EXCURSUS E: THE FOUR KINGDOMS (DANIEL 2:7). In the notes upon the parallel, though supplementary, vision contained in Daniel 2:7 attention has been directed to each of the four empires which has hitherto governed the world. It has been explained in the notes that these four empires are the Babylonia... [ Continue Reading ]
VII. (1) The date of this and of the following chapter comes in chronological order after the fourth chapter. As St. Jerome has observed, “_In superioribus ordo sequitur historiœ quid sub Nebuchadonosor et Balthasar, et Dario sive Cyro mirabilium signorum acciderit. In kis vero narrantur somnia quœ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT SEA. — In general (_e.g.,_ Joshua 15:47), these words imply the Mediterranean. Such cannot be the meaning here, so that according to Daniel 7:17 we are justified in explaining the “sea” to mean the nations of the world, which are compared to the sea (Isaiah 27:1; Psalms 46:3). The raging o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR GREAT BEASTS. — The monstrous forms of the beasts are implied, rather than the hugeness of their size. Other instances of beasts being taken as emblems of kingdoms may be found in Isaiah 27:1; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 32:2. It must be observed that the beasts do not rise up simultaneously, but in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST WAS LIKE A LION. — The lion and the eagle are chosen as being emblems of strength and swiftness respectively. They characterise the empire of Nebuchadnezzar, and correspond to the golden head of the Colossus (Daniel 2). THE WINGS... PLUCKED. — The eagle, deprived of its wings, loses its p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD ANOTHER BEAST. — We are not told what became of the first beast. (Comp. Daniel 7:12.) The word “behold” implies that this was the next object which arrested the seer’s attention. The second beast corresponds to the silver portion of the Colossus (Daniel 2). ONE SIDE. — In explaining this... [ Continue Reading ]
A LEOPARD. — More correctly, _a panther._ On the great vigilance and swiftness of the panther, comp. Jeremiah 5:6; Hosea 13:7; Habakkuk 1:8. The third beast corresponds to the copper belly and thighs of the image (Daniel 2). It should be noticed that as unity characterises the first beast, and duali... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOURTH BEAST. — This is so different from the preceding three, and so terrible in appearance, that Daniel can hardly find words to describe it. The distinguishing feature of it is the power which it possesses of breaking and stamping out all that it meets. In this way it corresponds to “iron that... [ Continue Reading ]
I CONSIDERED. — Literally, _I kept on looking._ Here, for the first time in the course of the vision, there appears a change taking place in the object itself. While the three beasts had passed away unchanged in any material addition, among the ten horns of the fourth beast there was seen to grow up... [ Continue Reading ]
I BEHELD. — Literally, _I kept on looking,_ and suddenly seats were placed, on which the assessors of the Great Judge were to sit. These have been interpreted from Psalms 89:7 to be the angels, but a truer explanation is to be found in Matthew 19:28. It should be noticed that those who sat on the th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BOOKS — _i.e._, the unerring record of man’s thoughts, words, and deeds, which is written in the unfailing memory of God. (Comp. Exodus 32:32; Psalms 56:8; Psalms 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Malachi 3:16.)... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF... — The blasphemy uttered by the little horn was the cause of the judgment, and being such, it attracted Daniel’s attention. We might have expected that the crowning scene of this vision would have been the uprooting of the little horn and the complete destruction of it, but it appears t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REST OF THE BEASTS — _i.e.,_ the three first beasts which Daniel had seen coming out of the sea. He now learns what had befallen them. Their dominions had passed away, and their lives had been prolonged up to that definite point and time which had seemed fit to God, and no further. The period of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN. — Hence our Saviour adopts the title which designates Him as Judge (Matthew 24:27, &c.). The title implies one descended from man; but as this Person is spoken of as being “like” one of human descent, it follows that He was not merely a man. The early Jewish and Christian interpretat... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVE HIM. — In Biblical Chaldee this word is only used of rendering Divine service or worship. The “Son of man” is therefore here spoken of as God.... [ Continue Reading ]
MIDST. — See margin. The body was regarded as the _sheath_ of the soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT STOOD BY — _i.e._, one out of the multitudes mentioned (Daniel 7:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR KINGS. — Kingdoms are frequently represented by their heads or founders; hence kings and kingdoms are occasionally used synonymously. (Comp. Daniel 8:21.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE TEETH. — The recapitulation in this verse of what was stated in Daniel 7:7 must be noticed. The additional features mentioned here are the brazen claws. (Comp. Daniel 2:37; Daniel 4:20.)... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE WAR. — This corresponds to “the mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:20). These events occur while the saints are expecting their deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOURTH KINGDOM. — The ten are spoken of as existing simultaneously. Of the various attempts to account for them, none have proved satisfactory. (See _Excursus E._) We must wait in patient humility for the fulfilment of this part of the prophecy, noting that marks by which the little horn may be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL SPEAK. — The marks of identification of the little horn are — (1) blasphemy of God; (2) persecution and affliction of the saints; (3) attempts, apparently ineffectual (he will “think to change”), against all institutions, whether of Divine or human authority: in short, a general spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JUDGMENT. — The language is similar to that in Daniel 7:10. The destruction of the beast recorded in Daniel 7:11 is here omitted. UNTO THE END. — Comp. Daniel 6:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Daniel 7:14; Daniel 7:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MATTER — _i.e.,_ the vision and the revelation. IN MY HEART. — Daniel suffers as in Daniel 7:15 and Daniel 10:8. However, he comforts himself by keeping in his heart the words of the angel spoken in Daniel 7:17. (Comp. Luke 2:19.)... [ Continue Reading ]