“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. had: Cald. saw matters: or, words”
Baltassar. Chaldean, a letter is wanting. (Haydock) — This Baltassar was slain, chap. v. (Calmet) — The two visions happened before that event. (Worthington) — The. Protestants, “visions of his head, upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.” (Haydock)
“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.”
Winds, to imply the tumults occasioned by fresh kingdoms (Worthington) in the world. (Theod.)
“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”
Four great beasts; viz. the Chaldeans, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires. But some rather choose to understand the fourth beast of the successors of Alexander the great, more especially of them that reigned in Asia and Syria, (Challoner) or in Egypt, chap. ii. 40.(Haydock)
“The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. and it: or, wherewith it”
Man. The emperors of Babylon were forced to confess that they were nothing more. (Calmet) — Their cruel and rapid conquests (Worthington) are denoted by this monstrous animal. Its wings shew how the lands were divided between the Medes and Persians. Perhaps Neriglissor, &c., shared a part, chap. v. 1. (Calmet)
“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. it raised: or, it raised up one dominion”
Bear, which is cruel, and eats what is set before it greedily. (Worthington) — Side. Cyrus did not attack the Jews. (St. Jerome) — He stood ready to attack the Chaldeans. — Three. He ruled over the Medes and Chaldeans, as well as over the Persians. (Calmet) — Rows. Greek, “wings or sides” of an animal, (Haydock) or “bones.” (Grotius) — Cyrus was always at war; and Justin (1.) says, that Tomyris II of Scythia, ordered his head to be cut off, and thrown into a vessel full of blood. His troops are styled robbers, Jeremias li. 48. The ambition of Cambyses, Hystaspes, &c. are insatiable.
“After this I beheld , and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.”
Leopard, a small spotted beast, may denote the size and disposition of Alexander, as well as his rapid conquests. When he was asked how he had subdued so many, he answered, “by never putting off.” (Calmet) — Four. He led his forces on all sides; (Haydock) and after his death, his empire was divided into four, (Worthington) Egypt, Syria, Asia, and Macedon, (Theod.) as he had united in his person the empire of the Chaldeans, Medes, Persians, and Greeks. (Calmet)
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”
Unlike. It is not named: but shews the incomparable power of the Romans, governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, dictators, and emperors, at different times. (Worthington) — This is the opinion generally received, which we shall explain. Yet many think that the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt are designated, as [in] chap. ii. 40. St. Jerome acknowledges that what is understood of antichrist, had been partly verified in Epiphanes, his figure. The beast was to be slain before the coming of the Son of man, ver. 11, 26. It would persecute for three years and a half; but God would grant victory to his saints, as he did to the Machabees. Yet they only exhibited a faint idea of what has been done by the Church. The same subject is treated, chap. xi. Many things caused the dominion of the successors of Alexander to be unlike that of others. It was never united, and was very destructive to the Jews. (Calmet) — Horns. That is, ten kingdoms, (as [in] Apocalypse xvii. 12.) among which the empire of the fourth beast shall be parcelled: or ten kings of the number of the successors of Alexander, as figures of such as shall be about the time of antichrist. (Challoner) — Epiphanes was the eighth king, and Laomedon, Antigonus, and Demetrius, had been governors of Syria before. Most understand this of antichrist, whom Epiphanes foreshewed. Others think that it points out Vespasian, the tenth successor of Cæsar, who made war on the Jews. The same prediction may regard different events, as the abomination (Chap. ix.) may allude to the profanations committed by Epiphanes, by the Romans at the last siege, and by antichrist. Others apply this to the Turkish empire, which may be paving the way for the great antagonist of Christ. (Calmet) Dioclesian and Julian may also be meant, as well as other forerunners of the man of sin. (Haydock) — He shall overcome many, but his fury shall continue but a short time, ver. 25. (Worthington)
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
Little horn. This is commonly understood of antichrist. It may also be applied to that great persecutor, Antiochus Epiphanes, as a figure of antichrist. (Challoner) — He was the youngest son of Antiochus the great, and was a hostage of Rome. While he was returning, his elder brother died, and Epiphanes excluded his son Philometor, of Egypt, and the usurper Heliodorus. He also defeated three, Philometor, on the south; Artaxias, king of Armenia, on the east; and the strength, or God’s people, ver 24., and chap. viii. 9. — Man. He gained several at first, by his affability. — Things: blasphemy, 1 Machabees i. 23, 43. (Calmet)
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”
Ancient. The Son is born of the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both, yet all three are coeternal. (Worthington) — Hence the Father is sometimes painted in this manner, though he be a pure spirit. His throne resembled that seen by Ezechiel, chap. i. (Haydock) — He takes cognizance of all, and punishes accordingly. (Calmet)
“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
Fire. Psalm xcvi. 3. — Thousands. Greek implies one million and one hundred millions. (Menochius) — The angels are very numerous, particularly the highest, styled assistants. (St. Thomas Aquinas; Worthington)
“I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.”
Spoke. I wished to see how the king would be punished. He felt the hand of God as he was going to destroy all the Jews, when he pretended to repent, 1 Machabees vi., and 2 Machabees ix. 4. His successors could not much disturb the Jews, ver. 13. (Calmet)
“As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. their lives: Cald. a prolonging in life was given them”
Time. Each of the four empires had its period assigned. That of Rome attracted the prophet’s attention most, and is mentioned first. (Menochius)
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”
Heaven. Christ appeared about sixty years after the subversion of the Syrian monarchy. Yet these expressions literally refer to his second coming, Matthew xxvi. 64. (Calmet) — He had the form of man, as he had the nature. (Menochius) — He is clearly predicted. By his power antichrist is overthrown. (Worthington)
“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Destroyed. The eternal dominion of Christ could not be expressed in stronger terms. He seems to allude to them, Matthew xxviii. 18. (Calmet)
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”
Earth. The first was on the point of disappearing, chap. v. 31.(Haydock)
“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. most: Cald. high ones, that is, things, or, places”
Most High, (Th.[Theodotion?]) or rather Chaldean, “the very high saints of God;” as also [in] ver. 22, 25, and 27.
“I beheld , and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;”
Saints. The Machabees at last prevailed. Christ will punish the Jews, Matthew xxiv. 30.
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
Greater. Chaldean, “unlike,” as [in] ver. 7. Epiphanes was a greater scourge of the Jews than any of the preceding.
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
Mightier. Chaldean again, “unlike.” Antiochus the great had lost many provinces: but his son was the most implacable enemy of God’s people. He subdued them, Egypt and Armenia; or his three competitors, ver. 8.
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
Against, or “over against,” like an accuser. Sym.: “as if he were God.” — Laws. He did this with regard to the Jews, (1 Machabees i. 41.; Calmet) prohibiting their festivals. Antichrist will do the like, and pretend to work miracles. (Haydock) — A time, &c. That is, three years and a half; which is supposed to be the length of the duration of the persecution of antichrist. (Challoner) (Apocalypse xi. 2. and xii. 14.) — Josephus (Jewish Wars, preface) says the sacrifices were discontinued so long, or rather this time elapsed from the publishing his edict till the temple was purified. During six months, people offered sacrifice clandestinely, 1 Machabees iv. 36, 52.
“And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. dominions: or, rulers”
Him. The power of the Machabees was too limited, to be here understood. The Church and Christ must be meant.
“Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Word. The angel spoke no more at this time. (Calmet)