Daniel 8

IN the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar This follows then in time after the former: Those things that were meet for the Chaldees to know, are recorded by Daniel in that Tongue, but now he writes in Hebrew which lasts to the end of the Book, because these things relate to the Church of Christ, Iew and Gentile to the end of the World. a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first In the other Vision he speaks of all the four Monarchies; here only of the three first: this vision being both as a part, and a Comment upon the first..

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 In his mind and thoughts, not bodily, and was by the River Vlai; some think he was locally there, being sent thither in Embassy by Cyrus; but Daniel was now at Babylon, when it was besieged and taken, Dan. 5. he was only there in Spirit, as the Prophet Ezekiel says he was in Ierusalem, Ezek. 8.1. Now Daniel had this Vision at Susan, because their deliverance was to come by Cyrus the Persian, or Elamite, for Elam is Persia. This City was called Sushan, i. e. a Lilly, for the pleasantness of it; such names they give also their Cities in China.) and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai A River whose waters were so wholesome, that they were carried far, and the king drank of no other..

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram, which had two horns By which is meant the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians, as it is in ver. 20. where it is so interpreted. Before he was called a Bear, and here a Ram, both noting the same thing though by different expressions. A Ram because he is a fighting creature, pushing., and the two horns were high i. e. They were very powerful.: but one was higher than the other i. e. The Median, that it came up last; but afterward the Persian was much Superiour in magnificence and fame, which was verified in Cyrus; who had an incredible heap, even 50 Millions of Talents. See C rtius and Strabo., and the higher came up last.

I saw the ram pushing west-ward i. e. Towards Babylon, Syria, Cappadocia, Asia the less and Greece, all Westward from Media and Persia; for the Persians under Darius and Xerxes made War against Greece., and north-ward i. e. Against the Armenians, Iberians, Lydians, Colchi, Caspians., and south-ward i. e. Against Aethiopia, Arabia, Aegypt, which Cambyses invaded.: so that no beasts might stand before him They prospered and conquered all as did Cyrus., neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will, and became great He prevailed against all that opposed, and did what he would without controul, and became the greatest King of the Earth then..

And as I was considering, behold, an he-goat Alexander the great King of Macedonia, and all Greece, called a He-goat because the Greeks were called Egeans, so was their Sea that Country and its Islands abounding in Goats, as the word, signifies goatish. The word he-goat, signifies a young he-goat; for so was Alexander, called pell us juvenis the he-goat goes before the Flock, Ier. 50.8. This notes him to be the Grecian Captain and Leader. This He-goat answers to the Belly and Thighs of the Image, and to the Leopard and third Beast. came from the west, on the face of the whole earth i. e. In that part of Asia, where he opposed Xerxes, and over-ran all the Eastern Empire., and touched not the ground Therefore called a Leopard with wings, for he conquered with incredible swiftness in a short time, for in six years space he overcame the Medes and Persians, Babylon, Egypt, and all the Countries round far and near, as if he had but travell'd over them, he so came, saw, and overcame them.: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes This was Alexander the great, the Western Emperour. Creatures that have one horn are therefore strong as the Monoceros or Vnicorn, Num. 23.22. between his eyes, noting his power, and policy; also his wise Council, Captains and Conduct, as Parmeno, Clitus, Philotes, &c.:

And he came to the ram, that had two horns i. e, The King of Media and Persia, and joined battel presently and furiously, Iehu like., which I had seen standing before the river: and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

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 Artaxerxes Mnemon, by aiding Cyrus against him; and then Darius Codomannus, these are the two horns, or the Medes and Persians., and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him He overthrew him utterly that he could never rise again. This was at Granicum, Issum, and Arbela., and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Therefore the he-goat waxed very great By conquering all the Eastern Empire and power even to India., and when he was strong, the great horn was broken This was the mighty power of the Lord of Hosts, who is higher than the highest, and stronger than the strongest though they seem invincible: Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity, Selah. When Alexander the Great was greatest, in his Youth, not 33 years old; when he called himself the Son of Iupiter; when he was swoln with Victories, and successes; then was he broken, and that to pieces, for he, his Mother, Son, Brother, and all his kindred were destroyed. So weak are the greatest to bear prosperity long! for this wonder of Men, by Pride, Luxury and Passion, prepared himself for Ruine; he that wept because he had not another World to Conquer, and wanted breathing room in this, how soon was he tumbled into a Grave of 6 foot?: and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven 1 Antipater got Greece. 2 Asia was possessed by Antigonus. 3 Ptolomy got Aegypt. 4 Seleucus had Babylon and Syria. All these were variously scituated, to the East, Babylon and Syria; to the South, Aegypt; to the North, Asia the less; to the West Greece..

And out of one of them came forth a little horn This little horn was Antiochus Epiphanes, he arose out of the Seleucidae of Syria: Called a little horn, 1 Because he was much less than Alexander, called a notable Horn, ver. 5. 2 Little, because he was the youngest of his Brethren. 3 He was held a Prisoner and Pledge at Rome, whence he escaped. 4 Little, because he had nothing at first of Greatness and Heroick Nobleness in him, also of low Fortune., which waxed exceeding great, toward the south i. e. Egypt, where he besieged and took many places from Philometer, till the Romans stopped him., and toward the east i. e. In Syria, Babylon, Armenia, and toward the pleasant land Iudea, so called because of the Temple and People of God in it, and the fruitfulness of it, Ezek. 20.6 the glory of all lands. So ver. 15. Psal. 48.2, 3, &c. Ier. 3.19. Dan. 11.16, 41, 45..

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven i. e. The Church of God Militant, who worship the God of Heaven who are Citizens of Heaven, whose names are written in Heaven; and among these chiefly the Priests, and Nobles and Champions, who were as Stars shining above the rest; these he prophaned and slew cruelly., and it cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host Not only against the High-priest, Onias, whom he put from his Priesthood, and sold the High-priesthood, 2 Macc. 4. but against God himself, which showed his daring insolence, and Gods Patience and permission for the sins of his people., and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away For he so persecuted the People of God, that he forced them to omit the Worship of God., and the place of his Sanctuary was cast down He took away the use of the Temple as to the Holy service and Sacrifices, commanding that it should not be called the Temple of God, but of Iupiter Olympus, whose Image he set up in it, and gave the Priesthood to wicked men, as Iason and Menelaus..

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression i. e. Either the Transgression of the Priests, for Iason perfidiously took away the Priesthood from his Brother O ias, and after Menelaus did the like by him. Or else for the sin of the people about the Worship of God. Or else Antiochus wickedly and in contempt of God put Souldiers into the City to hinder or break up the meetings of Gods people about his Worship, 1 Macc. 1.47., and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised and prospered The Truth, i e. the law of God, called the law of truth, Mal. 2.6. which Antiochus cut in pieces and burnt, 1 Macc. 1.59. This was his practise, and it succeeded for a time as he desired..

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake By the first is meant a Holy Angel, by the other is meant Jesus Christ Palmoni, a numberer or revealer of secrets, a wonderful revealer, Isa. 9.6. of him the Angel asks this secret concerning the calamity of the Church how long it would last for Daniels sake and his People. For the Lord Christ is the Teacher of his people, the Wisdom of God and has all this in his power by office, and as he stands in Relation to his Church, and for them., How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation The Lord knowes his suffering people are much concerned about the time of their Sufferings, because there is an appointed time for it, and the Lord does sometime reveal it as we see here unto his considering ones, ver. 5. and praying Saints, chap. 9. they cry out in their agonies, how long O Lord! and its an addition to their sorrow that no man knoweth how long, Psal. 74.9. How long shall Antiochus continue his Tyrannical vexations against the People of God, and the worship of God. This is the treading down of the Sanctuary, and the host., to give both the sanctuary and the host to be troden under foot?

And he i. e. That Angel unnamed; why did he speak to Daniel, and not to the Angel that asked him? because Daniel and the Church to which he related, and was to communicate the answer, was most concerned in it, and the Angel that asked the question did it upon their account. said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days This seems to many learned men a very difficult place, i. e. where to begin, and where to end these days. 1. Some explain it thus, a year contains 365 days; then 2300 make six years 3 months and 18 days, reckoning in 2 day of the Leap-years gained, from the supernumerary hours and minutes. Now this time begins at Antiochus his first entrance into Iudaea, when he profaned the Priesthood, and takes in also his second coming in, when he interdicted their worship, set up an Idol in the Temple, and interrupted the daily Sacrifice. 2. Others count the 2300 days from the peoples revolt, which was procured by Menelaus, which began in the year 141, of the reign of the Seleucidae, 1 Mac. 1. but Antiochus did not act his impieties till the next year after, viz. 142, in the 6th Moneth and the 6th day; from whence if we reckon to the 25th day of the 9th Month of the year 148, there will fall out precisely six years, three months 18 days. 3. Others reckon a little otherwise, from the beginning of Antiochus his profanations, to his death: From 143 to 148, taking in both years to the number. For though Iudas Maccabe s recovered the City and cleansed the Temple in 148, yet Antiochus was not dead till 149, till when the work was not finished. 4. Others make it to begin in the year of the Sele cides 145, and to end anno 151, two years after Antiochus's death, for the abomination of desolation was set up in the moneth Chisleu, 1 Macc. 1.57. for not till two years after Antiochus's death was Nicanor overthrown with all his Army. Thus Iacob Capell, and L'Empereur. 5. Others reckon not days but Sacrifices (at two every day) and restrain the time to fewer years, out of Maccabees, Ioseph.; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning Having obtained the favour of knowing something, he longed for a more clear discovery of those things: and he had his desire granted., then behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man Either the Angel Gabriel or Michael who appeared often in the shape of men, and are the messengers of God in the great things concerning his Church, Heb. 1. ult. others will have this Angel to be Christ..

And I heard a mans voice between the banks of Ulai i. e. Of him but now before mentioned, namely Christ., which called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision i. e. By declaring it more plainly to him: this shows Christ to be God, in commanding and se ding his Angel. Gabriel signifies the strength of God..

So he came near He came near that he might speak more familiar to him, yet Daniel could not bear the glory of it. Mat. 17.6. How much less can we bear the glory of God, and how graciously has the Lord dealt with us to teach us by Men and not by Angels; and how vain are they who aspire to a converse with Angels here on earth. 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 He calls him son of man to make him mind his frailty, and not to be lifted up with Visions, and this great condescension and familiarity of heaven with him., for at the time of the end shall be the vision i. e. In Gods appointed time, i. e. in the latter Generations, but not now in thy life time, but about 400 years hence. See ver. 26..

Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep o my face toward the ground Being terr fied and astonished with the splendor and grandeur both of the messenger and message: by the sight and by the voice.: but he touched me, and set me upright By one touch only. The power of Spirits is incomparably greater than the strongest of Men. Carnal, and Flesh and Blood in Scripture signifies weak, 2 Cor. 10.3, 4..

And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation i. e. That God will raise up Antiochus to execute his wrath against the Iews for their sins, and that yet there shall be an end of that indignation; God will have the end of his intention, and the end of his execution in all his severe Providences relating to his People.: for at the time appointed the end shall be This he says to make us wait patiently. He that believeth will not make haste..

The ram which thou sawest having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia Or the Kingdom, cap. 7.17..

And the rough goat is the king of Greece Of Iavan, or Ion, or Ioan, which properly is Asia the less which was inhabited by Iavan, Gen. 10.2. but spread over all Gre and all spake Greek, and the Sea was thence called the Ionian Sea. See more in Bochart., and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king i. e. Alexander the great; called the Great from his great power, success and possessions; and the first King, i. e. in Asia, and by his Exploits and Victories over the Persian Monarchy; for else there were other Kings of Greece before him, but none of them in the sense aforesaid..

Now that being broken i. e. Broken by death, which breaks the horn of all pride, and earthly glory., whereas four stood up for it Four stood up for it, i. e. four Kingdoms of the Nation of the Greeks., four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power That is not in his Majesty, and Magnificence, but inferiour to him..

And in the latter time of their kingdom i. e. When they were come to the height, and beginning to decline; It notes that time when the Romans began to sieze part of the Grecian Kingdom, by Emilius Probus who subdued Perseus King of Macedonia, and thereby brought all Greece under the Roman Jurisdiction, which was 166 years before Christ was born, that very year Antiochus set up the abomination of desolation., when the transgressors are come to the full When the Iewes were grown to an exces of wickedness, and called for punishment, then God suffered Antiochus to persecute them., a king of fierce countenance Such was he; the word is translated, impudent, inhumane, for the countenance is the discoverer of the mind and manners oftentimes., and understanding dark sentences Full of all subtilty, another I lian, to lay snares, and fetch over the inconstant and backsliding Iews: such a one all Histories declare this Antiochus to be., shall stand up.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power Not by any Heroick Deeds, or truly Regal Qualities, but by making use of the Jewish Factions, and also through the Divine permission, and commission given him to punish a backsliding degenerate Nation; lastly by the help of Eumenes and Attal s by whose means and help he got up to this height, who being Kings, suspected the Roman Power and raised him to be a kind of check to them.: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people He shall by force, craft, and cruelty destroy many of Gods people, from the highest, to the meanest Ranks of them..

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand He shall contrive many devices, and most of them shall take; he shall be a great master of those kind of artifices: all to circumvent and destroy, as Beasts and Birds of prey have a kind of craft to compass, and then devour their prey., and he shall magnifie himself in his heart, He shall take a pride in his wicked devices and tricks., and by peace shall destroy many Under colour of kindness, and promising peace, and amity, shall lull men asleep, so as to fear nothing from him.: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes All this you find verified of him in the Maccabees and J sephus. He sought against God in removing the High-Priest, affronting Gods Laws, prophaning Gods Worship, Name and Temple, and setting up the Image and Worship of Jupiter there., but he shall be broken without hand By a disease whereof he died, 1 Macc. 6.8. 2 Macc 9.5..

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told, is true i. e. Of the 2300 days before, ver. 14. This exposition of it is true, plain and certain, and therefore to be believed, and seriously minded.: wherefore shut thou up the vision Lay it up in thy heart, keep it secret, reveal it to none till it be fulfilled. He does not mean that it should be concealed from the people of God that were wise in Heart, for they were concerned in it, and therefore it was revealed to Daniel. But he would not have it revealed to the Chaldeans, and profane Heathens, and therefore it was written in Hebrew and not in Chaldee. It was to be fulfilled in after times, and therefore to be safely laid up, and wisely to be thought on and improved. Therefore it is added, for it shall be for many days: 300 years after this in the time of the Seleucidae; long after Daniels days, and that Generation. See Rev. 22.10., for it shall be for many days.

And I Daniel fainted, and was sick, certain days Greatly afflicted to consider the sad calamity that should befal the poor people of God. This he did in sympathy and compassion, with his People upon whom these sufferings should fall. 2 Under the dreadful apprehensions of Gods wrath provoked by his peoples sins, which made it an act of Justice in God to punish them thus severely. 3 That Daniel should not be lifted up with this Vision and Revelation. 4 That hereby Daniel might be in a due frame of Humiliation and posture for prayer. 5 To show the powerful operations and impressions of the mind upon the bodies of men by the passions chiefly of fear and grief, causing often intings, and consternation, which appears most in thoughtful good men, whereof are many instances in Scripture. H b. 3.16. Rom. 9.1, 2, 3.: afterward I rose up and did the kings business Having digested hi grief, and recovered strength, he minded his place, duty and Trust, and concealed the whole, that they might not see it by his countenance: though he had deep thoughts of heart about it.; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.