Daniel 7:18

The four kingdoms of the Gentiles will pass away; and be succeeded by the kingdom of the saints of the Most High, which will endure for ever. The saints of the Most High seem here, as also in Daniel 7:22; Daniel 7:27, to take the place of the -one like unto a son of man" in Daniel 7:13, and to receive the same never-ending dominion.

the saints lit. the holy ones; so Daniel 7:21-22; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 7:27; Daniel 8:24 (cp. Daniel 12:7). Cf. Psalms 16:3; Psalms 34:9. (The word is entirely different from the one (ḥasid) rendered -saints" everywhere else in the Psalms, as Psalms 30:4; Psalms 31:23; Psalms 37:28, &c., and in 1 Samuel 2:9 [A.V.]; 2 Chronicles 6:41; Proverbs 2:8.) The term, in this application, is an extension of the use of the word -holy" to denote Israel in its ideal character (Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Leviticus 20:26; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 14:21; Deuteronomy 33:3 and elsewhere).

the Most High See on Daniel 3:26. The Hebraizing (and plural) form found here (עליונין) recurs Daniel 7:22; Daniel 7:25(second time), 27. The plural is probably the so-called -plural of majesty," which we have, for instance, in the Heb. of -holy" in Joshua 24:19, and Proverbs 9:10.

shall receive (Daniel 5:31) the kingdom They will not establish it by their own power (cf. Daniel 7:27 -shall be given, &c.).

and possess the kingdom for ever, &c. Cf. Daniel 7:14 b.