“In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.”
Beginning. This vision was to explain what he had seen [in] chap. vii., respecting the four monarchies. The conflict of the Persians with Alexander, after two hundred and twenty years, is here described. (Worthington)
“And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.”
Castle; some read “city.” Here the kings had a palace; and Hystaspes, &c. generally resided in it. Nabuchodonosor seems to have subdued Elam. Cyrus had it for his share; but Darius, the Mede, appears from Eschylus to have plundered Susa again. Daniel probably spent the latter part of his life in this city. (Calmet) — Gate, or “stagnant water;” (paludem. ver. 3.; Haydock) though most understand the river Euleus, on the side of Susiana. The prophets often sought retired places, chap. x. 4., and Ezechiel i. 1. (Calmet)
“Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. the other: Heb. the second”
A ram. The empire of the Medes and Persians. (Challoner) (Worthington) — Cyrus, the founder, was allied to both. — Higher, denoting the Persians; or Hystaspes, and his posterity, the second branch of the royal family, which reigned to the end: whereas Cambyses was the only one of the race of Cyrus who succeeded to the throne. Others think that he alludes to Codomannus, whom Alexander certainly attacked. — Afterward is not in Hebrew. St. Jerome supposed that another ram was designated, but it is the same.
“I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.”
South. Codomannus reigned in peace for two years, when he was invaded. But his predecessors had made war chiefly in Greece, Scythia, and Egypt. The stupendous preparations of Xerxes against Greece only accelerated the fall of his own kingdom, by irritating the two nations. (Calmet)
“And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. touched: or, none touched him in the earth a notable: Heb. a horn of sight”
A he-goat. The empire of the Greeks, or Macedonians. — He touched not the ground. He conquered all before him with so much rapidity, that he seemed rather to fly than to walk upon the earth. — A notable horn. Alexander the great. (Challoner) — He succeeded his father when only twenty years old, and the next year was chosen generalissimo of the Greeks against Persia, which he invaded at the head of 30,000 foot and 4,000 horses, having only seventy talents of silver and provisions for one month. With this he attacked the most flourishing empire, and conquered it in less than four years’ time, when Darius was slain in the year of the world 3674 [326 B.C.]. Alexander survived only six years and ten months, yet subdued so many nations that it is almost incredible that he should have travelled over them. He is the belly of brass and the leopard, chap. ii. 39., and vii. 6. (Calmet) — He died in the midst of his prosperity, (Haydock) when not quite thirty-three years old, (Worthington) and left no heirs to succeed him. This conqueror would be painted with two horns, to intimate that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon. (Calmet)
“And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.”
Hand. He routed all the forces of his enemy (Haydock) at the Granicus, at Issus; and at Gaugamela, (Calmet) or Arbela, Darius escaped, but was slain by his own servants. (Haydock) — The clemency of the conqueror towards the fallen royal family is not here specified. (Calmet)
“Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.”
Broken, by death. Usher, the year of the world 3681 [319 B.C.] — Four. Seleucus, Antigonus, Philip, and Ptolemeus, the successors of Alexander, who divided his empire among them. (Challoner) — Other generals held out for some time. Philip was only a nominal king; Antipater governed Macedon and Greece. Syria, Asia, and Egypt, formed three other kingdoms. All four marked out by the four heads of the leopard, chap. vii. 6. But the prophet is intent upon Syria and Egypt, which had most to do with the Jews. (Calmet)
“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.”
A little horn. Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus. He grew against the south and the east, by his victories over the kings of Egypt and Armenia; and against the strength, that is, against Jerusalem and the people of God. (Challoner) — He persecuted God’s people, and set up the idol of Jupiter Olympius in the very temple. (Worthington)
“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. to the host: or, against the host”
Even unto, or against the strength of heaven. So are here called the army of the Jews, the people of God, (Challoner) and particularly the teachers. Many priests gave way to idolatry, 1 Machabees i. 48., and 2 Machabees iv. 14. (Calmet)
“Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away , and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. to: or, against by him: or, from him”
Strength; the God of armies, (Haydock) over whom Epiphanes seemed to triumph.
“And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. an host: or, the host was given over for the transgression against the daily sacrifice”
Strength. Hebrew: “the army was delivered up to him, for the,” &c. While several contended for the high priesthood, and imitated the manners of the Greeks, the sacrifices were neglected, and then Antiochus prevailed, 2 Machabees iv. 7. — Ground. The ambitious pontiffs, as well as the king and his officers, kept not their promises. Onias, the lawful high priest, being displaced, went to seek redress at Antioch, in the asylum at Daphne. Andronicus prevailed on him to come out by treacherous promises, and slew him; whereupon even Epiphanes wept, and ordered the murderer to be punished, 2 Machabees iv. 32. The following year he entered Jerusalem, and committed horrible profanations.
“Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? that: or, the numberer of secrets, or, the wonderful numberer: Heb. Palmoni of: or, making desolate”
Another. We do not inquire how the angels explained themselves, or whether they instruct each other. This conversation was for the prophet’s information. (Calmet) — One angel asked the other a question about futurity. (Worthington)
“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days ; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. days: Heb. evening morning cleansed: Heb. justified”
Days. That is, six years and almost four months; which was the whole time from the beginning of the persecution of Antiochus till his death. (Challoner) — He began in the year 143, and died in the year 149, according to the era of Seleucus. (Haydock) — The temple was purified in the mean time, 1 Machabees i. 21., and vi. 16. (Worthington) — Full days are specified. Sacrifice entirely ceased for three years, in the year 145, chap. vii. 25. Symmachus has 2,400, others 2,200, as quoted by St. Jerome. We know not whether the solar year of 365 days, or the lunar of 354, be meant.
“And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”
Between, in an island formed by the river. It was the Son of God, (Calmet) or St. Michael, (St. Jerome) directing Gabriel to explain the vision.
“So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.”
Man. So Ezechiel is usually styled, to shew that the human nature is different from that of angels, and would be greatly honoured by Jesus Christ, who takes this appellation. (Worthington) — Of the end, or determined. This shall take place, (Calmet) but the period is distinct. (Grotius ver. 26.)
“And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.”
Malediction. Hebrew, “wrath” against the people of God, and their enemies. (Calmet)
“And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.”
Is. Hebrew, “are the kings,” (Haydock) including all, ver. 3.
“Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.”
Nation, yet not his children, ver. 8.
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. are: Heb. are accomplished”
Shameless. Hebrew: “hard,” cruel, and impudent, as Epiphanes was, 1 Machabees i. 2. Marcellinus styles him “wrathful and savage.” — Sentences, making use of artifice to seize the estates of his nephew Philometor, and to oppress the Jews, 2 Machabees v. 24. (Calmet) — The history speaks of Antiochus: antichrist is also meant, as [in] chap. xii. and Matthew xxiv. (Worthington)
“And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. holy: Heb. people of the holy ones”
By. Hebrew: “not to his (Alexander’s) strength,” ver. 22. Epiphanes conquered Egypt and the Jews: but the former had an infant king, and the latter were unprovided. He shewed more cunning than prowess.
“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. peace: or, prosperity”
Prince: God. — Hand of man. He confessed that he was justly punished, 1 Machabees vi. 10. Greek, “He shall raise himself by the ruin of many, (Theod. and some manuscripts add, and shall rise up against the prince of princes) and he shall break them like eggs with his hand.”
“And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.”
Morning of this day, or of what shall happen in certain full days, ver. 14. — Seal. When the predictions were to take place soon, they were dated and published. (Calmet) — This will remain obscure till after the event. (St. Jerome) — What regarded the temple, happened in 300 years’ time. But it alluded also to antichrist. (St. Gregory, Mor. xxx. 12.) (Worthington)
“And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.”
Business, at Susa. Nabuchodonosor had given him the province of Babylon. — It. All prophecies have a degree of obscurity before they be accomplished. Hebrew may intimate that none could tell the cause of his anxiety. (Calmet)