Analysis of Daniel, Ancient Versions and Commentators
Analysis of Daniel
AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
There Are Two Main Divisions, — 1. The Historical Portion. — 2. The Prophetical Portion. Each Occupies Six Chapters. 1. The Historical Portion. CHAPTER 1 TO 4 Sect. 1. The captivity of King Jehoiakim about B.C. 607 — the treatment of Daniel and his three companions — their superiority as they stood before the king. (Chap. 1)
2. King Nebuchadnezzar's dream — forgotten — submitted to the magicians — their failure and destruction — Daniel's proposal and success — the secret revealed to him and communicated to the king — the image described and explained — the four kingdoms — the elevation of Daniel and his companions to high honor, about B.C. 603. (Chap. 2)
3. The golden image on the Plains of Dura — the accusation against Daniel's three companions — their reply to the king — their condemnation to the burning fiery furnace — their preservation — the king's astonishment — his proclamation and promotion of the three confessors over the province of Babylon, about B.C. 580. (Chap. 3)
4. Nebuchadnezzar's confession of the power of the Most High — his dream respecting the Tree, the Watcher, and the Holy One — Daniel's interpretation — its accomplishment — the king driven from among men — his madness, and his restoration to reason and re-establishment in his kingdom, about B.C. 570-563. (Chap. 4)
5. The impious feast of Belshazzar — the handwriting — the magicians'
ignorance — Daniel's interpretation — its fulfillment — Belshazzar slain — Darius the conqueror, about B.C. 538. (Chap. 5)
6. One hundred and twenty princes set over the kingdom — three presidents — the unalterable decree — Daniel's habit of prayer continued — his accusation and condemnation to the lions' den — his miraculous deliverance — the king's rejoicing and decree — the Prophet's prosperity till the reign of Cyrus, about B.C. 537. (Chap. 6)
2. Prophetical Portion. CHAPTER 7 TO 12 Sect. 1. Daniel's own dream — the four beasts — the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man — the explanation of this dream — the fourth beast being the Roman Empire, and the ten horns the Roman Senate — the kingdom given to the Son of Man — fulfilled, according to Calvin, at the first advent of Christ and the early propagation of the Gospel, — about B.C. 555. (Chap. 7)
2. Daniel's vision at Shushan — the ram and the he-goat — the little horn — the cleansing of the sanctuary — the appearance of Gabriel — the explanation of the vision — the king of fierce countenance said to be the power of heathen Rome — the Prince of princes — the truth of the vision of the evening and morning — Daniel's fainting and astonishment, — about B.C. 553. (Chap. 8)
3. The Prophet, after studying the writings of Jeremiah, anticipates the close of the captivity — he prays and confesses his sins at full length in the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus — while he is praying the angel Gabriel is sent to instruct him — he is informed of the celebrated period of the seventy weeks — of the coming of Messiah the prince and of the overspreading of desolation's, which events are historically explained in the course of these Lectures, — about B.C. 538. (Chap. 9)
4. A vision by the river Hiddekel in the third year of King Cyrus — during the Prophet's terror an angel addresses him, touches him, and inspires him with confidence, and then returns to contend with the prince of Persia, together with another angel called Michael your prince. This vision being introductory to the following prophecy "noted in the Scripture of truth," — about B.C. 534. (Chap. 10)
5. The prophecy of the Scriptures of truth detailed at full length by the angel — the three kings of Persia — the fourth Xerxes — the mighty king Alexander and the division of his empire into four parts — two monarchies specially dwelt upon rathe kings of the north being the Seleucidae, and those of the south the Ptolemidae or Lagidae — their various wars, intermarriages, treaties, and successes — fully elucidated by historical testimony throughout these Lectures — the willful king (ver. 16) interpreted of Antiochus the Great — the vile person (ver. 21) being Antiochus Epiphanes — the willful king (ver. 36) being the heathen Roman Empire — the remainder of the prophecy being ingeniously accommodated to the well—known character of
the Roman conquests in the East, — about B.C. 534. (Chap 11)
6. Michael the prince stands up for the people — the certainty of a future resurrection proclaimed — two angels appear on the banks of the river — the Prophet inquires concerning the timing of these events — the time, times, and a half — the closing and sealing of the words till the time of the end — the abomination of desolation set up — the 1290 days — the 1335 days — the angel's command to stand in thy lot at the end of the days — these periods said to be completed at the first advent of Christ and the early history of the Gospel dispensation, including the destruction of Jerusalem and the persecutions of the Church under the heathen Emperors of Rome, — about B.C. 534. (Chap. 12)
Ancient Codexes and Versions
A NOTICE OF SOME ANCIENT CODEXES AND VERSIONS.
Those of the Septuagint are of most importance. Dr. WELLS has compared the Alexandrian and Roman MSS., and arranged in parallel columns their various readings, adding also the Hebrew original. We have remarked in the Preface, p. 49, that early in the second century Theodotion's version was substituted for that of the Septuagint. Rosenmuller has remarked its variations from the original Hebrew and Chaldee text, particularly in chaps. 3, 4, 5, and 6. He cites various examples, and refers us to. Eichhorn and Bertholdt for details. Jerome followed Origen, who used a mark to denote any difference between his copy of the Alexandrian version and the Hebrew text. Hengstenberg, p. 234 and following, English Translation, has answered some objections of the Neologians concerning this point. Daniel juxta LXX. was first edited at Rome by the Society for Propagating the Faith, in the year A.D. 1772, fol., from a codex discovered in the Chisian Library. It is accompanied with a Latin version, with the Septuagint chronology, with the Greek and Latin of Hippolytus, and with the Greek and Latin of Theodotion's version. It was reprinted at Gottingen, A.D. 1774, and again at Trajectum ad Rhen., A.D. 1775, by Ch. Segaar, (Utrecht.) See Masch's Bibl. Sac., part 2. vol. 2, pp. 320-322. Various other collations of these two codexes have been made. Dr. Holmes, formerly Dean of Winchester, published in A.D. 1805, the
Book of Daniel according to the texts of Theodotion and the Septuagint. For this edition 311 MSS. were collated, and their variations marked. The Sixtine or Roman edition of 1587 has been adopted, while the Complutensian and Aldine variations, as well as those of Dr. Grabe, have all been noticed.
Versions.
There are three chief versions made from the Septuagint text: viz., the Syriac, the old Latin or Italic, and the Arabic. They are useful in determining the original Greek phrases used by the Alexandrine translators, the Vulgate Latin forms a fourth and later version, and their differences and agreements have been carefully noticed by Dr. Wells. The Syriac version was edited, translated into Latin, and illustrated by a preface and critical notes by Cajetanus Buggatus, Mediolani, (Milan,) A.D. 1788, with the following title, — Daniel secundum editionem LXX. interpretum ex Tetraplis desumptam. Ex codice Syro-Estranghelo Bibliothecae Ambrosianae Syriace. Wintle in his notes makes good use of the variations of these versions as well as Rosenmuller in his elaborate expositions of the text. We are informed by Jerome that Theodotion's Greek version of Daniel was universally used in the Greek and Eastern Churches.
Another Greek version of Daniel occurs in an edition of a codex in the Library of St. Mark's at Venice, first published and illustrated with notes by Jo. Bapt. Caspare D'Ansse de Villoison. Argentorati, A.D. 1784.
A codex rescriptus, containing fragments of Daniel in a Latin version made before the time of Jerome, was discovered in the University Library at Wurtzburg by Dr. Feder. The fragments were published by Dr. Munter, Hafniae, A.D. 1821, 8VO. The codex is supposed to be as old as the sixth or seventh century.
List of Commentators on Daniel
A LIST OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND MODERN BRITISH AND FOREIGN EXPOSITIONS OF DANIEL,
With Concise Epitomes Of The Contents Of The Most Important. 1 Jewish Commentators. Dr. Kennicott first edited a Hebrew interpretation of the Chaldee chapters of Daniel and Ezra from an ancient codex. It was translated and re-edited by J. L. Shulze. Hal., 1782.
Buxtorf edited a Hebrew Commentary on Daniel by Rabbi Saadiah Haggaon, who lived in Egypt and died about the middle of the tenth century.
Basil., A.D. 1618.
R. Solomon Jarchi's Commentary on Daniel is exceedingly full and clear in its verbal explanations. The edition of J. F. Breithaupt, Gotham, 1713, is very convenient, and full of most valuable Hebrew criticisms.
R. Isaac Abarbanel, who is frequently refuted by Calvin in the preceding Lectures, has been mentioned in our Ezekiel, vol. 2 p. 403. He entities his comments on Daniel, "The Fountains of Salvation." They were first published at Naples, A.D. 1497: again in A.D. 1551, without the name of any place, and again at Amsterdam, A.D. 1647.
R. Joseph Teitzak, who lived in the fifteenth century, wrote a Commentary on Daniel, published at Venice, A.D. 1608.
R. Joseph the son of David the son of Joseph Jachia, commonly called Jacchiades, who died A.D. 1539, wrote a
Paraphrase on Daniel, in much repute: published at Amsterdam, A.D. 1633. R. Moses Alschech, who lived at the close of the sixteenth century, called his Commentary on this Prophet, "The Rose of Sharon:" published at Zaphetae, A.D. 1568, and at Venice, A.D. 1592.
R. Samuel, son of R. Judah Valerius, entitled his comment on this Prophet, "The Vision of the Time Appointed." Venice, A.D. 1586.
2 Early Fathers. The Greek Commentary on this Prophet by Hippolytus, Bishop of the harbor of Rome, has been already mentioned. It was first edited at Paris, A.D. 1672, in a general collection of the Greek Fathers, and afterwards Jo. Alb. Fabricius published the whole of his works at Hamburgh, A.D. 1716 and 1718. His explanations of chaps. 7 to 12 are edited from the Chisian codex according to the Septuagint translation, which, as we have formerly stated, was first published at Rome, A.D. 1772.
Ephrem Syrus wrote his Commentary on this Prophet about A.D. 370. It was published at Rome, A.D. 1740, by Peter Benedict, both in Syriac and Latin. See vol. 2 p. 203 and following.
Jerome's valuable exposition of this Prophet is found in vol. 5 of his works, p. 2. Edit. Vallarsii. Venice, A.D. 1768.
Theodoret's valuable comments on Daniel are found in vol. 2 pt. 2 p. 1053, of the edition of his works by J. L. Schulze. Hal. Saxon., A.D. 1 768.
3 Early Reformers. Martini Lutheri Auslegung des Propheten Daniels, consists of three parts, published at different times at Wittemberg, from A.D. 1530 to 1546. See Jo. G. Walch's preface to Luther's Works, vol. 6 p. 13, and p. 1422 and following.
Jo. Oecolampadii Commentariorum in Danielem, Libri Duo. Basileae, A.D. 1530, 1543, and 1562: also, Geneva, A.D. 1553, 1567, and 1578. A very valuable exposition, and more in accordance with modern views of Antichrist and the spiritual nature of our Lord's kingdom, than the Lectures of Calvin.
Philippi Melancthonis Commentarius in Danielem Prophetam. Wittemberg, A.D. 1543: published also in his works, and translated into German by Justus Jonas. P. 2 p. 416. A.D. 1546.
4 Authors quoted by Poole in his Synopsosis on Daniel.
As Poole merely gives the name of his authors without any hint as to the titles and dates of their works, the following information will be of use. It is confined exclusively to Daniel
Victorini Strigelii, Danielis Prophetae Concio. Lipsiae, A.D. 1565, 1571, 1572. 8vo. Benedicti Pererii, Com. in Danielem. Romae, A.D. 1586: also Lugduni, A.D. 1588, 1591, 1602: et Antverpiae, 1594
Francisci Juan, Expositio Prophetae Danielis. Heidelberg, A.D. 1593: Geuevae, 1594.
Amandi Polani A Polensdorf in Danielem Prophetam Commentarius. Basil., A.D. 1593, 4to, et 1606, 8vo.
Joannes Maldonati, Commentarii in prophetas quatuor Jeremiam, Ezekiel, Baruch, et Danielem. Moguntiae, A.D. 1611.
The translation is good; the comments short and explanatory of the Hebrew words; and it is to be expected that a Jesuit would occasionally direct his shafts against "Calvinianis."
Hugone Broughtono, Commentarius in Danielem primum Anglice scriptus. First published in English in London, A.D. 1596 and 1597. Jo. Boreel translated it into Latin at Basil, A.D. 1599. Small 4to.
The Latin translation is materially influenced by Rabbinical comments on the Hebrew and Chaldee text. The work is very valuable as a repository of historical information in the words of the original Greek historians.
Hexapla In Danielem By Andrew Willet. Cambridge, A.D. 1610. A very valuable collection of the opinions of others, and a good study for those who are interested in the variety of speculations which have been invented concerning the prophecies of this book. The difficult questions "handled" are 536, and the knotty controversies undertaken are 134. In addition to most of the standard writers quoted by Poole, Pintus is introduced, whose work is entitled, Hectoris Pinti, Commentarii in Danielem, Lamentationes, Jeremiae, et Nahum. Conimbrae, A.D. 1582. Venetiis, A.D. 15S3. Colon., A.D. 1587. Antverpiae, A.D. 1595.
Poole also quotes the translations of this Prophet made by Pagninus, Montanus, and Malvenda, who are Roman Catholics; and Munster, Junius and Tremellius, and Castalio, who are Protestants. Their various merits are given by H. Horne, vol. 2, part 2, pp. 62, 64, who states the authorities from which he derives his own information.
5 Foreign Interpreters. The best of these are German. Their variety is great; a few only can be noticed here; others will be found in abundance in Rosenmuller's Elenchus Interpretum.
Martini Geieri, Praelectiones Academicae in Danielem. Lipsiae, A.D. 1667, 1684, 1697, 1702: and repeated in vol. it of his works. Amsterdam, A.D. 1695, folio. "One of the most valuable," writes H. Horne, "of all Geier's expository works."
Prodromus Danielicus auctore Jo. Ger. Kerkherdere. Lovanii, A.D. 1711. 12mo. A small yet learned volume by the historian to his Catholic Majesty Charles III., containing many criticisms and attempts to reconcile historical difficulties. In many points very illustrative of Calvin's sentiments.
Herman Venema, Dissertationes ad vaticinia Danielis emblematica, cap. 2, 7, et 8. Leovardiae, A.D. 1745: another vol. contains his exposition of cap. 11:4; 12:3. Leovardiae, A.D. 1752. 4to. Ch. B. Michaelis, Annotationes philologico-exegeticae in Danielem. Hal., A.D. 1720.
J. D. Michaelis, Epistolae de LXX. Hebdomadibus Danielis. London, A.D. 1773. H. Havernick's New Commentary on the Book of Daniel. The original title
is, Neue critische untersuchungen uber das buch Daniel. Von Heinrich Havernick. Hamburgh, A.D. 1838. This small volume of the excellent Professor at Rostock is much esteemed.
Emst. Wilm. Hengstenberg. Die Authentic des Daniel und die integritat des Sachariah. Berlin, A.D. 1831.
This work is now accessible to the English reader through the translation of the Revelation B. P. Pratten. Edinburgh, Clark, A.D. 1848.
Its contents are as follow: — The Genuineness of Daniel. Chap. 1 — History of attacks on the Book of Daniel. Chap. 2 — Reply to objections. Sect. 1 Alleged Greek Words — 2 Impure Hebrew — 3 Silence of Jesus Sirach — 4 Position in the Canon — 5 Depreciatory statements of the Jews — 6 The O. T. referred to as a complete Whole — 7 Aimless profusion of miracles — 8 Historical errors — 9 Irreconcilable contradictions — 10 Improbable and suspicious accounts — 11 Later ideas and usages — 12 Unusual indefiniteness of the prophecies — 13 This definiteness ceases with Antiochus Epiphanes — 14 Other objections — 1. The passage, Daniel 12; 2. Correspondence in ideas and expressions with much later Books; 3. Marks of Jewish national pride; 4. Absence of all higher moral tendency; 5. Passages which speak in praise of Daniel. Chap. 3 — Arguments for the Genuineness. Sect. 1 Testimony of the author himself — 2 Reception into the Canon, and general acknowledgment of Canonicity — 3 Testimony of Christ and the Apostles — 4 Traces of the Book in pre-Maceabean times — 1 The passage of Josephus, Arch. 11:8; 2. 1 Macc. 2, 59, 60; 3. The LXX. of Deuteronomy 32:8, and Isaiah 30 4; Badness of the Alex. version of Daniel, which was nearly contemporary with the alleged original composition —
5 Character of the language; 1. Use of Hebrew and Aramaean; 2. Correspondence of its Aramaean, with that of Ezra, and deviation from that of the Targums —
6 Exact knowledge of history — 7 Familiar acquaintance with the institutions, manners, and customs of the times of Daniel —
8 Other arguments; 1. The entire peculiarity of prophetic style, and the mode of representation adopted in the Book; 2. Several things at variance with the spirit of the Maccabean times; 3. Exact agreement of the historical part and the prophecies; 4. Immediate conjunction of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes and the Messianic times.
As the Professor refers to many Neologian works for the purpose of refuting their wild extravagancies, the titles of the four following ones are given in full. See their characters delineated in our Preface.
Daniel aus dem Hebraisch-Aramaischen neu ubersetzt und erklart, mit einer vollstandigen Einleitung, und einigen historischen und exegetischen Excursen. Von Leonhard Bertholdt, erste und zweyte Halfte. Erlangen, 1806, 1808, in octon. G. F. Griesinger's Neue Ansicht der Aufsatze im Buche Daniel. Stuttg. u. Tubing., 1815, in octon.
Ueber Verfasser und Zweck des Buchs Daniel. Revision der in neuerer Zeit daruber gefuhrten Untersuchungen. Von Friedr. Bleek. In der Theologischen Zeitschrift herausgeg. von Schleiermacher, de Wette, u. Lucke, p. 3. Berlin, 1822, in octon. Her. God. Kirmss Commentatio historico-critica, exhibens descriptionem et censuram recentium de Danielis libro opinionum. Jenae, 1828, in quat.
A list of other interpretations better known on the Continent than in either Great Britain or America, will be found in Rosenmuller's "elenchus interpretum." His own elaborate Scholia in Danielem, Lipsiae, 1832, have proved very serviceable for the illustration of these Lectures.
The title of the following French work is worthy of mention. Daniel le prophete dans une suite de Lecons pour une Ecole du Dimanche. 4 vols. Partridge and Oakey, publishers to the Evangelical Alliance.
6 American Works. A Critical and Historical Interpretation of the Prophecies of Daniel. By N. S. Folsom. Boston, 12mo, 1842.
A work on the system of Professor Stuart; displaying considerable historical research, and more explanatory of Calvin's views than some modern British works.
The Prophecies of Daniel, Nos. I. and II. By George Bush, Professor of Hebrew in New York City University. New York, 1844.
The Hebrew and Chaldee originals with several of the ancient versions. The comments are strictly exegetical. Most valuable to the critical reader of this Prophet. See a Sketch of its contents in the American Biblical Repository. October, 1844.
7 British Commentators. Roberti Rolloci Commentarius in Librum Danielis Prophetae. Edinburgi, 1591, 4to. The Book of Daniel, explained after the following method, etc. By Dr. Edward Wells. Oxford, 1716.
The Septuagint version is printed in parallel columns with the English version, and useful annotations added.
Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John. By Sir Isaac Newton. London, 1733, 4to.
The Astronomical fame of the author has bestowed great celebrity upon the calculations of this work.
An Essay towards the Interpretation of the Prophecies of Daniel, with occasional remarks upon some of the most celebrated Commentators on them. By Richard Amner. London, 1776, 8vo.
The opinion of Grotius and Le Clerc is followed here, making the times of Antiochus Epiphanes the termination of the events predicted. See British Critic, O. S., vol. 13 p. 290 and following.
Daniel, an Improved Version attempted, with a Preliminary Dissertation and Notes, Critical, Historical, and Explanatory. By Thomas Wintle, B.D. London, 1807, 4to, 1838, 8vo.
The best English version with which the Editor is acquainted. The notes are sufficiently copious and very scholar-like; many references to it have already been made in illustrating these Lectures.
A Dissertation by way of Inquiry into the true import and application of the Vision related, Daniel 9:20 to the end, usually called Daniel's Prophecy of Seventy Weeks, etc. By Benjamin Blayney, B.D. Oxford, 1775, 4to.
A Dissertation on Daniel's Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. By George Stanley Faber, B.D. London, 1811, 8vo
A Dissertation on the Seventy Weeks of Daniel the Prophet. By the Rev. John Stonard, D.D. London, 1826, 8vo.
Daniel's Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. By a Layman. London, 1836, 12mo. A Dissertation concerning the Chronological Numbers recorded in the Prophecies of Daniel. By the Revelation Philip Allwood, B.D. London, 1833, 8vo. The Times of Daniel, Chronological and Prophetical. By George Duke Of Manchester. London, 1845, 8vo.
A very elaborate and original work, in which the chronology is re-arranged on a basis varying from that commonly received.
The Four Prophetic Empires and the Kingdom of Messiah, being an exposition of the first two visions of Daniel. By the Revelation T. R. Birks, M.A. London, 1845.
The Two Later Visions of Daniel: historically explained. By the Revelation T. R. Birks, M.A. London, 1846.
A very clear and useful historical compendium. The first sixteen chapters
are a practical comment on these Lectures. Frequent extracts have already been made.
An Inquiry into the Nature, Progress, and End of Prophecy. By Samuel Lee, D.D. London, 1849.
The Events and Times of the Visions of Daniel and St. John, etc. By Samuel Lee, D.D. London, 1851.
These works of this lamented scholar are quite in the spirit of Calvin's interpretations. The adherents to Calvin's views of these prophecies will find much profit from their perusal.
Prophetic Studies, or Lectures on Daniel. By John Cumming, D.D. Sixth thousand. London, 1852.
Remarks on the Prophetic Visions of the Book of Daniel, etc. By S. P. Tregelles, LL.D. 1853.
The works of other authors are enumerated by H. Horne, vol. 2 pt. 11, p. 290, etc., and by Ed Bickersteth in his "Practical Guide to the Prophecies," p. 401. London, 1839.
Providence, Prophecy, and Popery, as exhibited in the first seven chapters of Daniel. By the Rev. William White, minister of the Original Secession Church, Haddington. 12mo, 1848.
Studies on the Book of Daniel: a Course of Lectures by J. N. Darby. Translated from the French, and revised by the Author, 12mo, 1848.
Lectures on the Prophet Daniel, considered in a Series of Lessons for a Sunday School. By the Rev. L. Gaussen of Geneva. 8vo, 1848.
Lectures, Expository and Practical, on the Book of the Prophet Daniel. By the Rev. Charles Popham Miles. 2 vols 12 mo.