this great event shall be accomplished, 44, 45. But it should be observed that, notwithstanding the ■very learned observations of Bishop Newton and others upon this chapter, their scheme of interpreta.ion presents very great and insurmountable difficulties; among which the very lengthy detail of events m the Syrian and Egyptian histories, comprising a period of less than two hundred years, and the rather uncouth transition to the incomparably greater transactions in Antichristian times, and of much longer duration, which are passed over with unaccountable brevity, are not the least. On all these subjects, however, the reader must judge for himself. See the notes.
2 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
Verse 1. In the first year of Darius the Mede] This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. Bp. Newton, who is ever judicious and instructing, remarks: It is tlie usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and thus revelation " is a shining light, that.shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The four great empires shown to Nebuchadnezzar, under the.symbol of a great image, were again more particularly represented to Daniel under the forms of four great wild beasts. In like manner, the memorable events that were revealed to Daniel in the vision of the ram and he-goat, are here more clearly revealed in this last vision by an angel; so that this latter prophecy may not improperly be said to be a comment on the former. It comprehends many signal events. The types, figures, and symbols of the things are not exhibited in this, as in most other visions, and then expounded by the angel; but the angel relates the whole: and, not by way of vision, but by narration, informs Daniel of that which is noted in the Scripture of truth, chap. x. 2 1.
Averse 2. There shall stand up yet three kings'] (xabriel had already spoken of Cyrus, who was now reigning; and after him three others should arise. These were, 1. CamSy«e.s, the son of C3rrus. 2. Smerdis, the Magian, who was an impo.stor, who pretended to be another son of Cyrus. And, 3. Darius, the son 'if Hystaspes, who married Mundane, the daughter of Cyrus.
Cambyses reigned seven years and five months; Smerdis reigned only seven months; and Darius Hystaspes reigned thirty-six years.
The fourth shall be far richer than they all] This was Xerxes, the son of Darius, of whom Justin says: " He had so great an abundance of riches in his king-
3 And <^ a mighty king shall %^(;l"°- stand up, that shall rule with great oiymp. LXI. 3.
4 And when he shall stand up, ^ his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, ^ nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
dom, that although rivers were dried up by his numerous armies, yet his wealth remained unexhausted."'
He shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.] His military strength was such, that Herodotus, who lived in that time, informs us that his army amounted to five millions, tivo hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty men. Besides these, the Carthaginians furnished him with an army of three hundred thousand men, and a fleet of two hundred ships. He led an army against the Greeks of eight hundred thousand men, and twelve hundred and seven ships, with three banks of rowers each. As he marched along, he obliged all the people of the countries through which he passed to join him.
Verse 3. A mighty king shall stand up] This was Alexander the Great. It is not said that this mighty king shall stand up against Xerxes, for he was not born till one hundred years after that monarch; but simply that he should stand up, i. e., that he should reign in Greece.
Verse 4. His kingdom shall be broken] Shall, after his death, be divided among his four chief generals, as we have seen before. See chap. viii. 22.
And not to his posterity] The family of Alexander had a most tragical end; 1. His wife Statira was murdered soon after his death by his other wife Roxana. 2. His brother Aridmis, who succeeded him, was killed, together with his wife Euridice, by command of Olympias, Alexander's mother, after he had been king about six years and some months. 3. Olympias herself was killed by the soldiers in revenge. 4. Alexander JEgus, his son, together with his mother Roxana, was slain by order of Cassander. 5. Two year.s after, his other son Hercules, with his mother Barsine, was privately murdered by Polysperchon; so ( 39* ^
6 And in the end of years they e shall join themselves together: for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make •■ an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and ' he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one
that in fifteen years after his death not one of his family or posterity remained alive!
" Blood calls for blood." He (.Uexander) was the great butcher of men. He was either poisoned, or kiUed himself by immoderate drinking, when he was only tliirty-tioo years and eight months old: and a retributive Providence destroyed all his posterity, so that neither root nor branch of them was left on the face of the earth. Thus ended Alexander, the great butcher; and thus ended his family and posterity.
Verse 5. The king of the south'] This was Ptolemy Lagus, one of his generals, who had the government of Egypt, Libya, &c., which are on the south of Judea. He was strong, for he had added Cyprus, Phoenicia, Caria, &c., to his kingdom of Egypt.
And one of his princes — shall be strong above him] This was Seteucus Nicator, who possessed Syria, Babylon, Media, and the neighbouring countries. This was the king of the north, for his dominions lay north of Judea.
The king''s daughter of the south] Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, was married to Antiochus Theos, king of Syria. These two sovereigns had a bloody war for some years; and they agreed to terminate it by the above marriage, on condition that Antiochus would put away his wife Laodice and her children, which he did; and Berenice having brought an immense fortune to her husband, all things appeared to go on well for a time.
But she shall not retain the power of the arm] J'T; laro, her posterity, shall not reign in tliat kingdom.
But she shall be given up] Antiochus recalled his former wife Laodice and' her children; and she, fearing that he might recall Berenice, caused him to be poisoned and her to bo murdered, and sot her son Callinicus upon the throne.
And they that brought her] Her Egyptian women, striving to defend their mistress, were many of them kUled.
shall come with an army, and Oiymp. LXI. 3. shall enter into the fortress of Superbi, ' the king of the north, and shall R- Roman., i. deal against them, and shall prevail:
8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with ' their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
10 But his sons '"shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces:
whom she brought forth;" the son being murdered, as well as the mother, by order of Laodice.
And he that strengthened her] Probably her father Ptolemy, who was excessively fond of her, and who had died a few years before.
Verse 7. But out of a branch of her roots] A branch frrfm the same root from which she sprang. This was Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother, who, to avenge his sister's death, marched with a great army against Sclcucus Callinicus, took some of his best places, indeed all Asia, from Mount Taurus to India, and returned to Egypt with an immense booty, forty thousand talents of silver, precious vessels, and images of their gods two thousand Jive hundred, without Callinicus daring to offer him battle. I can but touch on these historic facts, for fear of extending these notes to an immoderate length.
Verse 8. He shall continue more years] Seleucus Callinicus died (an exile) by a fall from his horse; and Ptolemy Euergetes survived him four or five years. — Bp. Neivton.
And shall return] Having heard th.it a sedition had taken place in Egypt, Ptolemy Euergetes was obliged to return speedily in order to repress it; else he had wholly destroyed the kingdom of Callinicus.
Verse 10. But his sons shall be stirred up] That is, the sons of Callinicus, who w'ere Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus, afterwards called the Great.
Shall assemble a multitude] Sclcucus Ceraunus did assemble a multitude of forces in order to recover his father's dominions; but, not having money to pay them, they became mutinous, and he was poisoned by two of his own generals. His brother Antiochus was then proclaimed king; so that one only of the sons did certainly come, and m-erjlow, and pass through; he retook Seleucia, and regained Syria. He then returned, and overcame Nicolaus the Egyptian general; and seemed disposed to invade Eg^'pt,
1 1 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down mayiy ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set fortii a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come ' after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
Verse 1 1. The king of the south'] Ptolemy Philopater, who succeeded his father Euergetes.
Shall come forth and fight with hini\ He did come forth to Raphia, where he was met by Antiochus, when a terrible battle was fought between these two kings.
And he (Antiochus, the king of the north) shall set forth a great multitude] Amounting to sixty-two thousand foot, six thousand horse, and one hundred and two elephants; but yet the multitude was given into his hand, the hand of the king of the south; for Ptolemy gained a complete victory. Raphia, and other neighbouring towns, declared for the victor; and Antiochus was obhged to retreat with his scattered army to Antioch, from which he sent to solicit a peace. See 3 Mace. i. 1-6, and Polybius, lib. v.
Verse 12. His heart shall be lifted up] Had Ptolemy improved his victory, he might have dispossessed Antiochus of his whole empire; but giving way to pride, and a criminally sensual bfe, he made peace on dishonourable terms; and though he had gained a great victory, yet his kingdom nms not strengthened ly it, for his subjects were displeased, and rebelled against him, or at least became considerably disaffected.
Verse 13. The king of the north shall return — after certain years] In about fourteen years Antiochus did return, Philopater being dead, and his son Ptolemy Epiphanes being then a minor. He brought a much larger army and more riches; these he had collected in a late eastern expedition.
Verse 14. Many stand up against the king of the south] Antiochus, and Philip king of Macedon, united together to overrun Egypt.
Also the robbers of thy people] The Jetos, who revolted from theii religion, and joined Ptolemy, under Scopas, — king of the south: also ' the rob- ""superbl"""' bers of thy people shall exalt them- R- Roman., i. selves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take ^ the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither * his chosen people, neither shall there he any strength to withstand.
16 But he that cometh against him " shall do according to his own will, and ''none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the '" glorious ^ land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
17 He shall also ^set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and ^ up-
Shall exalt themselves to establish the vision] That is, to build a temple like that of Jerusalem, in Egypt, hoping thereby to fulfil a prediction of Isaiah, chap. XXX. 18-25, which seemed to intimate that the Jews and the Egyptians should be one people. They now revolted from Ptolemy, and joined Antiochus; and this was the means of contributing greatly to the accomplishment of prophecies that foretold the calamities that should fall upon the Jews.
But they shall fall.] For Scopas came with a great army from Ptolemy; and, while Antiochus was engaged in other parts, reduced Ccelesyria and Palestine, subdued the Jews, placed guards on the coasts of Jerusalem, and returned with great spoils to Egypt.
Verse 15. So the king of the north] Antiochus came to recover Judea. Scopas was sent by Ptolemy to oppose him; but he was defeated near the fountains of Jordan, and was obliged to take refuge in Sidon with ten thousand men. Antiochus pursued and besieged him; and he was obliged by famine to surrender at discretion, and their lives only were spared. Antiochus afterwards besieged several of the fenced cities, and took them; in short, carried all before him; so that the king of the south, Ptolemy, and his chosen people, his ablest generals, were not able to oppose him.
Verse 16. He shall stand in the glorious land] Judea. For he reduced Palestine; and the Jews supplied him with provisions, and assisted him to reduce the garrison that Scopas had left in the citadel
Which iy his hand shall be consumed] Or, which shall be perfected in his hand. For Antiochus showed the Jews great favour: he brought back those that were dispersed, and re-established them in the land; freed the priests and Levites from all tribute, &c.
Verse 17. He shall also set his face to enter] Antiochus purposed to have marched his army into Egypt; but he thought it best to proceed by fraudulenee; and
Supcrbi, the datigliter oi women, ° cor- "■ '^°°'^"- '■ rupling her: but she shall not stand on his side, '' neither be for him.
18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince "^ for his own behalf shall cause '^ the reproach offered by him to cease; without his ovni reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
19 Then he shall turn his face toward the
therefore proposed a treaty of marriage between him and his daughter Cleopatra, called here the daughter of women, because of her great beauty and accomplishments. And this he appeared to do, having " upright ones with him." Or, as the Septuagint have it, xai Su^sia 'Ko.vto. (ASt' auTou itoi-ritSu, " and he will make all things straight with him;" that is, he acted as if he were influenced by nothing but the most upright views. But he intended his daughter to be a snare to Ptolemy, and therefore purposed to corrupt her that she might betray her husband.
But she shall not stand on his side] On the contrary, her husband's interests became more dear to her than her father's; and by her means Ptolemy was put upon his guard against the intentions of Antiochus.
Verse 18. Shall he turn his face unto the isles'] Antiochus had fitted out a great fleet of one hundred large ships and two hundred smaller, and with this fleet subdued most of the maritime places on the coast of the Mediterranean, and took many of the isles, Rhodes, Samos, Eubcea, Colophon, and others.
But a prince for his mon behalf] Or, a captain. The consul Acilius Glabrio caused the reproach to cease; beat and routed his army at the straits of Thermopylae, and expelled him from Greece. So he obliged him to pay the tribute which he hoped to impose on others; for he would grant him peace only on condition of paying the expense of the war, fifteen thousand talents; five hundred on the spot, — two thousand five hundred when the peace should be ratified by the senate, — and the remaining twelve thousand in tioelvc years, each year one thousand. See Polybius in his Legations, and Appian in the Wars of Syria. And thus, —
Without his own reproach] Without losing a battle, or taking a false step, Acilius caused the reproach which he was bringing upon the Romans to turn xipon himself.
Verse 19. He shall turn his face toward the fort of his man land] After this shameful defeat, Antiochus fled to.Sardis, thence to Apamea, and the next day got into Syria, and to Antioch, his own fort, whence he sent ambassadors to treat for peace; and was obliged to engage to pay the immense sum of money eaentioaed above.
20 Then shall stand up f in his ^ '^°°'"" ■ ^ estate ^ a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in '^ anger, nor in battle.
21 And ' in his estate ''shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Bui he shall stumble and fall] Being under the greatest difiiculties how to raise the stipulated sums, he marched into his eastern provinces to exact the arrears of taxes; and, attempting to plunder the temple of Jupiter Belus at Elymais, he was opposed by the populace, and he and his attendants slain. This is the account that Diodorvs Siculus, Strabo, and Justin give of his death. But it is variously related by others; some saying that he was assassinated by some of his own people whom he had punished for being drunk at a feast. — So Aurelius Victor. St. Jerome says he lost his life in a battle against the inhabitants of Elymais. In short, the manner of his death is uncertain; and perhaps even this circumstance is referred to by the prophet, when he says, " He shall stumble and fall, and not be found."
Verse 20. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes] Selcucus Philopater succeeded his father Antiochus. He sent his treasurer Heliodorus to seize the money deposited in the temple of Jerusalem, which is here called the glory of the kingdom, see 2 Mace. is. 23. He was so cramped to pay the annual tax to the Romans, that he was obHged to burden his subjects with continual taxes.
He shall be destroyed, neither in anger — fighting against an enemy, nor in battle — at the head of his troops; but basely and treacherously, by the hand of Heliodorus his treasurer, who hoped to reign in his stead.
Verse 21. In his estate shall stand up a vile person] This was Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes — the Illustrious. They did not give him the honour of the kingdom: he was at Athens, on his way from Rome, when his father died; and Heliodorus had declared himself king, as had several others. But Antiochus came in peaceably, for he obtained the kingdom by flatteries. He flattered Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and Attains his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favour, and pay them the arrears of the tribute. He flattered the Syrians, and gained their concurrence; and as he flattered the Syrians, so they flattered him, giving him the epithet of Epiphanes — the Illustrious. But that he was «hat the prophet here calls him, a vile person, is fully evident from what Polybius says of him, from Athenams, lib. v.: " He
Superbi, before him, and shall be broken; R. Roman., 1. m yg^^ also the prince of the covenant.
23 And after tlic league made with him "he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
24 He shall enter ° peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; p he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he
was every man's companion: he resorted to the common shops, and prattled with the workmen: he frequented the common taverns, and ate and drank with the meanest fellows, singing debauched songs," &c., &c. On this account a contemporary writer, and others after him, instead of Epiphanes, called him Epimanes — the Madman.
Verse 22. Ayul with the arms of a flood] The arms which were overfloivn before him were his competitors for the crown. They were vanquished by the forces of Eunienes and Attains; and were dissipated by the arrival of Antiochus from Athens, whose presence disconcerted all their measures.
The prince of the covenant] This was Onias, the high priest, whom he removed, and put Jason in his place, who had given him a great sum of money; and then put wicked Menelaus in his room, who had otTered him a larger sum. Thus he acted deceitfully in the league made with Jasnn.
Verse 23. He shall come tip] From Rome, where he had been a hostage for the payment of the tax laid on his father.
Shall become strong with a small people.] At first he had but feiv to espouse his cause when he arrived at Antioch, the people having been greatly divided by the many claimants of the crown; but being supported by Eumenes and Attains, his few people increased, and he became strong.
Verse 24. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places] The very richest provinces — Ccelesyria and Palestine.
He shall do that ivhich his fathers have not done, nor his fathers'' fathers] He became profuse in his liberalities, and scattered among them the prey of his enemies, the spoil of temples, and the riches of his friends, as well as his own revenues. He spent much in public shows, and bestowed largesses among the people. We are told in 1 Mace. iii. 30, that " in the liberal giving of gifts he abounded above all the kings that went before him." These are nearly the words of the prophet; and perhaps without any design to copy them on the part of the apocryphal writer. He would sometimes go into the streets, and throw about a handful of money, crying out, " Let him take it, to whom Fortune sends it."
shall 1 forecast his devices against ^ ^-?t™ the strong holds, even for a time. Olymp. LXI. 3.
25 And he shall stir up his ""superbl"'"" power and his courage against R- Roman., i. the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and inighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall ' overflov^': and many shall fall down slain.
27 And both these kings' ^hearts shall he to
He shall forecast his devices] As Eulaeus and Lenxas, who were the guardians of the young Egyptian king Ptolemy Philometer, demanded from Antiochus the restitution of Ccelesyria and Palestine, which he refused, he foresaw that he might have a war with that kingdom; and therefore he forecast devices — fixed a variety of plans to prevent this; visited the strong holds and frontier places to see that they were in a state of defence. And this he did for a time — he employed some years in hostile preparations against
Verse 25. He shall stir up his power] Antiochus marched against Ptolemy, the king of the south, (EgA'pt,) with a great army; and the Egyptian generals had raised a mighty force.
Stirred up to battle] The two armies met between Pelusium and Mount Casius; but he (the king of the south) cnuld not stand — the Egyptian army was defeated. The next campaign he had greater success; he routed the Egyptian array, took Memjihis, and made himself master of all Egypt, except Alexandria, see 1 Mace. i. 16—19. And all these advantages he gained bv forecasting devices; probably by corrupting his ministers and captains. Ptolemy Macron gave up Cyprus to Antiochus; and the Alexandrians were led to renounce theii allegiance to Ptolemy Philometer, and took Euergetcs, or Physcon his younger brother, and made him king in his stead. All this was doubtless by the corruptions of Antiochus. See below.
Verse 26. Yea, they that feed of the portion of hs meat] This is the proof of what has been last noted, that the intrigues of Antiochus, corrupting the ministers and officers of Ptolemy, were the cause of all the disasters that fell on the Egyptian king. They that fed of the portion of his meal — who were in his confidence and pay, and possessed the secrets of the state, betrayed him; and these were the means of destroying him and his army, so that he was defeated, as was before observed.
A'erse 27. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief] That is, Antiochus, and Ptolemy Philometer, who was nephew to the former, and whose interest he now pretended to have much at heart, since the Alexandrians had renounced their allegiance
A, M- 34T0. (Jq mischief, and they shall speak Oiynip. LXI. 3. lies at one tabic; but it shall
28 Then shall he return into his land "with great riches; and ^ his heart shall he against tlic iioly covenant; and lie sliall do exploits, and return to his own land.
to him, and set his younger hrollier Euergetes upon the throne. When Antiochus came to Memphis, he and Philometer had frequent conferences at the same table; and at these times ihey spoke lies to each other, Antiochus professing great friendship to his nephew and concern for his interests, yet in his heart designing to ruin llie kingdom, by fomenting the discords which already subsisted between the two brothers. On the other hand, Philometer professed much gratitude to his uncle for the interest he took in his affairs, and laid the blame of the war upon his minister Eulaeus; while at the same time he spo/ce lies, determining as soon as possible to accommodate matters with his brother, and join all their strength against their deceitful uncle.
But it shall not prosper] Neither succeeded in his object; for the end of the appointed time was not yet como>.
Verse 28. Then shall he return into las land with great riches] Antiochus did return, laden with riches, from the spoils that he took in Egypt; see 1 Mace. i. 19, 20. And hearing that there had been a report of his death, at which the citizens of Jerusalem had made great rejoicings, —
His heart shall be against the holy covenant] He was determined to take a severe revenge, and he had an ostensible pretext for it; for Jason, who had been deprived of the high priesthood, hearing the report of the death of Antiochus, raised forces, marched against Jerusalem, took it, and obliged Menelaus, the high priest, to shut himself up in the castle. Antiochus brought a great army against Jerusalem; took it by storm; slew forty thousand of the inhabitants; sold as many more for slaves; boiled swine's flesh, and sprinkled the temple and the altar with the broth; broke into the holy of holies; took away the golden vessels and other sacred treasures, to the value of one thousand eight hundred talents; restored Menelaus to his office; and made one Philip, a Phrygian, governor of Judea, 1 Mace. i. 24; 2 Mace. v. 21. Prideaux and Newton. These are what we term exploits; which having finished, he returned to his own land.
Verse 29. At the time appointed he shall return] Finding tbat his treachery was detected, and that the two brothers had united their counsel and strength for their mutual support, he threw off the mask; and having collected a great army early in the spring, he passed through Caslesyria; entered Egypt; and the inhabitants of Memphis having submitted to him, he eame by easy marches to Alexandria. But, saj's the pmphet, " it shall not be as the former or as the lat-
29 At the time appointed he ^g c' ss™ shall return, and come toward oiymp. Lxi. 3.
the soutli; " but it shall not be as Superbi, tiie former, - or as the latter. " "°""'"-'-
30 y For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation '• against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even
ter:" he had not the same success as the/ormer, when he overthrew the Egyptian army at Pelusium; nor as the latter, when he took Memphis, and subdued all Egypt, except Alexandria. See the reason.
Verse 30. For the ships of Chittim shall come against him] Chittim is well known to mean the Roman empire. Antiochus, being now in full march to besiege Alexandria, and within seven miles of that city, heard that ships were arrived there from Rome, with legates from the senate. He went to salute them. They delivered to him the letters of the senate, in which he was commanded, on pain of the displeasure of the Roman people, to put an end to the war against his nephews. Antiochus said he would go and consult his friends; on which Popilius, one of the legates, took his staff, and instantly drew a circle round Antiochus on She sand where he stood, and commanded him not to pass that circle till he had given a definitive answer. Antiochus, intimidated, said, he would do whatever the senate enjoined; and in a few days after began his march, and returned to Syria. This is confirmed by Polylius, Livy, Velleius, Paterculus, Valerius Maximus, and Justin.
Therefore he shall be grieved] " Grieving and groaning," says Polybius; both mortified, humbled, and disappointed.
Have indignation against the holy covenant^ For he vented his rage against the Jews; and he sent his general, ApoUonius, with twenty-two thousand men against Jerusalem, plundered and set fire to tlie city, pulled down the houses round about it, slew much ot the people, and built a castle on an eminence that commanded the temple, and slew multitudes of the poor people who had come up to worship, polhtted every place, so that the temple service was totally abandoned, and all the people fled from the city. And when he returned to Antioch he published a decree that all should conform to the Grecian worship; and the Jewish worship was totally abrogated, and the temple itself consecrated to Jupiter Ohjmpius. How great must the wickedness of the people have been when God could tolerate this!
In the transacting of these matters he had intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant; with wicked Menelaus the higli priest; and the apostate Jews united with him, who gave from time to time such information to Antiochus as excited him against Jerusalem, the temple, and the people. See 1 Mace, i. 41, 62; 2 Mace. vi. 1-9; confirmed by Josephus, War, book i. chap. 1, s. 1. The concluding reflection of Bp. Newton here is excellent: —
return, " and liave intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
31 And arms shall stand on his
part, '' and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, '^ and they shall place the abomination that '' maketh desolate.
32 ' And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he ^ corrupt by flatteries: ^ but
DANIEL. power in the Church.
the people that do know their God *g ^ ^*™- shall be strong, and do exploits. Olymp. LXl.a,
33 ^ And they that understand ' "superbl" among the people shall instruct R- Roman., i. many: ' yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they '' shall be holpen with a little help: ' but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
35 And some of them cf understanding shall
" It may be proper to stand a little here, and reflect how particular and circumstantial this prophecy is, concerning Egypt and Syria, from the death of Alexander to the time of Anliochus Epiphancs. There is not so concise, comprehensive, and regular an account of their kings and affairs to be found in any authors of those times. The prophecy is really more perfect than any hislory, and is so wonderfully exact, not only to the lime of Antiochus Epiphanes, but likewise equally so beyond that time, that we may conclude in the words of the inspired writer, ' No one could thus declare the times and seasons, but he who hath them in Ms own potcer.^ "
Verse 3 1. And arms shall stand on his part] After Antiochus, arms, that is, the Romans, shall stand tip: for arms in this prophecy every where denote military power; and standing up, the power in activity and conquering. Both Sir Isaac Newton and Bp. Newton agree, that what follows is spoken of the Romans. Hitherto Daniel has described the actions of the kings of the north and of the south, that of the kings of Syria and Egypt; but, upon the conquest of Macedon by the Romans, he has left off describing the actions of the Greeks, and begun to describe those of the Romans in Greece, who conquered Macedon, lUyiicum, and Epirus, in the year of the era of Nabonassar, 580. Thirty-five years after, by the ivill of Attains, they inherited all Asia westward of Mount Taurus; sixtyfive years after they conquered the kingdom of Syria, and reduced it into a province; and thirty-four years after they did the same to Egypt. By all these steps the Roman arms stood up over the Greeks; and after ninety-five years more, by making war upon the Jews, they polluted the sanctuary of strength, — the temple, (so called by reason of its fortifications,) and took away the daily sacrifice and placed the abomination that maketh desolate, or of the desolator; for that this abomination was thus placed after the time of Christ, appears from Matt. xxiv. 15.
In the sixteenth year of the Emperor Adrian, A.D. 132, they placed this abomination by building a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus, where the temple of God in Jerusalem stood; upon which the Jews, under Barchocab, rose up against the Romans. But in this war they had fifty cities demolished, nine hundred and fifty of their best towns destroyed, and eighty thousand men were slain by the sword; and in the end of the war, A. D. 136, were banished Judea on paia of death; and thenceforth the land became desolate. See Observations on Daniel, and Bp. Newton on the Prophecies.
A'^erse 32. Such as do wickedly against the covenant] This is understood of the Christian Jews; for the NEW had now succeeded to the old, the whole of the Jewish ritual having been abolished, and Jerusalem filled with heathen temples. And he — the Roman power, did all he could by flatteries, as well as threats, to corrupt the Christians, and cause them to sacrifice to the statues of the emperors.
And do exploits.] Continue steadfast in all temptations, hold fast their faith, and enjoy a good conscience.
Verse 33. And they that understand] The apostles and primitive Christians in general, who understood from the prophets, and his own actions, that Jesus was the true Messi.^h.
Instruct many] Preach the Gospel every where, and convert multitudes to the faith.
Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.] They were exposed to the malice and fury of their enemies, during TEN STATE PERSECUTIONS, and Suffered all kinds of tortures, with but little intermission, for three hundred years. — Neicton.
Verse 34. Now when they shall fall] When the storm of the teyith persecution under Diocletian, which lasted ten years, fell upon them, they were sorely oppressed.
They shall be holpen ivith a little help] By Constantine; who, while he removed all persecution, and promoted the temporal prosperity of the Christian Church, yet added little to its spiritual perfection and strength. For many, now seeing the Christians in prosperity, —
Cleave to them with flatteries.] Became Christians BEC.iusE the EMPEROR was such.
A'"erse 35..ind some of them of understanding] Dispufes on certain points of religion soon agitated the Christian Church; and now, liaving no outward persecution, they began to persecute each other. And
fall, ™ to try ° them, and to purge, and to make them white, ° even
36 And the king i shall do according to his will; and he shall ■■ exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things ^ against the God of gods, and shall prosper ' till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
many excellent men, men of understanding, fell victims because they would not embrace erroneous doctrines, when professed by the state. But this was permitted, —
To try them, and to purge, and to make them white^ To bring all to the pure profession, possession, and practice of Christianity.
To the time of the end] To the time that God shall cause pure and undefiled religion every where to prevail. But when is the time appointed for this?
Verse 36. And the king shall do according to his ivill] This may apply to Antiochus, who exalted himself above every god, called himself a god, sported with all religion, profaned the temple, &c., &c. But others think an antichristian power in the Church is intended; for in the language of this prophecy king is taken for power, a kingdom, &c. That such a power did spring up in the Church that acted in an arbitrary manner against all laws, human and Divine, is well known. This power showed itself in the Greek emperors in the east, and in the bishops of Rome in the west. And this is to continue.
Till the indignation he accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.] This is the same as what was called in chap. viii. 19, the last end of the indignation; and chap. ix. 27, the consummation; and means the end or consummation of God's indignation against the Jews. And this seems more clearly expressed, chap. xii. 7: " When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people." We see this still subsisting in the Church of Rome; and it was a saying of Rabbi David Kimchi, " When Rome shall be laid waste, then shall be redemption for Israel." For the destruction of Rome and the restoration of the Jews shall fall out about the same time. — Bp. Newton.
Verse 37. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers] That God who sent the erangeltsts and apostles to preach the pure doctrine. These true fathers of the Christian Church, and their God, this Church has not regarded, but put councils, and traditions, and apocryphal writings in their place.
Nor the desire of women] Both the Greek and Latm Church, in their antichristian enactments, have dis- Muraged, and in several cases proscribed, marriage,
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, " nor the desire of women, '' nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 " But ' in his estate shall he honoiu' the god of ^ forces: ^ and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and = pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the '' most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall ac-
» Or, Bui in his stead. « Heb. as fo his seat he shall honour, yea, he shall hon under the pretence of greater chastity, to the discredit of God's ordinance, and Christianity itself.
Nor regard any god] For the mandates and decrees of that Church have been often in defiance of God and his word; for it has magnified itself above all power and authority in heaven and on earth. It professes to hold the keys, and to open and shut lieaven at pleasure, both to states and individuals.
Verse 38. Shall he honour the god of forces] D'lyo mauzzim, or gods protectors, as in the rnargin; worshipping sapits and angels as guardians, and protectors, and mediators; leaving out, in general, the true God, and the only Mediator, Jesus Christ.
And a god whom his fathers knew not] For these gods guardians, the Virgin Mary, saints, and angels, were utterly unknown as mediators and invocahle guardians in the primitive apostolic Church.
Shall he honour ivith gold, and silver, and with precious stones] How literally does this apply to the Church of Rome! See the house of our lady at Loretto; the shrines of saints; the decorated images, costly apparel, gold, jewels, &c., profusely used about images of saints, angels, and the blessed virgin, in different popish churches. This superstition began to prevail in the fourth century, and was established in 787, by the seventh general council; for in that the worship of images was enacted.
Verse 39. In the most strong holds with a strange god] Bishop Neivton proposed the following translation, after justly finding fault with our common Version: " Thus shall he do to the defenders of Mauzzim, together with the strange god whom he shall acknowledge: he shall multiply honour, and he shall cause him to rule over many; and the earth he shall divide for a reward." The defenders of Mauzzim, these saint and angel gods protectors, were the monks, priests, and bishops; of whom it may be truly said, " They were increased with honour, ruled over many, and divided the land for gain." They have been honoured and reverenced almost to adoration; their jurisdiction was extended over the purses and consciences of men; they have been enriched with the noblest buildings and largest endowments, and the choicest lands have been appropriated for Church lands. These are points of such public notoriety, that they require no proof. — Newton.
The final overthrow of DANIEL. the king oj the north
42 He shall 'stretch forth his
knowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over manj'-, and shall divide the land for "^ gain.
40 "^ And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him " like a whirlwind, with chariots, 'and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, s-and shall overflow and pass over.
41 He shall enter also into the ''glorious' land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand.?, '' even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
A''erse 40. At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at hini] These kings are to be understood in reference to the times of which the prophet speaks. While the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria were subsisting, the king of the south and the north applied to them exclusively: but they did not exist at the time of which the prophet speaks; therefore other southern and northern powers must be sought. These we may find in the Saracens, who were of the Arabians, who came from the south, headed by the false prophet Mohammed, who pushed at him — made war on the Greek emperor Heraclius, and with amazing rapidity deprived him of Egypt, Syria, and many of his finest provinces.
And the king of the north] The Turks, who were originally Scythians, seized on the remains of the Greek empire; and in process of time rendered themselves masters of the whole. They are represented as coming like a whirlwind, with chariots, and toith horsemen; their armies being chiefly composed of cavalry.
And with many ships] With these they got possession of many islands and maritime countries; and were so powerful in their fleets, that they entirely defeated the Venetians; and at last their fleets became of the utmost consequence to them in besieging, and afterwards taking, Constantinople, A. D. 1453, which they hold to the present day. So they entered into the countries, and overflowed, rendering themselves masters of all Asia Minor and Greece.
Verse il. He shall enter also into the glorious land] Entirely subdue Judea.
And many countries shall he overthrown] Aleppo, Damascus, Gaza, and many other cities were forced to submit to them; and they hold them still.
But these shall escape — Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Amman.] These and other Arabians they have never been able to subdue. They still occupy the deserts; and receive a yearly pension of forty thousand crowns of gold from the Ottoman hand also upon the countries: Olymp. LXI. 3. and the land of Egypt shall not ^""supe'^rb!!"'"'
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall he ™ at his steps.
44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palaces between the seas in " the ° glorious p holy mountain; ij'et he sliall come to his end, and none shall help him.
emperors, to permit the caravans, with the pilgrims foi Mecca, to have a free passage.
Verse 42. He shall stretch forth his hand] He — the Ottoman emperors, have stretched forth the hand, not only on European, but also upon Astatic and African countries. Egypt has not escaped; it is a province of the Turkish government, as are also Fez, Morocco, Algiers, and many other African countries. And as the prophecy says they " got power over the silver and gold, and the precious things of Egypt,"' so it was; for when Selim conquered Egypt, A. D. 1517, he took all its spoils; and the immense sums drawn from it to the present day, and the wretchedness of the land in consequence, are almost incredible.
The Libyans and the Ethiopians] The Cushim — unconquered Arabs, all sought their friendship; and many of them are tributary to the present time.
Verse 44. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him] This part of the prophecy is allowed to be yet unfulJiHed; and what is portended, the course of prophetic events will show. Were we to understand it as applying to Antiochus, then the news might be of the preparations which he heard, that the provinces of the east, and Artaxerxes, king of Armenia, on the north, were intending to rise up against him. But if the Turkish power be understood, as in the preceding verses, it may mean that the Persians on the east, and the Russians on the north, will at some time greatly embarrass the Ottoman government. And how completely has this been fulfilled; first, by the total destruction of the Egyptian fleet, by the combined fleets of England, France, and Russia, in the Bay of Navarino; and, secondly, by the total overthrow of the Turkish army by the Russians, in the years 1828 and 1829, when the sultan was obliged to accept any conditions that the emperor of Ru.ssia was pleased to give! [N.B. — The former part of this note was written for the first edition of this work, printed in 1825.]
Tlie righteous shall arise to a glorious resurrection.
make a last stand in Judca, and there shall his power be smitten.
He shall come to his end, and none shall help /iim.] All his confederate and tributary kingdoms, states, and provinces shall desert him, and leave that government to come to a shameful end.
In the interpretation of this chapter I have generally followed Bp. Newton, in his most excellent Dissertations on the Prophecies, consulting other eminent authors occasionally. From the beginning of the chapter to the end of ver. 30 all is very clear and plain, relative to the Grecian, Syrian, and Egyptian histories; from the thirty-first verse to the end, the mode of interpretation is not so satisfactory, in its application to the times since Christ. Yet possibly these alone may be intended; though the whole might be, with considerable ease, applied to the remaining part of the Syrian and Egyptian history. It is a wonderful piece of prophecy, and of great utility to the cause of Divine revelation.
The proper conclusion to the great revolutions predicted in this and the following chapters is the general resurrection, of which the beginning of this chapter (if to be literally understood) gives some intimation, 1—3. Daniel is then commanded to shut up the words and to seal the book to the time of the end, 4; atid is informed of the three grand symbolical periods of a time, times, and a half, twelve hundred and ninety days, and thirteen hundred and thirty-five days, 4—12; at the end of the last of which Daniel shall rest and stand in his lot, 13. // is generally thought by commentators that the termination of the last period is the epoch of the first resurrection. See Rev..\x. 4, 5.
A ND at that time shall " Michael stand up, the great prince wliioh standeth for the
children of thy people: ''and
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people "^ shall be delivered, every one that shall be found ^ written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, " some to everlasting
Verse 1. And at that tune Michael shall stand up] Michael the archangel, as has already been observed, was ever reputed the guardian of the Jewish people.
Every one that shall be found written in the book] All 'that truly fear, love, and obey the Lord. On the phrase, " written in the book, the book of life," &c., see the passages in the margin, and the notes on those passages.
Verse 2. Many nf them that sleep in the dust of the earth] This prophecy has been referred to the future restoration of the Jews. It will be also true of the state of mankind at the general judgment.
A'erse 3. -ind they that be wise] Tho.se who are thoroughly instructed in Christ's word and doctrine, s/iall shine — shall be eminently distinguished in the Christian Churcli by the holiness of their lives, and the purity of their creed.
And they that turn many to righteousness] They who, by preaching Christ crucified among their brethren, shall be the means of converting them to the Christian faith; shall be as the stars — bright lurnina-
3 And ^ they that be ^ wise
the firmament; ^ and they that turn many to righteousness ' as the stars for ever and ever.
4 "" But thou, O Daniel, " shut up the words, and seal the book, even to ° the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
ries in the Gospel kingdom of Jesus Christ. This also may be applied to the case of holy and useful men, particularly the faithful ministers of the Gospel, in the day of judgment. See the parallel tests in the margin, and the notes on them.
Verse 4. Shut up the words, and seal the hook] \Vhen a prophet received a prediction concerning what was at a considerable distance of time, he shut his book, did not communicate his revelation for some time after. This Daniel was commanded to do, chap. viii. 26. See also Isa. xxix. 10, 11; Rev. xxii. 10. Among the ancients, those were said to seal, who in the course of their reading stamped the places of which they were yet doubtful, in order to keep them in memory, that they might refer to them again, as not yet fully understood. This custom Salmasms, in his book De modo Usurarum, p. 446, proves from Hesychius.
Many shall run to and fro] Many shall endeavour to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased by these means; though the meaning shall not be fully knovm till the events take place: the*
Olymp. LXI. 3. behold, there stood other two, Superbi, " the onc on this side of the p bank R. Roman., 1. ^f jj-^g nver, and the other on that side of the bank ^ of the river.
6 Ajid one said to ■■ the man clothed in linen, which ivos " upon the waters of the river, ' How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which ivas upon the waters of the river, when he " held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him " that liveth for ever " that it shall be for a time, times, and ^ a half; 5" and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of ^ the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O ray Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
the seal shall be broken, and the sense become plain. This seems to be the meaning of this verse, though another has been put on it, viz., " Many shall run to and fro preaching the Gospel of Christ, and therefore religious knowledge and true wisdom shall be increased." This is true in itself; but it is not the meaning of the prophet's words.
Verse 5. Behold, there stood other two] Probably two angels. We know no more of them, unless they be the same as those called saints, chap. viii. 13, which see. The river was most likely the Tigris.
Verse 6. The man clothed in lme7i] Gabriel, in a human form. Thus he is represented, chap. x. 5.
Verse 7. Which was tipon the loaters] By this description, he was standing on the water. This is very similar to the description of the angel. Rev. x. 5, 6, and in the seventh verse there seems to be a reference to this prophecy, " a time, times, and a half" See the note on chap. vii. 25.
Verse 8. / heard, but I understood not] Could not comprehend what the time, times, and half time should refer to. These make three years and a half of prophetic time, answering to one thousand two /tundred and sixty years.
Verse 9. The words are closed up] The prophecy shall not be understood, but in its accomplishment; and then the depth of the wisdom and providence of God will be clearly seen in these matters. See on ver. -1. We must wait " till the time of the end;" and this, it appears from the following calculations, will not arrive before the twentieth century. We here see the reason why these prophecies are at present so imperfectly understood. God has sealed
10 '' Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; " but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but ^ the wise shall understand.
1 1 And from the time " that the daily sacri fice shall be taken away, and ''the abomi nation that s maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
1 3 But '' go thou thy way till the end be: ' for ^ thou shalt rest, ' and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
interim, the great work of God's providence and grace shall be carried on in the salvation of men; who, in the midst of trials, temptations, and difficulties, shall be purified and made white — be fully saved from their sins.
No7ie of the wicked shall understand] Because they are wicked, and will continue in their sins, the eyes of their understanding shall be closed, and their hearts hardened; so that they shall not see the light of the glorious Gospel.
But the wise] Those who open their hearts to God, that he may pour in his light, shall understand the things that make for their peace.
Verse 11. From the time that the daily SKcnfieeshall be taken away] See the notes on chap. xi. 25—27.
The abomination that maketh desolate set up] I believe, with Bp. Newton, that this is a proverbial phrase; and may be applied to any thing substituted in the place of, or set up in opposition to, the ordinances of God, his worship, his truth, &c. Adrian's temple, built in the place of God's temple at Jerusalem, the church of St. Sophia turned into a Mohammedan mosque, &c., &c., may be termed abominations that make desolate. Perhaps Mohammedanism may be the abomination; which sprang up A. D. 612. If we reckon one thousand two hundred and ninety years, ver. 11, from that time, it will brmg us dow-n to A. D. 1902, when we might presume from this calculation, that the religion of the false prophet will cease to prevail in the world; which from the present year, 1825, is distant only seventy-seven years. Verse 12. Blessed is he that waiteth] He who in»- plicitly depends on God, expecting, as his truth cannot fail, that these predictions shall be accomplished in due time.
And Cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.'\ This is seventy-five days more than what is included in the three years and a half, or the time, times, and a half in the seventh verse; and as we have met with so many instances o{ prophetical days and years, this undoubtedly is another instance; and as a day stands for a year, this must mean a period of one thousand three hundred and thirty-five years, which period is to bring all these ivonders to an end, ver. 6. But we are left totally in the dark relative to the time from which these one thousand three hundred and thirty-five years are to be reckoned. If, however, we reckon them from the above epoch, A. D. 612, when Mohammedanism arose, they lead us to A. D. 1947, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in; and thus a final closure of vision and prophecy be made, as then all the great events relative to the salvation of men shall have taken place. Wars and contentions will probably then cease over the whole world: Jews and Gentiles become one fold, under one Shepherd and Bishop of souls; and the triune God be properly worshipped and glorified, from generation to generation, over the face of the whole earth. But all these conjectures may be founded in darkness. We have not chronological data; and "the times and seasons God has reserved in his own power."
Verse 13. But go thou thy way till the end be] Here is proper advice for every man. 1. Thou hast a tvay — a walk in life, which God has assigned thee; walk in that loay, it is thy way. 2. There will be an end to thee of all earthly things. Death is at the door, and eternity is at hand; go on to the end — be faithful unto death. 3. There is a rest provided for the people of God. Thou shalt rest; thy body, in the grave; ihy soul, in the Divine favour here, and finally in paradise. 4. As in the promised land there was a lot for each of God''s people, so in heaven there is a lot for thee. Do not lose it, do not sell it, do not let thy enemy rob thee of it. Be determined to stand in thy oion lot at the end of the days. See that thou keep the faith; die in the Lord Jesus, that thou mayest rise and reign with him to all eternity. Amen.
LJOSEA, the son of Becri, is the first of the minor prophets. Epiphanius says that ]ie was of the town of Belemoth, m the tribe of Issachar; which is no other, in all probability, than Beelmeon, towards Esdraelon, in this tribe. The rabbins say that Bura was his fatlier, who is mentioned in the Chronicles, and was prince of the tribe of Reuben at the lime when Tiglath-pileser carried some of the tribes of Israel into captivity. But if it be so, Hosea must be said to be of the tribe of Reuben; and a native of Beelmeon, beyond Jordan. This prophet lived in the kingdom of Samaria; and his prophecies for the most part have a view to this state, though there are likewise some particular things Avhich concern the kingdom of Judah.
We read, in the introduction to his prophecy, that he prophesied under the kings of Judah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and under Jcroboajn II., king of Israel. If he prophesied in the reign of all these princes, he must have lived a very long time; for there are a hundred and twelve years from the beginning of UzziaKs reign to the end of Hezekiah''s reign. Uzziah began to reign A. M. 3194, and Hezekiah^s leign ended in 3306. Add, if you please, tioenlij or: Jive and twenty years, which might be the age of Hosea when he began to prophesy; and this will make one hundred and thirty-tivo, or one hwidred and tldrty-seven years. And if we were to take ten years from Uzziah, and as many from Hezekiah, during which Hosea might not have prophesied, there will still remain one hundred and, ttvelve, or one hundred and Jif teen years.
In the whole collection of Hosea's prophecies, we fiird nothing which proves that he prophesied so long. And, besides, why should his prophecies be dated in the title by the reigns of the kings of Judah, when he did not live under their dominion? It is therefore very probable that this title is not Hosea's, but some ancient transcriber's; and that the true beginning of tills prophet's work is at these words: " The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea." It is our opinion that he began about the end of Jeroboam's reign, who was the second king of Israel of this name. See Calmet.
St. Jerome and many others believe Hosea to be the oldest prophet, whose writings are in our possession; and that he was witness to ihejirst captivity of x\\e four tribes carried away by Tiglath-pileser, and the extinction of the kingdom of Samaria by Shalmaneser. St. Jerome will have it that he prophesied even afterwards. The ^rs^ verses of chap. i. have a view to the death of Zechariah, king of Israel, and son of Jeroboam II. From the sixth verse of the first chapter to the third chapter, is a prediction of the captivity of Israel: but after he has foretold this captivity, he declares the return and end of it. He inveighs strongly against the disorders which prevailed in the kingdom of the ten tribes. It appears that in his time there were idols; not only at Dan, Beth-el, and Samaria, but likewise at Gilgal, upon Tabor, at Sichem, Beer-sheba, and upon the mountains of Gilead. He speaks of the Israelites as of a people entirely corrupted, and the measure of whose sins was filled up; he foretells that their golden calves should be pulled down, cast upon the ground, and carried into Assyria.
He reflects, with the same severity, upon the irregularities which reigned in Judah. He stands up against those who went to worship false gods at Gilgal. He speaks of Sennacherib's invading the territories of Judah. He foretells that the people of Judah should still continue some time in their country after the captivity of the ten tribes; but that after this they tiiemselves should likewise be carried captives beyond the Euphrates, from whence the Lord would bring them back after a certain number of years. The style of Hosea is obscure, and his expressions often dubious and perplexed. The things whereof he speaks contribute farther to his obscurity, by reason of their distance, and our ignorance of the history of those times.