“Et convertet faciem suam ad insulas, et capiet multas : et cessare faciet principem opprobrii sui, et opprobrium ejus convertetur in eum.”
“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 own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. for: Heb. for him the reproach: Heb. his reproach”
“Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him.”
“After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him.”
“After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him.”
Islands, near Asia. He also went into Greece, and was master of that country when the Romans declared war against him. (Calmet) — Of his reproach. Scipio, the Roman general, called the prince of his reproach, because he overthrew Antiochus, and obliged him to submit to very dishonourable terms, before he would cease from the war. (Challoner) — Protestants, “for a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease, without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.” (Haydock) — Being defeated at Magnesia, he chose the wisest plan of avoiding fresh reproach, by making peace, though (Calmet) the terms were very hard. (Livy xxxvii.) — He jokingly observed, that he was obliged to the Romans for contracting his dominions. (Cicero, pro Dejot.)
Verses 1-30 The angel shows Daniel the succession of the Persian and Grecian empires. The kings of Egypt and Syria are noticed: Judea was between their dominions, and affected by their contests. From ver. ( 5-30 ) , is generally considered to relate to the events which came to pass during the continuance of these governments; and from ver. ( 21 ) , to relate to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a cruel and violent persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God, in his providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as he pleases. This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict.
“And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim.”