365 super faciem totius terrae, neque tamen attingebat terram, 366 et hirco
DANIEL
already narrated on the testimony of historical evidence. Still they were always formidable, not only to their neighbors who submitted to their yoke, but to the most distant nations, as they crossed the sea and descended from Asia upon Greece. In the last word, he expresses this fact, — the ram became mighty. For the Persian king became the greatest of all Monarchs in the world, and it is sufficiently notorious that no one could add to his dignity and strength. It follows: —
Daniel 8:5-6 5. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
5. Et ego eram intentus, 364 ecce, inquit hircus caprarum venit ab Occasu, 365 super faciem totius terrae, neque tamen attingebat terram, 366 et hirco cornu illustre erat inter oculos ejus.
6. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
6. Et venit ad arietem, cui erant cornua duo, 367 quem videram standem in ripa fluvii, 368 et cucurrit, ad eum cum furore fortitudinnnis suae.
Here another change is shown to the Prophet, namely, Alexander's coming to the east and acquiring for himself the mighty sway of the Persians, as afterwards happened. With the view, then, of procuring confidence for his prediction, he says, he was attentive He doubtless dwells upon the reverence with which he received the vision to exhort us to the pursuit of piety, and also to modesty and attention. The Prophet, therefore, was not carried away in imagination by a dream which could be called in question; he knew this vision to have been set before him by God, and acknowledged his duty to receive it with modesty and humility. Wherefore, I was attentive, and behold a he-goat came forth from the west, says he. The situation of Macedon with respect to Persia must be noticed. As the Greeks were situated to the west, of Persia, the Prophet says, the he-goat came from the west, and went over the surface of the whole earth These words signify the very extensive dominion of Alexander, and the terror of surrounding nations. His arrival in Asia with a very insignificant army is well known. He thought 30,000 men sufficient, after he had been created their general by the States of Greece. Hence, the passage is to be understood not of numbers, but of the terror inspired on all sides; for, although he advanced with but a moderate force, yet he terrified the whole earth.
But he did not touch the ground, says he. This refers to his swiftness, for he rather flew than traveled either on foot or by sea, so incredible was his speed in this expedition. For if any one had galloped through regions
364That is, I attended or was attentive. — Calvin. 365From the west. — Calvin. 366It did not touch the ground. — Calvin. 367Which was possessed of two horns, or verbally, "master of horns."-Calvin. 368Before the river. — Calvin.