Chapter XLVIII (continued, part 4)
15.6). girded with . . . gold—i. e., with a girdle interwoven with gold (Revelation 1. 13). 6. beryl— Tar-
CHAPTER X,
shish, in Spain. The beryl. Identical with the chrysolite or
topaz, was imported into the East from Tarshish, and therefore is called " the Tarshish stone." 7. tliey tied—
<ER. 1-21. Daniel comforted by an Angelic Vision. Ch. 10.-12. more fully describe the vision in ch. 8. by a second vision on the same subject, just as the vision In the seventh chapter explains more fully that in the second.
terrified by the presence of the angel. 8. comeliness—
lit., vigour, i. e., lively expression and colour, into corrnptlon—deadliness, i.e., death-like paleness (ch. 5. 6; 7.
28). 9. voiceof his worAs—the sound of his words. Iwaa in a deep sleep—" I sanA into a deep sleep." [LengkekkbuJ 10. an iiand—viz., of Gabriel, who interpreted other revelations to Daniel (ch. 8. 16). [Theodoret.] set me upoa my knees-Gesenius translates, " cause me to reel on my knees," «S;c. 11. man . . . beloved—(ch. 9. 2:1, Note.) ur» derstana—attend to. See ch. S. 17, 18. lit. Fear not—Be not affrighted at my presence, didst set thine heai-t to understand-what shall come to pass to thy people at
The tenth chapter is the prologue; the eleventh, the prophecy itself; and the twelfth, the epilogue. The tenth chapter unfolds the spiritual world as the background of the historical world (Job 1.7; 2.1, &c.; Zechariali 3.1,2; Revelation 12. 7), and angels as the ministers of God's government of men. As in the world of nature (John 5.4; Revelation 7. 1-3), so in tliat of liistory here, Michael, the champion of Israel, and with him another angel, whose uim is to realize God's will in the heathen world, resist
Daniel ComforUd by an Angel. DANIEL XI. The Overthrow of Persia by G?'-fleio.
me last times (cf. v. It). chAstem thyself—^i'. 2.3.) thy words were heard — (Acts 10. 4.) Prayer is heard at once in heaven, though the sensible answer may seem to be delayed. God's messenger was detained on the way
Ver. 1-45. This chapter is an enlargement of the eighth The OvEBTHBOW OF Peesia BY Gkecia: The Fouk Di« VISIONS OF ALEXANDEB'S KINGDOM: CONFLtCTS BETWEEN THE Kings of the South and of the Nobth, the Ptolemies and Seleucid^: Antiochus Epiphanes. 1. 1— the angel (oli. 10. 18). first year of Darius—Cyaxares II.
(v. I'i) by the opposition of the powers of darkness. If in our praj'ers amidst long protracted sorrows we believed God's angel is on his way to us, what consolation it would give us! for thy woi-ds-because of thy prayers. 13. prince of . . . Persia—the angel of darkness that represented tlie Persian world-power, to which Israel was then
the year of the conquest of Babylon (ch. 5. 31). Cyrus, who wielded the real power, thougli in name subordinate to Darius, in that year promulgated the edict lor the restoration of the Jews, which Daniel was at tlie time praying for (ch. 9. 1, 2, 21, 23j. stood—implying promptness in helping (Psalm 94. IG). strengthen liim viz., Michael; even as Micliael (ch. 10. 21, " strengllieneth himself with nle") helped the angel, both joining their powers in belialf of Israel. [Rosenmulleb.] Or, Z>a» ms, the angel " confirming him" in his purpose of kindness to Israel. 'A. tln-ee kings in Persia—Canibyses, Pseudo-Snierdis, and Darius Hystaspes. (Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, and Darius, in Ezra 4. 6, 7, 24.) The Ahasuerus of Esther (see Note, ch.
Bulyect. This vevse gives the reason why, though Daniel's •'words were heard from the first day" (v. 12), the good augel did not come to him until rhore than three weeks had elapsed (v. 4). one and twenty days—answering to the three weeks of Daniel's mourning (t>. 2). Michael—
t. €., " Who is like God ?" Though an archangel, " one of the chief princes," Michael was not to be compared to
God. help me—Michael, as patron of Israel before God
(v. 21; 12. 1), "helped" to influence the Persian king to per-, mit the Jews' return to Jerusalem. I remained I was detained there with the kings of Persia, t. e., with the angel of the Persian rulers, with whom I had to contend, and from wliom I should not have got tree, but for the help of Michael. Gesenius translates, "I obtained the ascendency," i. e., I gained my point against the adverse angel of Persia, so as to influence the Persian authorities to favour Israel's restoration. 14. what shall befall tliy people In the latter days— an intimation that the prophecy, besides describing the doings of Antlochus, reaches to the concluding calamities of Israel's history, prior to the nation's full restoration at Christ's coming calamities of which Antlochus' persecutions were the type, vision is for many days i. e., extends far into the future. 15. face toward the ground—in humble reverence (Genesis 19. 1). dumb—with overwhelming awe. 16. touclied my lips—the same significant action wherewith the Son of man accompanied His healing of the dumb (Mark 7. 33). He alone can give spiritual utterance (Isaiah 6. 6, 7 ; Ephesians 6. 19), enabling one to " open the mouth boldly." The same one who makes dumb (v. 15) opens the mouth, sorrows— Ji<., writhings as of a woman in travail. 17. this . . . this my lord—to avoid the tautology in English Version, ioiw rather "this," with servant, " How can this servant of my lord (t. e., how can I who am
9. 1) is identified with Xerxes, both In Greek history and in Scripture, appearing pr.oud, self-willed, careless of contravening Persian customs, amorous, facile, and cliangeable {v. 2). fourth . . . riclies . . . against . . . Grecia Xerxes, wliose riches were proverbial. Persia readied
its climax and showed its greatest power In liis iiivasiou of Greece 480 b. c. After his overthrow at Salamis, Persia
is viewed as politically dead, though it had an existence. Therefore, the third verse, without noticing Xerxes' successors, proceeds at once to Alexander, under whom, first, the third world-kingdom, Grecia, readied its culmina-
tion, and assumed an importance as to the people ot God. stir up all—four years were spent in gathering his army out of all parts of his vast empire, amounting to two millions six hundred and forty-one thousand men. [PkiDEAUX, Connex. 1. 4. 1. 410.] 3. migltty king ... do according to his will-auswei-ing to the he-goat's " notable horn" (ch. 8. 6, 7, 21). Alexander invaded Persia 334 b. c, to avenge the wrongs of Greece on Persia for Xerxes' past invasion (as Alexander said in a letter to Darius Codomanus, Abbian, Alex. 2. 14. 7). 4. kingdom . . . divided toward . . . four winds—the fourfold division of Alexander's kingdom at his death (ch. 8. 8, 22), after the battle of Ipsus, 301 B. c. not to his posterity—(A'^o^M, ch. 8. 8, 22.) nor according to his dominion—none of his successors had so wide a dominion as Alexander himself, otiiera besides tliose—besides Alexander's sons, Hercules by Barsine, Darius' daugliter, and Alexander by Roxana, who were both slain. [Maurer.] Rather, besides the four suc-
tc feeble) taXk. with this my lord (who ls«o»nq7e*<tc)7" Thus Daniel gives the reason why he is so overwhelmed with awe. [Maubeb.] 18. again . . . touched me—It was gradually that Daniel recovered his strength. Hence there was need of the second touch, that he might hear the angel with composure. 19. peace be unto tliee—God
is favourable to thee and to thy people Israel. See Judges
cessors to the four chief divisions of the empire, there will be other lesser chiefs who shall appropriate smaller fragments of the Macedonian empire. [Jerome.] 5. Here the prophet leaves Asia and Greece and takes up Egypt and Syria, these being in continual conflict under Alexander's successors, entailing misery on Judea, which lay between the two. Holy Scripture handles external history only so far as it is connected with God's people, Israel. [Jekome.] Tbegelles puts a chasm between v. 4 and 5, making the transition to the final Antichrist here, answering to the chasm (in his view) at ch. 8. 2'2, 23. king of . . . south
13. 21, 22, as to the fear of some evil resulting from a vision of angels. SJO. Knowest thou wlierefore—The angel asks, after Daniel had recovered from his fright, whether he has understood what was revealed (u. 13). On Daniel, by his silence, intimating that he did understand, the angel declares he will return to renew the fight with the
evil angel, the prince of Persia. This points to new dif-
ficulties to the Jews' restoration which would arise in the Persian court, but which would be counteracted by God, through the ministry of angels, prince of Grecia shall come—Alexander the Great, who conquered Persia, and favoured the Jews. [Calvin.] Kather, as the prince of Persia Is an angel, representing the hostile world-power, so the prince of Grecia is a fresh angelic adversary, representing Greece. When I am gone forth from conquering the Persian foe, a fresh one starts up, viz., the worldpower that succeeds Persia, Greece; Antlochus Epiphanes, and his antitype Antichrist, but him, too, with the help of Michael, Israel's champion, I shall overcome. [Oejeb.] !il. noted in the scripture of truth—in the uecret book of God's decrees (Psalm 139. 16; Revelation 5.
lit., of midday : Egypt (v. 8. 42), Ptolemy Soter, son of Lagus. He took the title "king," whereas Lagus was but "governor." one of his princes—Seleucus, at first a satrap of Ptolemy Lagus, but from 312 b. c. king of tlie largest empire after that of Alexander (Syria, Babylon, Media, &c.), and called therefore Nlcator, i.e., Oonquei-or. Connect the words thus, "And one of his (Ptolemy's) princes, even he (Seleucus) shall be strong above him" (above Ptolemy, his former master). 6. in . . . end of years—when the predicted time shall be consummated (v. 13, Margin; ch. 8. 17
12. 13). king's daughter of the south—Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt. The latter, in order to end his war with Antiochus Theus, " king of the north"
1), which are truth, i. e., the things which shall most Burely come to pa.ss, being determined by God (cf. John
17.17). none . . . but Michael—to him alone of the angels the office of protecting Israel, in concert with the angelic iipeaker, was delegated ; all the world-powers were against
(lit., midnight: the proplietical phrase for the region whence came affliction to Israel, Jeremiah 1. i;3-15; Joel 2.
20), i. e., Syria, gave Berenice to Antlochus, who thereupon divorced his former wife, Laodice, and disinherited hef
Israel.
Leagues aiid Conflicts between DANIEL XL ihe Kingg of the South and the North.
\ntiochus, after successful campaigns against Persia and India, made war witli Ptolemy Epiphanes, son of Philopater, a mere child. H. many stand up against the king of tlie south—Philip, king of Macedon, and rebels in Egypt itself, combined witli Antioclius against Ptolemy, robbers of tliy people i. e., factious men of the Jews sliiill exalt themselves, so as to revolt from Ptolemy, and join themselves to Antiochus; the Jews helped with provisions Antiochus' army, when on hi?; return from Egypt he besieged the Egyptian garrison left in Jerusalem (JOSEPHCJS, Antiquities, 12. 3. 3). to establisli tlie vision—Those turbulent Jews unconsciously shall help to fulfil the purpose of God, as to the trials whicli await Judea, according to this vision, but they sttall fall tliough helping to fulfil the vision, they shall fail in their aim, of making Judea independent. 15. king of . , . north—Antiochus the Great, take . . . fenced cities Scopas, the Egyptian general, met Antiochus at Paneas,
son, Selcucus CaUinlcus. The designation, "king of 'he north" and "of the soulli," Is given in relation to Judea, as the stand-point. Egypt Is mentioned by name (v. 8, 42), Ihougli Syria is not; because the former was in Daniel's time a nourishing kingdom, whereas Syria was then a mere dependency of Assyria and Babylon : an undesigned proof of the genuineness of the book of Daniel, agreement lit., rig/Us, i. e., to put things to rights between tlie belligerents, she shall not retain the power of tine arm—she shall not be able to effect the purpose of the alliance, viz., that she should be the mainstay of peace. Ptolemy having died, Antiochus took back Laodice, who
tlien poisoned him, and caused Berenice and her son to be put to death, and raised her own son,Seleucus Nlcator, to the throne. ' neither shall he stand—the king of Egypt Bhall not gain his point of setting his line on the throne of Syria, hts arm—that on which he relied. Berenice and her offspring, they that brought her—her attendants from Egypt, lie that begat her—rather, as Margin, " t\\e child whom she brought forth." [Ewald.] If English Version (which Mauker approves) be retained, as Ptolemy died a natural death, "given up" is not in his case, as in Berenice's, to be understood of giving up to death, but in a general sense, of his plan proving abortive, he that strengthened her in these times—Antiochus Tiieus, who
• near the'sources of the Jordan, and was defeated, and flod to Sidon, a strongly " fenced city," where he was forced to surrender, cliosen people—Egypt's clioicest army was sent under Eropus, Menocles, and Damoxenus, to deliver Scopas, but in vain. [Jerome.] 16. he that cometh against l>im—Antiochus coming against Ptolemy Epiphanes. glorious land—Judea (v. 41, 45; ch. 8. 9; Ezekiel 20.
6, 15). by his Itand shall be consumed lit., perfected; i. e., completely brought under his sway. JosKPUVStAntiquities,
is to attach himself to her (having divorced Laodice) at the times predicted. [Gejer.] 7. a branch of her roots . . . In his estate—Ptolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice, succeeding in the place (see Margin) of Philadelphus, avenged her death by overrunning Syria, even to the Euphrates, deal against them—he shall deal with the Syrians at his own pleasure. He slew Laodice. 8. carry
12. 3. 3) shows that the meaning is not, that tlie Jews should be utterly consumed : for Antiochus favoured them for talving his part against Ptolemy, but that their land should be si<6;ec<ed to him. [Lengkerke.] Grotius ?ra)W-
lates, " shall be perfected by him," i. e., shall flourish under him. English Version gives a good sense, viz., that Judea was much "consumed" or desolated by being the arena of conflict between the combatants, Syria and Egypt. TreGELLES refers (v. 14), "robbers of thy people," to the Gen-
. . . into Egypt their gods, &c.—Ptolemy, on hearing of a sedition in Egypt, returned with 40,000 talents of silver, precious vessels, and 2i00 images, including Egyptian
idols, which Cambyses had carried from Egypt into Per-
tiles, once oppressors, attempting to restore the Jews to their land by mere human effort, whereas this is to be effected only by Divine interposition : their attempt is frustrated (v. 16) by the wilful king, who makes Judea the scene of his military operations. 17. set his face—purpose steadfastly. Antiochus' purpose was, however, turned from open assault to wile, by his war with the Romans in his endeavour to extend his kingdom to the limits it had under Seleucus Nicator. upriglit ones Jasher, or Jeshurun (Deuteronomy 32. 15; Isaiah 44. 2); the epithet applied by the Hebrews to their nation. It is here used not in praise; for in v. 14 (see Note) they are called "robbers," or men of violence, factious : it Is the general designation of
sia. The idolatrous Egyptians were so gratified, that they named him Euergetes, or Benefactor, continue more years—Ptolemy survived Seleucus four years, reigning in all forty-six years. Maukek translates, "Then he for several years shall desist from (contending with) the king of the north" (cf. t'. 9). 9. come into his kingdom Egypt: not only with impunity, but with great spoil. 10. his sons—the two sons of the king of the north, Seleucus Callinicus, upon his death by a fall from his horse, viz., Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great, one sliall come—Ceraunus having died, Antiochus alone prosecuted the war with Ptolemy Philopater, Euergetes' son, until he had recovered all the parts of Syria subjugated by Euergetes. pass through—like an "overflowing" torrent (d. 22. 26, 40; Isaiah 8.8). Antiochus penetrated to Dura (near Caesarea), where he gave Ptolemy a four months' truce, return—renew the war at the expiration of the truce (so v. 13). even to his fortress—Ptolemy's; Rapliia, a border-fortress of Egypt against incursions by way of Edom and Arabia Petrsea, near Oaza
Israel, as having God for their God. Probably it is used to rebuke those who ought to have been God's "upright ones"
for confederating \yith godless heathen in acts of violence
(the contrast to the term in v. 14 favours this), thus shall he do—instead of at once invading Ptolemy's country with his "whole strength," he prepares his way for doing so by
tlie following plan : he gives to Ptolemy Epiphanes his daughter Cleopatra In marriage, promising Ccelo-Syrla and Judea as a dowry, thus securing his neutrality in the war with Rome: he hoped through his daughter to obtain Syria, Cilicia, and Lycia, and even Egypt itself at last; but Cleopatra favoured her husband rather than her
here Antiochus was vanquished. 11. the king of the south . . . moved with clioler—at so great losses, Syria having been wrested from him, and his own kingdom Imperilled, though otherwise an indolent man, to which nis disasters were owing, as also to the odium of his sub-
father, and so defeated his scheme. [Jerome.] " She shall not stand on his side." 18. isles—he " took many " of the
jects against him for having murdered his father, mother, and brother, whence in irony they called him Philopater, " Father-lover." he shall set forth a great multitude Antiochus, king of Syria, whose force was 70,000 Infantry and 5000 cavalry, but . . . multitude . . . given into his hand—into Ptolemy's hands ; 10,000 of Antiochus' army were slain, and 4000 made captives. 13. when he hath taken away i. e., subdued " the multitude" of Antiochus. licart . . . lifted up—instead of following up his victory by making himself master of the whole of Syria, as he might, he made peace with Antiochus, and gave himself up to licentiousness [Polyb. 87. ; Justin. 30.
isles in the .iEgean In his war with the Romans, and crossed the Hellespont, prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach ... to cease—Lucius Scipio Asiatl-
cus, the Roman general, by routing Antiochus at Magnesia (190 B.C.), caused the reproach which he offeied Rome by inflicting injuries on Rome's allies, to cease. He did it/or his own glory, without his own reproachwith untarnished reputation. 19. Then he sliall turn
, . . toward . . . his own land—compelled by Rome to
relinquisli all his territory west of the Taurus, and defray the expenses of the war, he garrisoned the cities left to him. stumble . . . notbefound—attempting to plunder the temple of Jupiter at Elymals by night, whether
4], and profaned the temple of God by entering the holy
place. [GB0TIU9.] not be strengthened by it—he shall
Ibse the power gained by his victory through his luxnrious indolence. 13. retum—renew the war. after e«rtain years—/ou/^een after hiH defeat at Rapiiia.
througii avarice, or the want of money to pay the trlbuta imposed by Rome (a thousand talents), he was siain will.
Lea^ites and Conflicts between DANIEL XI. the Kings of the South and the NorCh.
them all except Alexandria, which successfully resisted him. Retaining to himself Pelusium, he retired to Judea, where, in revenge for the joy shown by the Jews at the report of his death, which led them to a revolt, he subdued Jerusalem by storm or stratagem, for a time—his rage shall not be for ever; it is but for a time limited by God. Calvin makes "for a time " in antithesis to " unexpectedly," in the beginning of the verse. He suddenly mastered the weaker cities: he had to "forecast his plans" more gradually ("for a time") as to how to gain the stronger fortresses. SJ5. A fuller detail of what was summarily stated (v. 22-24). This is the first of Antiochus' three {v. 29) open Invasions of Egypt, against the king of the south—against Ptolemy Philometer. Subsequently, Ptolemy Physcon (the Gross), or Euergetes II., was made king by the Egyptians, as Ptolemy Philometer was in Antiochus' hands, great army—as distinguished from the "small people" (v. 23) witli which he first came. This was his first open expedition ; he was emboldened by success to it. Antiochus "entered Egypt with an overwhelming multitude, with chariots, elephants, and cavalry" (1 Maccabees 1. 17). stirred up—by the necessity, though naturally indolent, not stand—Philometer was defeated, they shall forecast, <fec. /lis own nobles shall frame treacherous "devices" against him (see v. 26). Euloeus and Lenceus mal-administered his affairs. Antio-
hlssoMiers in an insurrection of the inhabitants [Justin.
32.2]. ao. Ill Ilia estate—in Antiochus' stead: his suc-
cifssor, Selfucus Pliilopater, his son. li» tl»e glory of the kingdom—i. e., inlieritinf; it by hereditary riglit. Maurer
translates, "one wlio sliiill cause the tax-gatlierer (Heliodorus; to pass through the glory of the kingdom," i. e., Judea, "tlie glorious land" {v. 16, ll ; ch. 8. 9). Simon, a Benjaniite, in spite against Onias III., the high priest, gave information of the treasures in the Jewish temple; and Seleucus having* reunited to Syria Cojlo-Syria and
Palestine, the dowry formerly given by Antiochus the Great to Cleopatra, Ptolemy's wife, sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple. This is narrated, 2 Maccabees 3. 4, &c. Contrast Zechariah 9. 8, "No oppressor shall pass through . . . any more." wltlilii few
(layii . . . destroyed—after a reign of twelve years, which were "few" compared with the thirty-seven years of An-
tiochus' reign. Heliodorus, the instrument of Seleucus'
sacrilege, was made by God the instrument of his punishment. Seeking tlie crown, in the absence at Rome of Se-
leucus' only son and heir, Demetrius, he poisoned Seleu-
cus. But Antiochus Epiphanes, Seleucus' brother, by the help of Eumenes, king of Pergamos, succeeded to the throne, 175 b. c. neltlier in anger, nor In battle—not in a popular outbreak, nor in open battle. !J1. vile—Antiochus, called Epiphanes, i. e., the illustrious, for vindicating the claims of the royal line against Heliodorus, was nicknamed, by a play of sounds, Epi manes, i. e., the madman,
clius, when checked at last at Alexandria, left Ptolemy Philometer at Memphis as king, pretending that his wliole object was to support Philometer's claims against the usurper Physcon. 36. they tliat feed of . . . his meat—tliose from whom he might naturally have looked for help, his intimates and dependants (Psalm 41. 9; John
for liis mad freaks beneath the dignity of a king. He would carouse with the lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly jest and throw stones at passers-by [Polyb. 26. 10]. Hence, as also for his crafty supplanting of Demetrius, the rightful heir, from the tlirone, he is termed " vile.'' tlkey shall not give . . . kingdom ; hut . . . by llattcrles—the nation shall not, by a public act, confer the kingdom on him, but he shall obtain it by artifice, "flattering" Eumenes and Attains of Pergamos to help him, and, as he had seen candidates at Rome doing, canvassing the Syrian people high and low, one by one, with embraces [Livy, 41. 20]. 2!J. shall they be overflown . . . before him—Antiochus Epiphanes shall invade Egypt with overwhelming forces, prince of the covenant—Ptolemy Philometer, the son of Cleopatra, Antiochus' sister, who was joined in covenant with him. Ptolemy's guardians, whilst he was a boy. Bought to recover from Epiphanes Coelo-Syria and Pales-
13.18); his ministers and guardians, his army shall overflow—Philometer's army shall be dissipated as water. The phrase is used of overflowing numbers, usually In a victorious sense, but here in the sense ot defeat, the very numbers which ordinarily ensure victory, hastening tlie defeat through mismanagement, many shall fall down slain—(1 Maccabees 1. 18, " many fell wounded to death ".) Antiochus, when he might have slain all in the battle near Pelusium, rode around and ordered the enemy to be taken alive, the fruit of which policy was, he soon gained Pelusium and all Egypt [Diodobus Siculus, 26. 77]. 37. both . .
hearts . . . to do mischief—each to the other, speak Ilea at one table—they shall, under the semblance of intimacy, at Memphis try to deceive one another (Notes, v. 3,
25). it shall not prosper—neither of them shall carry his point at this time, yet the end sliall be—" the end" of the contest between them Is reserved for "the time appointed" (v. 29, 30). 28. (1 Maccabees 1. 19, 20, &c.) against the holy covenant—on his way back to Syria, he attacked Jerusalem, the metropolis of Jehovah's covenant-people, slew 80,000, took 40,000 prisoners, and sold
tine, which had been promised by Antiochus the Great as Cleopatra's dowry in marrying Ptolemy Epiphanes. Hence arose the war. Philometer's generals were vanquished, and Pelusium, the key of Egypt, taken by Antiochus, 171 B. c. as. Tregelles notes three divisions In the history of the "vile person," which is continued to the end of the chapter': (1.) His rise (v. 21, 22). (2.) The time from his making the covenant to the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up of the abomination of desolation (v. 2:j-31). (3.) His career of blasphemy, to his destruction {v. 32-45) ; the latter two periods answering to the "week" of years of his " covenant with many" (triz., in Israel) (ch. 9. 27), and the last being the closing half week of ch. 9. But the context so accurately agrees with the relations of Antiochus to Ptolemy that the primary referonce seems to be to the "league" between them. AntUypically, Antichrist's relations towards Israel are probably delineated. Cf. ch. 8. 11, 25, with v. 22 here, "prince of the covenant." work deceitfully—feigning friendship to young Ptolemy, as if he wished to order his kingdom for him, he took possession of Memphis and all Egypt ("the fattest places," u. 34) as far as Alexandria, with a small people—at first, to throw off suspicion, his forces were small. 84. peaceably lit., unexpectedly; under the guise of friendship he seized Ptolemy Philometer. he shall do that which his fathers have done his predeces.sors, kings of Syria, had always coveted Kgypt, but In vain: lie alone made himself master of It. BuUter among them . . . prey-among his followers (1 Maccabees I. 19). forecast his devices against . . . trongholds—he shall form a studied scheme for making himself master of the Egyptian fortresses. He gained
40,000 as slaves (2 Maccabees 5. 5-14). he shall do exploits —he shall etTect his purpose. Guided by Menelaus, the high priest, he entered the sanctuary with blasphemies, took away the gold and silver vessels, sacrificed swine on the altar, and sprinkled broth of the flesh through the temple (2 Maccabees 5. 15-21). 30. At the time appointed —"the time" spoken of In v. 27. return—his second open Invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy Philometer, suspecting Antiochus' designs with Physcon, hired mercenaries from Greece. Whereupon Antiochus advanced with a fleet and an army, demanding the cession to him of Cyprus, Pelusium, and the country adjoining the Pelusiac mouth of the Nile. It shall not be as the former—not successful as the former expedition. Popilius Lcenas, the Roman ambassador, met him at Eleusis, four miles from Alexandria, and presented him the deci'ee of the senate; on Antiochus replying that he would consider what he was to do, Popilius (Jrew a line round him with a rod, and said, I must have a reply to give to the senate before you leave this circle. Antiochus submitted, and retired from Egypt; and his fleets withdrew from Cyprus, or as th« latter—that mentioned In v. 42, 43. fTREGELLES.] Or, making this the third expedition, the sense Is "not as the
first or as the second" expeditions. [Piscator.] Rather "not as the former, so shall be this latter" expedition.
• 645
Leaaves a^d Conflicts between the Kings. DANIEL XI, The Invanion of the RtmxaiM,
[GROTtus.l 30. sliips of Clilttlm—the Roman ambassadors arriving in Macedunian Orecian vessels (see Note, Jerc'iniah 2. 10). Chiltim, properly Cyprian, so called from a I'lififiiiician colony in Cyprus; then the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean in general, grieved—humbled and dispirited througli fear of Rome. Indignation agninst tlie iioly covenant—indignant that meantime God's woisliip had been restored at Jerusalem, he gives vent to his wratli at the check given him by Rome, on the Jews, intelligence witl» tliem that forsake the . . . covenant viz., with the apostates in tlie nation (1 Maccabees 1. 11-15). Menelaus and other Jews instigated the king against their religion and country; learning from Greek philosophy that all religions are good enough to keej) the masses iu clieck. Tliese had cast' off circumcision and the religion of Jehovah for Greek customs. AnJochus, on his way home, sent Apollonius (167 b. c.) with
Rome (the eagle standard, the bird of Jupiter, sacrificed to bj' Titus' .soldiers within the sacred precincts, at tU6 destruction of Jerusalem), of Mohammed, and of the final Antichrist, is foretold. 1 Maccabees 1. ryi, uses the very phrase, "the fifteentli day of the month Casleu, in the 145th year, they set up the abomination of desolation on the altar;" viz., an idol-altar and image of Jujiiter Olympius, erected upon Jeliovali's altar of burnt otterings. "Abomination is the common name for im idol in the Old Testament. The Roman emperor Adrian's erection of a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus where the temple of God had stood,
132 A. D. ; also the erection of the Mohammedan mosque of Omar in the same place (it is striking, Mohammedanism began to prevail in 610 a. d., oivly about three years of the time wlien Popery assumed the temporal power); and the idolatry of the Church of Rorne in the spiritual temple, and the final blasphemy of the personal Antichrist in tlie literal temple (2Thessalonians 2.), may all be antitypically referred to here under Antiochus the type, and the Old Testament Antichrist. 32. (1 Maccabees 1.5'2.) cornipt—seduce to apostasy, hy flatteries—promises of favour, people that . . . know their God—the Maccabees and their followers (1 Maccabees 1. 62, 63). 33. they that nnderstand—who know and keep the truth of God (Isaiah 11. 2). instruct many—in their duty to God and the law, not to apostatize, yet tliey shall fall—as Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6. 18, &c.). They shall be sorelj' persecuted, even to death (Hebrews 11. 35, 36, 37 ; 2 Maccabees 6., 7). Their enemies took advantage of the Sabbatli to slay them on the day when they would not
32,01K» to destroy Jerusalem, two years after its capture by himself. Ap'oUonius slew multitudes, dismantled and pillaged the city. They tlien, from a fortress which they built commanding the temple, fell on and slew the worshippers; so that the temple service was discontinued. Also, Autiochus decreed that all, on pain of death, should conform to the Greek religion, and the temple wa^ consecrated to Jupiter Olympius. Identifying himself with that god, with fanatical haughtiness he wished to make his own worship universal (1 Maccabees 1.41; 2 Maccabees
6. 7). This was the gravest peril which ever heretofore threatened revealed religion, the holy people, and the theocracy on earth, for none of the previous worldrulers had interfei-ed with the religious worship of the covenant people, when subject to them (ch. 4. 31-34 ; 6.27,
fight. Tregelles thinks, from comparison with v. 35,
It is the people who "fall," not those of understanding. But V. 35 makes the latter " fall," not an unmeaning repetition; in v. 33 they fall (die) by persecution; in r. 35 they
28; Ezra 1. 2, 4; 7. 12; Nehemiah 2. 18). Hence arose the need of such a forewarning of the covenant people as to him—so accurate, that Pokphyhy, the adyersary of revela-
fall (spiritually) for a time by their own weakness, flame —in caves, whitlier they had retired to keep the Sabbath. Antiochus caused some to be roasted alive (2 Maccabees 7.
tion, saw it was hopeless to deny its correspondence with history, but argued from its accuracy that it must have been written subsequent to the event. But as Messianic events are foretold in Daniel, the Jews, the adversaries of Jesus, would never have forged the prophecies which confirm nis claims. The ninth chapter was to comfort the faitliiul Jews, in the midst of the "abominations" against " the covenant," with the prospect of Messiah who would " confirm the covenant." He would show by bringing salvation, and yet abolishing sacrifices, that the temple service which t hey so grieved after, was not absolutely necessary; thus the correspondence of phraseology would suggest comfort (cf. ch. 9. 27 with ch. 11. 30, 31). 31. arms
3-5). many days—rather, " certain days," as in ch. 8. 27. JoSEPHUS {Antiquities, 12. 7. 6, 7) tells us the persecutioa lasted for three years (1 Maccabees 1. 59 ; 4. 54 ; 2 Maccabees
10. 1-7). 34. a little help—the liberty obtained by the Maccabean heroes for the Jews was of but short duration. They soon fell under the Romans and Herodians, and ever since every attempt to free them from Gentile rule has only aggravated their sad lot. The period of the world-times (Gentile rule) is the period of depression of the theocracy, extending from the exile to the millennium.
fRoos.] The more immediate reference seems to be, the forces of Mattathias and his five sons were originally few
—viz., of the human body; not weapons; human forces, they — Antiochus' hosts confederate with the apostate Israelites; these latter attain the climax of guilt, when they not only, as before, "forsake the covenant" (v. 30), but "do wickedly against" it (v. 32), turning complete heatliens. Here Antiochus' actings are described in language whicli reach beyond him the type, to Antichrist the antitype [Jeromk] (just as in Psalm 72. many things are said of .Solomon the type, which are only applicable
(1 Maccabees 2). many sliall cleave to thein—as was the case under Judas Maccabeus, who was thus able successfully to resist Antiochus. witli flatteries—those who had deserted the Jewish cau.se in persecution, now, when success attended the Jewish arms, joined the Maccabean standard, e.g., Joseph, the son of Zecharias, Azurlas, &c.
(1 Maccabees 5.55-57 ; 2 Maccabees 12. 40; 13. 21). MaureB explains it, of those who through fear of the Maccabees' severity against apostates Joined them, though ready,
to Clirist the Antitype); including perhaps Rome, Mohammed, and the final personal Antichrist. Sir Isaac Newton refers tlie rest of the chapter from this ver^-e to the Romans, translating, "after him arms (i. e., the Romans) shall stand up ;" at the very time that Antiochus left Egypt, the Romans conquered Macedon, thus finishing the reign of Daniel's third beast; so here the pi'ophet naturally proceeds to the fourth beast. Jerome's view is simpler; lor the narrative seems to continue the history of Antiochus, though with features only in type applicable to him, fully to Anticlirist. sanctuary of strength—not only naturally a place of strength, whence it held out to the last against the besiegers, but chiefly the spiritual stronghold of the covenant people (Psalfti 48. 1-.S, 12-14). Apollonius " polluted" it with altars to idols and sacri-
if It suited their purpose, to desert them (1 Maccabees
2.44; 3.58). 35. to try tliem—the design of afHictlon. Image from metals tried with flre. to purge—even In the
elect there are dregs which need to be purged out (1 Peter
1. 7). Hence they are allowed to fall for a time ; not finally
(2 Chronicles 32. 31 ; Luke 22. 31). Image from wheat cleared of its chafT by the wind, make . . . white—image from
cloth (Revelation 7. 9). to . . . time of . . . end—God will not suffer His people to be persecuted without limitation
(1 Corinthians 10. 13). The godly are to wait patiently for "the end" of "the time" of trial; "for it Is (to last) yet
for a time appointed" by God. 36. The wilful king here, though primarily Antiochus, is antitypically and mainly Antichrist, the seventli head of the seven-headed and tenhorned beast of Revelation 13., and the "beast" of Arnia^ geddon (Revelation 16. 13, 16; 19. 19). Some Identify him with the revived French empei-orshlp, the eighth head of the beast (Revelation 17. U), who Is to usurp the kingly, as the Pope has the priestly, dignity of Christ—the false Messiah of the Jews, who will " plant his tabeiuacle be-
fices of swine's flesh, after having "taken away the dally 'bacriflce" (see Note, ch. 8. 11). place . . . abomination tlmt maketh desolate i.e., that pollutes the temple (ch.
8. 12, 13). Or rather, " the abomination of the desolator," Antioohus Epiphanes (1 Maccabees 1. 29, 37-49). Cf. ch.
9. 27, wherein the antilypical desolating abominatimi of
t<46
77ie hvaswn of the Ilomans. DANIEL XII. The Ddiverance of IsrceL
ing against Ptolemy, though he turned from bis course to wreak his wi'ath on the Jews, did not meddle with Kdom, Moab, and Aramou on the side of Judea. In 1 Maccabees
•wfcfn the sesis in the holy mountain," "exalting himself Above evfvy goU" (2 Thessaionians 2.4; Kevelalion 13.5,
IS). This la«t clause only in part holds good of Autiochus;
4. Gl; 5. 3, <fec., it is stated that he used their help in crusljing the Jews, of whom thej' were the ancient enemies. Cf. Isaiah 11. 14, as to Israel's future retribution, just as the Maccabees made war ou them as the friends of Antiochus
for though lie assumed Divine honours, identifying him-
self with Jupiter Olynipius, yet it was for that god he claimed them; still it applies to hira as the type, speak
uiarvclloii^ tlilitgs against . . . God of gods—so ch. 7.
(1 Maccaliees 5). Antitypically, the Turks under Selim entered Jerusalem on their way to Egypt, and retain "the glorious land" of Palestine to this day. But they never could conquer the Arabs, who are akin to Edom, Moab, and Amnion (Genesis 10. 12). So in the case of the final Anti-
85, as to tlie " little horu," which seemingly identifies the two (cf. ch. 8. 2.5). Autiochus forbade the worship of Je-
hovali by a decree "marvellous" for its wickedness: thus
lie was a type of Antichrist. Cf. ch. 7. 8, "a mouth speak-
ing great things." Jiidlgiiation . . . accomplished God's visitation of wrath on the Jews for their sins (ch. 8.
clirist. 43, 43. Egypt . . . Libyans . . . Etliiopiiins—the latter two, being the allies of the first, served under Antiochus when lie conquered Egypt. Antitypically, Egypt, though it held out long under the Mamelukes, in 1517 A. D.
lU). tlia* . . . determined—(Ch. 9. 20, 27; 10.21.) 3T. NeitUer
. . . regard . . . tlie desire of ivomem—(Cf. Ezekiel 24. 16,
18.) The wife, as the desire oS man's eyes, is the symbol
fell under the Turks. Algiers, Tunis, and others parts of Africa, are still under them, at his steps—following him (Margin, Exodus 11. 8; Judges 4. 10). *4. tidings out of tlie east and out of tl»e nortli—Artaxias, king of Armenia, his vassal, had revolted in the north, and Arsaces, leader of the Parthians, in the east (1 Maccabees 3. 10, &c., 37
of the teuderest relations (2 Samuel 1. 26). Antiochus would st t at naught even their entreaties that he should
cease from his attack on Jehovah's worship. [Polanus.] Maukek refers it to Antiochus' attack on the temple of
the Syrian Venus, worshipped by women (1 Maccabees 6. 1, &e.; 2 Maccabees 1. 18). Newton refers it to Rome's " forbidding"to marry." Elliott rightly makes the an ti typical
Tacitcs, //. 5. 8). In 147 B. c. Aiitioclius went on the expedition against them, on tlie return from which he died, great fury—at the Jews, on account of their successes under Judas Maccabeus, whence he desired to repleiiisli his treasury with means to prosecute the war with them
reterence be to Messiah. Jewish women desired to be motliers with a view to Him, the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 30. 23; Luke 1. 25. 2S). nor regard any god —(2 Thessaionians 2. 4.) 38. God of forces— probably Jupiter C\ipitolinus, to whom Antiochus began to erect a temple at' Antioch [LiVY, 41. 20]. Translate, " He shall
also at Artaxias and Arsaces, and their respective followers. De BuKGH makes the " tidings" whicli rouse his fury, to be concerning the Jews' restoration : such may be the antitypical reference. 45. plant . . . between the seas—the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, tabernacles of . . . palace—his jjalacelike militarjtents, such as Oriental princes travel witli. See Note, v. 40, as to the time of Antiochus' attack ontfudea, and his subsequent " end' at Tatjes, wliicli was caused by ckagrin both at hearing that his forces uuder'Lysias were overcome by tlie Jews, and at the failure of his expedition against the temple of Elymais (2 Maccabees 9. 5). holy mountain—Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The desolation of the sanctuary by Antiochus, and also the desecration of the consecrated ground round .lerusaiem by the idolatrous Roman ensigns, as also by the Mohammedan mosque, and, finally, by the last Antichrist, is referred to. So the last Antichrist is to sit upon "tlie mount of the congregation" (Isaiah 14. 13), but "shall be brought down to hell" (cf. Note, ch. 7. 26; 2 Thessaionians 2. 8).
lionour the god o( fortresses on his basis," i. e., the base of the statue. Nev^ton translates, "And the god ' Mahuzzim'
(guardians., i. e., saints adored as 'protectors'' in the Greek and Roman churches) shall he honour." honour wltli gold, &c.—cf. Revelation 17.4 as to Antiochus' antitype.
Antichrist. 39. Nbwtok translates, ''to the defenders of Mahitzzim (the monks and priests who uphold saint-wor-
ship), together with the strange god whom he shall acknowledge, he shall multiply honour." English Version is
better: He shall do (exploits) in the most strong holds (i.
e.. shall succeed against them) with a strange god (under the auspices of a god which he worshipped not before, viz.,
Jupiter Capitolinus, whose worship he Imported into his empire from Rome). Antiochus succeeded against Jerusalem, Sidon, Pelusiuni, Memphis, cause them—Antiochus "caused" his followers and Vie apostates "to rule over many" Jews, having ".divided their land" (Judea), "for gain" (t. e., as a reward for their compliance). 4:0. The
difficulty of reconciling this with Antiochus' history is, no historian but Pokphyky mentions an expedition of
his into Egypt towards the close of his reign. This v. 40, therefore, may be a recapitulation summing up the facts of the first expedition to Egypt (B. C. 171, 170), in v. 22, 25; and 41, the former invasion of Judea, in v. 28; 42, 43, the second and third invasions of Bgypt (1G9 and 168 B. c.) in
Ver. 1-13. Conclusion of the Vision (chs. 10.-12.) and Epilogue to the Book. Cf. v. 4, 13 ; as v. 6, 7 refer to ch.
7. 25, i. e., to the time of Anticlirist, so the subsequent v. 8-12 treat of the time of Antiochus (cf. v. 11 with ch. 11. 31), thus putting together in one summary view the two great periods of distress. The political resurrection of the Jews under the Maccabees is the starting-point of transition to the literal resurrection about to follow the destruction of Antichrist by Christ's coming in glory. The language passes here from the nearer to the more remote event, to which alone it is fully applicable, 1. at that time typi-
V. 2;J, 21, 29, 30. AUBEBLEN takes rather Porphyry's statement, that Antiochus, in the eleventh year of his
leign (HJti, 165 B. c), invaded Egypt again, and took Palestine on his way. Tlie " tidings" («. 44) as to the revolt of tributary nations then led him to the East. Porphyry's statement that Antiochus starting from Egypt took Arad in Judah,iind devastated all Phoenicia, agrees with v. 45; then he turned to check Artaxias, king of Armenia. He died in the Persian town Tabes, 164 b. c, as both Polyblus and Pouphvby agree. Doubtless, antitypically, the
cally, towards the close of Antiochus' reign ; antitypically, the time when Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ's coming. Michael—tlie guardian angel of Israel ("thy people"), (ch. 10. 13). The transactions on earth afTecting God's people have their correspondences in heaven, in the conflict between good and bad angels; so at the last great contest on earth which shall decide the ascendency of Christianity (Revelation 12.7-10). An archangel, not the Lord Jesus ; for he is distinguished from " the Lord'» in Jude 9. there shall be— rather, "it shall be." time of trouble, such as never was—partially applicable to
final Antichrist, and its predecessor Mohammed, are intended, to whom the language may be more fully applicable than to Antiochus the type. The Saracen Arabs "of the south" " pushed at"' the Greek emperor Heraclius, and deprived him of Egypt and Syria. But the Turks of " the north" not merely ^usftcd at, but destroyed the Greek empire; therefore more is said of tliem than of the Saracens. Their "horsemen' arespecifled, being theirchief strength. Their standards still are horse tails. Their "ships," too, often gained the victory over Venice, the great naval power of Europe in thatday. Tliey "overflorwed" Western
tlie time of Antiochus, who was the first subverter of the Jews' religion, and persecutor of its professors, which no other world-power had done. Fully applicable to the last times of Antichrist, and his persecutions of Israel restored to Palestine. Satan will be allowed to exercise an unhindered, unparalleled energy (Isaiah 26. 20, 21 ; Jere647
Ajtia, and then " passed over" into Europe, fixing their •eat of empire at Constantinople under Mohammed II. IKewtox.J 41. Antiochus, accoi-ding to PoKi-uyk y, march-
Tilt Deliverance of Israel. DANIEL XII. Daniel Informed of the Itmet,
fulfilled. 5. A vision of two other angels, one on one side of the Hiddekel or Tigris, the other on the other 'Side, implying that on all sides angels attend to execute
miah 30.7; Matthew 2-1. 21; cf. ch. 8. 24, 25 ; 11.36). thy people sUall be delivered—(Romans 11. 20.) The same Ueliveranee of Lsrael as in Zechariah 13. 8, 9/ " the third part . . . brought through the lire . . . relined as silver." The remnant in Israel spared, as not having joined in the Anticliristian blasphemy (Revelation 14.9,10); not to be conlounded with tliose who have confessed Clirist before His coming, " tlie remnant according to tlie election of grace" (Romans 11. 5), part of the Church of the first-born who will share His millennial reign in glorified bodies; the spared remnant (Isaiah 10. 21) will only know tlie Lord Jesus when they see Him, and when the spirit of grace and supplication is i^oured out ou them. [Tkegel-
God's commands. The angel addressing Daniel had been over the river "from above" (v. 6, Muryin), 6. one—
viz., of the two {v. 5). man ... In linen—wlio had spoken up to this point. God impelled the angel to ask in order to waken us out of our torpor, seeing that tlie very " arlgels desire to look into" tlie things afiectiug man's redemption (1 Peter 1. 12), as setting forth the glory of their Lord and ours (Ephesians 3. 10). How long ... to the end of these wonders—This question of the angel refers to the final dealings of God in general, Antichrist's overthrow, and the resurrection. Daniel's question (v. 8) refers to the more immediate future of his nation. [AuBEiiLEN.j 7. held up . . . right . . . unU . . . left hand—usually the riglit hand was held up in affirmation as an appeal to heaven to attest the truth (Deuteronomy 32. 40; Revelation 10. 5, 6). Here M.h hands are lifted up for tlie fuller confirmation, time, tlmeti, and a half—(See Note, ch. 7. 25.) Newton, referring this prophecy to the Eastern apostasy, Mohammedanism, remarks that the same period of three and a half years, or 1260 prophetic days, is assigned to it as the Western apostasy of the little horn (ch. 7. 25), and so, says Pkidkaux, Mohammed began to forge his imposture, retiring to hie cave, 606 a. d., the very year that Phocas made the grant to the bishop of Rome, whence he assumed the title. The Universal Pastor; Antichrist thus setting both his feeton Ciiristendom together, the one in the East, and the otlier in the West. Three and a half is the time of the worldpower, in whicii the earthly kingdoms rule over the heavenly. [Auberlen.J "Three and a half " represents the idea of spiritual trial; [besides this certain symbolical meaning, there is doubtless an accurate chronological meaning, which is as yet to us uncertain]: it is half of "seven," the complete number, so a semi-perfect state, one of probation. The holy city is trodden by the Gentiles fortytwo months (Revelation 11. 2), so the exercise of the power of the beast (Revelation 13. 5). The two witnesses preacU in sackcloth 1260 days, and remained unburied three days and a half: so the woman in tlie wilderness: also the same for a "time, times, and a lialf" (Revelation 11. 3, 9,
liES.] wi-ittem In the hook— viz., of God's secret purpose, as destined for deliverance (Psalm 56. 8 ; 69. 28 ; Luke 10. 20
Revelation 20.15; 21.27). Metaphor from a muster-roll of citizens (Nehemiah 7. 5). 2. many . . . tliat slee]) " many J'roni among the sleepers . . . these shall be unto everlasting life; but those (the rest of the sleepers who do not awake at this time) shall be unto shame." [Tregel-
L,KS.] Not the general resurrection, but that of those who share in the first resurrection ; the rest of the dead being not to rise till the end of the thousand years (Revelation 20.3,5,6; cf. 1 Corinthians 15.23; 1 Thessalonians 4.16). Israel's national resurrection, and the fii'st resurrection of the elect Church, are similarly connected with the Lord's coming forth out of His place to punish the earth In Isaiah 26. 19, 21 ; 27. 6. Cf. Isaiah 25. 6-9. The Jewish commentators support Tregelles. Aubeelen thinks the sole purpose for which tlie resurrection is introduced in this verse is an incitement to faithful perseverance in the persecutions of Antio'chus ; and that there is no chronological connection between the time of trouble in v. 1 and the resurrection in v. 2; whence the phrase, "at that time," twice occurs in v. 1, but no fixing of time in u. 2, 3
2 Macoal)ees 7. 9, 11, 23, shows the fruit of this prophecy in animating the Maccabean mother and her sons to brave death, whilst confessing the resurrection in words like those here. Cf. Hebrews 11. 35. Kewton's view that " many" means all, is not so probable ; for Romans 5. 15,
19, wliich he quotes, is not in point, since tlie Oreek is " the many," i. e., all, but there is no article in the Ilcbreiv here. Here ouly in the Old Testament is "everlasting life" mentioned. 3. wise — (Proverbs 11.30.) Answering to "they that understand" (ch. U. 33, 35), the same Hebrew, "Maskiliin;" Israelites who, tliough in Jerusalem when wickedness is coming to a liead, are found intelligent witnesses against it. As the^i they appeared worn out Willi persecutions (typically, of Antiochus ; antitypically, of Antichrist); so now in the resurrection they "shine as the brightness of the firmament." The design of past afflictions liere appears "to make them white" (Matthew
11; 12.6,14). i-'or/jz-^iio connects the Church with Israel, whose baitings in the wilderness were /ort^-<it'o (Numbers'
33. 1-58). The famine and drouglit on Israel in Elijali's days were for "three years and six mouths" (Luke 4. 25; James 5. 17); the same period as Autioclius' persecution: so tlie ministry of The Man of Sorrows, vvhicli ceased in the midst of a week (eh. 9. 27). [Wordsworth, Apoca-
lypse.] scatter . . . holy people—"accomplished" here answers to " the consummation" (ch. 9. 27), viz., the " pouring out" of the last dregs of the curse on the " desolated" "iioly people." Israel'!? lowest humiliation (the utter "scattering of her power") is the precursor of her exaltation, as it leads her to seek her God and Messiah (Matthew
13. 43 ; Revelation 7. 9, 14). turn ... to rigliiteousuess—
lit., justify, i. e., convert many to justification through Christ (James 5. 20). stars—(1 Corinthians 15. 41, 42.) *. gUnt up . . . seal the book—John, on the contrary, is told (Revelation 22. 10) not to seal his visions. Because Daniel's piophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's was to be speedily fulfilled (Revelation 1. 1, 3; 22. 6). Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: D.iniel's propliecy was designed to restrain this. The GmiWe Church, on thecontrary, for whom John wrote, needs to lie impressed with the shortness of the period, as
23. 39). 8. understood not—Daniel "understood" the main features of the vision as to Antioclius (ch. 10. 1, 14), but not as to the times. 1 Peter 1. 10-12 refers mainly to Daniel: for it is lie who foretells "thesufl'erings of Christ and the glory that should follow;" it is he who prophesies "not unto himself, but unto us ;" it is lie who "searched what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in him did signify." 9. Daniel's desire of Iviiowing more is thus deferred " till the time of the end." John's Revelation In part reveals what here is veiled {Note, v. 4, and ch. 8. 20). 10. There is no need of a fuller explanation as to the ttnjc;
it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt to conform to the world, and to forget the coming of the Lord (cf. Matthew
for when the predictions so far given shall liave come to pass, the godly shall be " purified" by the foretold trials, and shall understand that the end is .at hand, but the wicked shall not understand, and so shall rush on their own ruin (ch. 11. 33-35). [Mauker.] The "end" is prima-
25. 13, 19; Mark 13. 32-37; 2 Peter 3. 8, 12; Revelation 22. 20). inn to and fro— not referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion, as sonic think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the gospel to the world at large [B A.RNKS1, whicli tlie context scarcely admits, but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God, "at the time of the end," i.e., near its fulfilment, "many shall run to and fro," J. c, scrutinize it, running through every page.
rily, of Antiochus' persuasion; antitypically, the end of Antichrist's. It is the very clearness in the main whicn renders necessary the obscurity. The fulfilment of God s decree is not a mere arithmetical problem whicli the profane may understand liy arithmetical calculations, tut a hoiyenitfuuv to s-timulale to a faithful observance of Ood's
Cf. Habakkuk 2. 2 [Calvin]: it is thereby that " t/ic km)wle(lge (viz., of Go<rs purposes as revealed in proph-
ecy) shall be increased." This is probably being now 618
Inh-oduction. HOSEA. Introdt^lion.
waning of the Turkish power, the successor to Greece In the empii'e of the East. Forty-five years more end lu
ways, an.l to a diligent study of the history of God's peo-
ple. [AUBKiiLEN.] To this Christ refers (Matthew 24. 15), "Whoso readeth, let him understand." 11. from . . .
1867, the end of " the times of the Gentiles." See Leviticus
26, 24, "seven times," i.e., 7 X 360, or 2520 years: 052 B.C. is the date of Judah's captivity, beginning under Manasseh;
sari'ifice . . . taken away . . . abomination—(Ch. H. 31.) As lo this cpocli, which probably is prophetically germinant and luaniloUl; the profanation oftlxe temple by
2520 from this date end in 1868, thus nearly harmonizing
witli the previous date, 1867. See Note, also ch. 8. 14. The seventh millenary of the world [Clinton] begins in 1862. Seven years to 1869 (the date of the second advent) constitute tlie reign of the personal Antichrist; in the last three and a half, the period of final tribulation, Enoch (or
Antioehu.1 (in tlie month Ij'ar of the year 145 B. c, till the restoration of the worship by Judas Maccabeus on the tweutj-'fifth day of tlie ninth month (Chisleu) of 148
B. (., according to the Seleucid era, 1290 days; forty-flve daj s more elapsed before Antiochus' death in the month Shebat of 148 b. c, so ending the Jews' calamities [Mau-
else Moses) and Elijah, the two witnesses, prophesy in sackcloth. This theory is very dubious (cf. Matthew 24.
EEiCj) ; 6.1/ Pagan Rome, after Christ's death ; by Mohammed ; by Anllchi-ist, the culmination of apostate Rome. The "abomination" must reach its climax (see Auberlen's
36; Acts 1. 7; 1 Thcssalonians 5. 2; 2 Peter 3. 10); still the event alone can tell whether the chronological coincidences of such theories are fortuitous, or solid data on which to fix the future times. Hales makes the periods
translation, "summit," ch. 9. 27), and the measure of iniquity be full, before Messiah comes, tliousand two hundred and ninety days—a month beyond the " time, times, and a half" (v. 7). In ti. 12, forty-five days more are added, in all i;53o days. Tbegelles thinks jesus at his coming will deliver the Jews. An Interval elapses, during which their consciences are awakened to repentance and faith in Him. A second interval elapses in which Israel's outcasts are gathered, and then the united blessing takes place. These stages are marked by the
1260, 1290, 1335, begin with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and end with the precursory dawn of the Reforma-
tion, the preaching of Wyclifle and Huss. 13. rest^in the grave (Job 3. 17 ; Isaiah 57. 2). He, like his people Israel, was to wait patiently and confidently for the blessing till God's time. He "received not the promise," but had to wait until the Christian elect saints should be brought in, at the first resurrection, that he and the other Old Testament saints " without us should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11. 40). stand—implying justification unto life, as opposed to condemnation (Psalm 1. 5). thy lot—image from the aUotment of the earthly Canaan.
1260, 1290, and 1335 days. Cdmmino thinks the 1260 years begin when Justinian in 533 A. D. subjected the Eastern churches to John II., bishop of Rome; ending in 1792, when the code Napoleon was established and the Pope was dishonoured. 1290 reach to 1822, about tlie time of the
HOSEA.
The first of the twelve minor prophets in the order of the canon (called "minor," not as less In point of Inspired
BZithority, bat simply in point of size). The twelve are first mentioned by Jesus, the son of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus 49.
10). St. Stephen, in Acts 7. 42 (in referring to Amos 5. 27), quotes them as forming one collective body of writings, " the boolc of the prophets." So Jehome, and Melito, the first Greelc father who has left us a catalogue of these books. The collection of the sacred books is by Jewish tradition attributed to tlie great synagogue of learned scribes formed by Ezra. Many think Nehemiah completed this collection by adding to the books already in the canon those of his own times. Malachi, the last in the series, probably aided him in determining with infallible authority what books were entitled to be ranljed in the Inspired canon. The chronological order differs from the canonical. Joel, about 810
B.C. ; Jonah, about 810 b.c, or, as ot\ievs, first, 862 B.C. ; Amos,.about 790 B.C. ; Hosea, about 784 B.C. Hosea, the contemporary of Isaiah, Micah, and Amos, seems to have entered on his proplietical office in tlie last years of Jeroboam (contemporary in part with Uzziah), and to have ended it In the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, 722 B.C., i.e., about iixty years in all, from 784 B.C. to 722 B.C. The prophets, however, were not uninterruptedly engaged in prophesying. Considerable intervals elapsed, though their office as divinely-commissioned public teachers was never wholly laid aside. The book of Hosea which we have constitutes only that portion of his public teachings which the Holy Spirit saw
fit to preserve for the benefit of the Church. The cause of his being placed first of the twelve was, probably, the length the vivid earnestness, and patriotism of his prophecies, as well as their closer resemblance to those of the greater prophets. His style is abrupt, sententious, and unrounded; the connecting particles are few; there are changes of person, and anomalies of gender, number, and construction. His name means Salvation. He was son of Beeri, of the tribe of Issachar, born In Beth-shemesh. [Jerome.] His mention, in the inscription, of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, is no proof that he belonged to Judah : for the prophets in Israel regarded its separation from Judah, Hvll as well as religious, as an apostasy from God, who promised the dominion of the theocracy to the line of David. Hence Elijah in Israel took twelve stones to represent Judah, as well as Israel (1 Kings 18. 31). Hence Hosea dates from Judah's kings, as well as from Jeroboam of Israel, though he belonged to Israel, with whose sins and fate his book is chiefly occupied. He, however, makes incidental references to Judah. His first prophecy foretells the overthrow of Jehu's house, fulfilled on the death of Jeroboam, Jehu's great-grandson (2 Kings 15. 12), in Zachariah, Jeroboam's son, the fourth and last from Jehu, conspired against by Shallum. This first prediction was doubtless in Jeroboam's life, as Zachariah, his son, was only suffered to reign six months ; thus the inscription is verified that " the word of the Lord came unto hira in the days of Jeroboam." Again, in ch. 10. 14, Shalmaneser's expedition against Israel Is alluded to as past, i. e., the first inroad against King Hoshea, who began to reign In the twelfth year of Ahaz; BO that as Ahaz's whole reign was sixteen years, the prophecy seems to have been given about the beginning of Hezekiah's reign. Thus the inscription is confirmed that the exercise of his prophetical functions was of such a protracted duration.
Hosea 'ch. II. 1) is quoted by Matthew 2. 15; also ch. 6.8 by Matthew 9. 13; 12. 7; cf. Romans 9. 25, 28, quoting ch. I.IO*
2. 1, 23; 1 Coiinlhians 15.55, quoting ch. 13. 14; 1 Peter 2. 10, quoting ch. 1. 9, 10; 2.23. Messianic references are not frequent; but the predictions of the future conversion of Israel to the Lord their God, and David their king, and of the
Thf Spiritual Whoredom of Israel, HOSEA I, II. The Idolatry of the People.
fulfilment of the promise to Abraham that his spiritual seed should be as the sand of the sea (ch. 1. 10; 3. 5), clearly refer to the New Testament dispensation.
The first and third chapters are in prose, the rest of the book is rhythmical.
famous as a warrior (2 Kings 14.25). Yet it was not their warlike power Jehovah would save Judah (1 Samuel 17.47; Psalm 20.7). The deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19.35), and the restoration from Babylon, are herein predicted. 8. weaned—said to complete the symbolical picture, not having any special signification as to Israel. [Henderson.] Israel was bereft of all the privileges which were as needful to them as milk is to infant's (cf. Psalm 131.2; 1 Peter 2.2). [Vatablus.] Israel was not suddenly, but gradually cast otT; God bore with them with long-suffering, until they were incurable. [Calvin.] But as it is not God, but Gomer who weans Loruhamali, the weaning may Imply the lust of Gomer, who was hardl3' weaned when she is again pregnant. [Manger.] 9. L.o-amml—once "my people," but henceforth not so (Ezekiel 16. 8). The intervals between the marriage and the successive births of the three children, imply that three successive generations are intended. Jezreel, the first child, represents the dynasty of Jeroboam I. and his successors, ending with Jehu's shedding tlie blood of Jeroboam's line in Jezreel; it was there that Jezebel was slain, in vengeance for Naboth's blood shed in the same Jezreel (1 Kings 16. 1; 2 Kings 9. 21, 30). The scenes of Jezreel were to be enacted over again on Jehu's degenerate race. At Jezreel Assyria routed Israel. [Jerome.] The child's name associates past sins, intermediate punishments, and final overthrow. Lo-ruhamah (JVot pitied), the second child, is a daughter, representing the effeminate period which followed the overthrow of the first dynasty, wlien Israel was at once abject and impious. Lo-ammi
Ver. 1-11. Inscription. Spiritual whoredom of Israel set t'ortli by symbolical acts ; Gomer taken to wife at God's cojiimand: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-ammi, the children. Yet a piomise of Judah and Israel's restoration. 1. f^ee Iiitroduciion. Jeroboam—the second ; who died in the filleenth year of Uzziah's forty-one years' reign. From his time forth all Israel's kings worsiiipped false gods: Zaehariah (2 Kings 15. 9), Menahem (2 Kings 15. 18), Pekahiah (2 Kings 15. 24), Pekah (2 Kings 15. 28), Hoshea (2 Kings
17.2). As Israel was most flourisliing externally under Jeroboam II., wlio recovered the possessions seized on by Syria, Hosea's propliecy of its downfall at that time. was the more striking the less it could have been foreseen by mere human sagacity. Jonah the prophet had promised success to Jeroboam II. from God, not for the king's merit, but from God's mercy to Israel; so the coast of Israel was restored by Jeroboam II. from the entering of Hamath to tlie sea of the plain (2 Kings 14. 23-27). 2. beginning—not of tlie prophet's predictions generally, but of tliose spoken by Hosea. take . . . wife of whoredoms —not externally acted, but internally and in vision, as a pictorial illustration of Israel's unfaithfulness. [HengSTENBERG.] Of. Ezeklel 16. 8, 15, &c. Besides the loathsomeness of such a marriage, if an external act, it would require years lor the birth of three children, which would weaken the symbol (cf. Ezekiel 4. 4). Henderson objects that lliere is no hint of the transaction being fictitious: Gomer fell into lewdness after her union with Hosea, not before; for thus only she was a fit symbol of Israel, who lap.sed into spiritual whoredom after the marriage contract witli God on Sinai, and made even before at the call of the patriarchs of Israel. Gomer is called "a wife of wlioredoms," anticipatively. children ofwhoredoms The kingdom collectively is viewed as a mother ; the individual subjects of it are spoten of as her children. "Take" being applied to both Implies that they refer to the same thing viewed under diflerent aspects. Tlie "children" were not the prophet's own, but born of adul-
{'Not my people), the third child, a son, represents the vigorous dynasty (2 Kings 14.25) of Jeroboam II.; but, as prosperity did not bring with it revived piety, they were still not God's people. 10. Literally fulfilled in part at the return from Babylon, In which many Israelites
joined with Judah. Spiritually, the believing seed of Jacob or Israel, Gentiles as well as Jews, numerous " as the sand" (Genesis 32.12); the Gentiles, once not God's people, becoming His "sons" (John 1.12; Romans 9. 2.5, 26; 1 Peter
2. 10; 1 John 3. 1). To be fulfilled In Its literal fulness hereafter in Israel's restoration (Romans 11.26). the living God—opposed to their dead idols. 11. .Tndah . . . Isi-ael
tery, and presented to him as his. [Kitto, Biblical Cyclopaedia.] Rather, "children of whoredoms" means that the children, like their mother, fell Into spiritual fornication. (Jf. " bare him a son" (see ch. 2. 4, 5). Being children of a spiritual whore, they naturally fell Into her whorish ways. 3. Gomer . . . daughter of Diblalm—symbolical names; lit., ''Completion, daughter of grape-cakes;" the dual expressing the double layers in which these dainties were baked. So, one comjyletely given up to sensuality. Maurer explains "Gomer" as lit., "a burning coal."
. . . together—(Isaiah 11.12, 13; Jeremiah 3.18; Ezekiel
34.23 ; 37.16-24.) one head—Zerubbabel typically; Christ antitypically, under whom alone Israel and Judah are joined, the "Head" of the Church (Ephesians 1. 22; 5.23), and of the hereafter united kingdom of Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 31. 5, 6; Ezekiel 34.23). Though "appointed" by the Father (Psalm 2. 6), Christ is in another sense "appointed" as their Head by His people, when they accept and embrace Him as such, out of the land—of the Gen-
Cf. Proverbs 6.27, 29, as to an adulteress; Job 31.9, 12. 4. Jeireel— i. e., God will scatter (cf. Zechariah 10. 9). It was the royal city of Ahab and his successors. In the tribe of Issachar. Here Jehu exercised his greatest cruelties (2 Kings 9. 16, 25, 33; 10. 11, 14, 17). There is in the name an allusion to "Israel" by a play of letters and sounds. 5. bow—the prowess (Jeremiah 49.35; cf. Gene-
tiles among whom they sojourn, the day of .Tezreel "the day of one" is the time of God's special visitation of him, either in wrath or in mercy. Here " Jezreel" is in a different sense from that In v. 4, "God will sow," not "God will scatter;" they shall be the seed of God, planted by God again in their own land (Jeremiah 24.6; 81.28; 32.
sis 49. 24). valley ofJexreel—afterwards called Esdraelon, extending ten miles in breadth, and in length from Jordan to the Mediterranean near Mount Carmel, the great batlle-tield of Palestine (Judges 6.33; 1 Samuel 29.1). 6. J^o-mhamah i. e.. Not an object of mercy or gracious favour, take . . . away—Israel, as a kingdom, was never restored from Assyria, as Judah was from Babylon after seventy years. Maurer translates according to the primary iiieani iig, " No more will I have mercy on the house of Israel, so as to pardon l\ien\." 7, Judah is only incidenlally mentioned to form a contrast to Israel, by the
41 ; Amos 9. 15). CHAPTEE II.
Ver. 1-23. Application of the symbols in chap. i.
Israel's spiritual fornication, and her threatened punishment : yet a promise 6f God's restored favour, when chastisements have produced their designed effect. 1. Say
. . . unto . . . brethren, Amml, &c.—i.e.. When the prediction (ch. 1. 11) shall be accomplished, tlien ye will call one another, as brothers and sisters in tlie family of God, Ammi and Buhamah. 3. Plead—Expostulate, mother —i.e.,t\\ena.Uo-a collectively. The address is to "her children," i. e., to the individual citizens of tlie state (cf. Isaiah
lioi'd lln-lr God—niore emphatic than "by myself;" by
lliat Jehovali (me) whom they worship as their God, whereas ye despise Him. not . . . by bow—on whicli ye Israelites rely (v. 5, " the bow of Israel"); Jeroboam II. was