“Et visio vespere et mane, quæ dicta est, vera est : tu ergo visionem signa, quia post multos dies erit.”
“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.”
“The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.””
“The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.”
“And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come.”
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)
3. As to the time fixed for the continuance of the cessation of the daily sacrifice, it is not explained here, but only confirmed (v. 26). That vision of the evening and morning is true, in the proper sense of the words, and needs no explication. How unlikely soever it might be that God should suffer his own sanctuary to be thus profaned, yet it is true, it is too true, so it shall be.
Verses 15-27 The eternal Son of God stood before the prophet in the appearance of a man, and directed the angel Gabriel to explain the vision. Daniel's fainting and astonishment at the prospect of evils he saw coming on his people and the church, confirm the opinion that long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision being ended, a charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for the present. He kept it to himself, and went on to do the duty of his place. As long as we live in this world we must have something to do in it; and even those whom God has most honoured, must not think themselves above their business. Nor must the pleasure of communion with God take us from the duties of our callings, but we must in them abide with God. All who are intrusted with public business must discharge their trust uprightly; and, amidst all doubts and discouragements, they may, if true believers, look forward to a happy issue. Thus should we endeavour to compose our minds for attending to the duties to which each is appointed, in the church and in the world.