CHAP. VIII.
Daniel has a vision of a ram, and a he-goat that overcame the ram, 1-7. The horn of the goat is broken, and four horns come up in its stead, 8. A little horn springs from one of them, and becomes exceedingly great, and does much mischief, 912. The duration of these events, 13, 14. Gabriel shews Daniel, that this vision related to the kingdom of the Medes and Persians as conquered by the Macedonians; and to a power that would thence arise, and extensively, and for a long time, prevail against the church, 15-25. The certainty and remote futurity of the events; and Daniel's grief, astonishment, and sickness, 26, 27.
V. 15-28.
Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river h a ram which had two horns; and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram * pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beast might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; mbut he did according to his will, and became great.
f 16.
g 10:5. Num. 24:2. Josh. 5:13. 1 Chr. 21:16. Zech. 1:18. 2:1. 5:1,5,9. 6:1.
h 20. 2:39. 7:5.
i 5:31. 6:28. Ezra 1:2. 4:5. Esth. 1:3. Is. 13:17. 21:2. 44:
28. Jer. 51:11.
Heb. the second.
k 5:30,31. 7:5. 11:2. Is. 45:15. Jer. 50: 51:
17 Job 10:7. Ps. 7:2. 50:22. Mic. 5:8.
m 5:19. 11:3, 16,36,
should keep them in our hearts, and expect the ceive the kingdom," and their cause shall finally triumph over all opposition: opposition: and the trouble, arising from the views which we re
Hitherto it has been permitted, that the de-approaching period, when "the saints shall re
pravity of man should be exposed, in the conduct of many rivals and competitors to "the Lord of glory;" of many enemies, who have opposed his cause, and made havoc of innu-ceive of the sufferings to be endured by God's
merable multitudes of his saints: and have prevented the success of their efforts, in spreading that glorious cause, which they loved more than their lives. Yet they have never pre-cross, that we may share all their triumphs,
NOTES.
CHAP. VIII. V. 1. The Chaldeans were not particularly concerned in the subsequent prophecies; and therefore they were written in the Hebrew tongue, as more useful to the Jews. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 2:4. 7:1.)
people, will be counterbalanced by the expectation of so glorious an event. May we be numbered with the s the saints, now they are under the vented the eternal felicity ty of any one chosen and be 'numbered with them in glory evervessel of mercy; nor could "the gates of hell 'lasting.' ever prevail against the church."-Idolatry, impiety, arrogance, and persecution have have generally been concomitants; and have always been odious and pernicious; but never so odious and pernicious, as when covered with a mask of religion.
There have been and will be many antichrists; but he "that sits in the temple of God, and exalts himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped," has been more fierce and "stout than his fellows;" and has "worn out the saints of the most High, and thought to change times and laws," more than they all: and his condemnation will be proportionably dreadful; for the judgment shall sit, and "the Lord will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, and with the brightness of his coming." (Note, 2 Thes . 2:8-12, v . 8.) Other tyrants and persecutors may be spared for a season, even when dethroned; but this enemy shall be wholly destroyed, and cast into the fire.
Then all idolatry and false worship shall cease, and our Redeemer shall receive dominion and glory, and a kingdom over all people, nations, and languages, which shall never pass away nor be destroyed.-We must not indeed be ambitious of temporal power, or use unhallowed means to subvert even antichristian tyranny: but we may pray that God our Savior would plead his own cause, and fulfil his word, and make his truth victorious: we may desire to be instrumental in forwarding these happy events, in any way in which it may please him to employ us: and we may anticipate with joy those glorious times, when "all nations shall fall down before" our Redeemer, "and all kings shall do him service:" and when every throne on earth shall be filled by those, who do his will and seek his glory.
We should make serious inquiry into these matters, as well as into other parts of God's word: and by proper examination and humble prayer, we shall thence deduce encouragement to our Lope, and find strength added to our faith. We
V. 2. Shushan, or Susa, was afterwards the capital city of the Persian empire; and many commentators suppose, that Daniel was there only in vision, (as Ezekiel had been carried to Jerusalem,) and that he was actually at Babylon at the time. ( Marg . Ref. Notes , Neh . 1:1. Ez . 8:1-4. 11:22-25. 40:2.) Indeed the language may admit of this interpretation; yet it does not appear why the scene of the vision should be Shushan, if he were not really there. But it is inquired, what he should do at Shushan, when Belshazzar, who employed him, was at war with the Medes and Persians.
He might however be there, as employed in some embassy from Belshazzar to Cyrus, or some of the parties engaged in war against him. Indeed it is probable, that Shushan was at this time in the hands of the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar conquered Elam, according to Jeremiah's prediction; ( Notes , Jer. 49:34-39.) and it does not appear that Cyrus had at this time retaken it.
Elam is indeed sometimes used for Persia; but the province of Elam was only a part of that country. - 'Daniel's residing in the palace 'at Shushan shews, that he still continued in 'those posts of honor to which Nebuchadnez'zar had advanced him. (27)' Lowth .- Ulai . ] 'This river divides Susiana from the province 'of Elam, properly so called. See Pliny . Lowth.
V. 3, 4. The kingdom of Media and Persia, before represented by a voracious bear, was on this occasion shewn to Daniel, under the form of a ram with two horns. (20. Notes , 2: 39.7:5.) The bear aptly described the nature
of this monarchy; but the "ram with two horns," was its known emblem in those countries.
The original word for "a ram," and that for Elam , or Persia , have a great affinity: it was usual for the kings of Persia to wear a diadem of gold made like a ram's head, and it is said that, 'rams' heads with horns, one 'higher and the other lower, are still to be seen 'on the pillars at Persepolis.' The Chaldean 'monarchy was drawing near to its end, when Daniel had this vision; and its subversion had been sufficiently predicted: this vision therefore was introduced by the emblem of the Medo-Persian empire.
The two horns of this ram, one higher than the other, do not mean Darius and Cyrus, or any two princes; for the ram had two horns, when he was smitten by the goat, or the Macedonians: (7) but they signify the joint power of the Medes and Persians forming one monarchy. The Medes were the most ancient of the two nations, and had been most eminent; but the Persians became most powerful and renowned: so that "the higher horn came up last." ( Marg . and Marg.
Ref. i.) This ram, though comparatively a feeble animal, was seen "pushing" with his horns, "westward, northward, and southward," so that none could withstand or escape him, or prevent his executing his purposes, and becoming great. Persia lay to the east of Babylon; and the kings extended their conquests westward, as far as the Egean sea; north and north-west, they subdued various people even to the Caspian and Euxine sea; and to the south and south-west, they vanquished Egypt and several of the adjacent regions.
Some of the later kings of Persia carried their arms also into the east; but it is not certain, that they made any conquests in that quarter. The kingdom of Ahasuerus indeed is said to have extended "from India to Ethiopia;" but this seems only to imply, that it reached to the borders of India. ( Note , Esth . 1:1,2.) The principal successes of the Medes and Persians, however, were "westward, and northward, and southward." ( Marg . Ref. Notes, 5-7. 11:2-4.)
V. 5-7. Whilst the prophet beheld with astonishment the fury and success of the ram, he observed "an he-goat come from the west" to oppose him: this was afterwards interpreted to mean the kingdom of Greece, or Macedonia, and "the little horn the first king;" or, Alexander the Great, and those of his race, who for a short time succeeded him. (21) A Goat was the known emblem of this kingdom; and the Macedonians had been long called the Goats' people: For 'Caranus their first king, 'going with a great multitude of Greeks, to 'seek new habitations in Macedonia, was com'manded by the oracle to take the goats for 'his guides to empire: and afterwards seeing a 'herd of goats fleeing from a violent storm; he 'followed them to Edessa, and there fixed the
'seat of his empire, made the goats his ensigns, 'and called the city Ægeæ , or the Goats' town, 'and the people Ægeada , or the Goats' people.' Bp. Newton. The Persian kings had made some very formidable but unsuccessful attempts to subdue the Greeks, and by repeated injuries they had so exasperated the whole nation, that, laying aside their quarrels with each other, they united against the common enemy.
The politics and successes of Philip king of Macedon, and other circumstances, had concurred to make way for Alexander the Great, to accomplish his design of leading an army into Asia, to conquer if possible the Persian empire.
With a small body of most valiant and well disciplined soldiers, the flower of Greece and Macedon, he marched into Asia; and his progress and successes were so rapid, that his army seemed, as it were, to fly above, and "not to touch," the surface of "the earth:" and when Darius the Persian king came to meet him, with armies perhaps twenty times as large, he was attacked with such impetuosity, and routed with such immense slaughter; that by the loss of three great battles, his pow er was utterly broken, he was pursued as a fugitive, and at length slain by his own ser
vants. Afterwards Alexander with unexampled celerity marched his forces into every part of this extensive empire, bearing down all opposition, and receiving the submission of cities and nations; till the ram, the Medo-Persian kingdom, was cast down to the ground, and "stamped upon," or trodden under foot by the victor, and none could deliver it, or any part of it, out of the hands of the Macedonians. ( Marg . Ref .
Note, 7:6.) When Alexander first menaced Asia with an invasion, Darius treated his proposals and design with the most affronting contempt; and he afterwards attempted to bribe his physician to poison him: these injuries had so exasperated the king and his troops, that they pursued Darius rather as an assassin, than as a competitor for honor and empire; and the he-goat attacked the ram, as "moved with choler" against him. It is recorded by Josephus, that this prophecy was shewn to Alexander by the Jewish high priest on the following occasion.
Whilst Alexander besieged Tyre, the high priest of the Jews refused to pay tribute to him, because he had sworn allegiance to Darius: and this refusal so enraged the conqueror, that he set out in great haste to avenge himself on that nation. But, in answer to the prayers of the high priest and people, the former was directed in a vision to go forth to meet Alexander, in his pontifical vestments, attended by the other priests in their sacred apparel: and when the enraged victor met this procession, he bowed down before the high priest with religious awe and veneration.
This behavior astonished all present: but he informed them, that whilst he was planning his expedition, at Dio in
great: and when he was strong, * the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones, toward the four winds of heaven. [Practical Observations.]
9. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land .
10 And it waxed great, even * to the bhost of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, " and stamped upon them.
Macedon, he had seen in a dream this very person in this very habit, inviting him to come into Asia, and promising him success in his expedition; and that he now meant to adore the God of the Jews, (who had directed and prospered his expedition,) in the person of his high priest. Accordingly he peaceably entered Jerusalem, and offered sacrifices in the temple, where the high priest shewed him these prophecies of Daniel, in which it was foretold that a king of Greece should subvert the Persian empire. It is certain that Alexander granted many peculiar privileges to the Jewish nation; and this can hardly be accounted for, without admitting the truth of these events as recorded by Josephus.
V. 8. After the Macedonian kingdom had acquired extraordinary greatness and power, Alexander was cut off, when he was in the prime of his life, and in the full career of victory and prosperity; through excessive intemperance, and not without the suspicion of poison. In a few years ofter, the insignificant remains of his family were extinct; and then the great and noble horn of the goat was broken.
Afterwards his captains had fierce contests about his dominions; till at length, four kingdoms arose, which continued for some time, and were "notable," conspicuous and eminent in the world: the kingdom of Egypt was to the south; that of Syria, and its dependencies, to the east; that of Thrace, with Bythinia, &c. to the north; and that of Macedonia to the west. ( Marg . Ref .
Notes, 22. 2:39. 7:6. 11:2-5.) Thus four horns sprang up from the head of the goat, in the place of the one which had been broken: but the power neither continued in the same family, nor was any one of these kingdoms equal to that of Alexander himself.
11 Yea, dhe magnified himself even to * the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 Andian host was given him against the daily sacrifice , by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaka 25. 5:23. 7:25. 11:36. 2 Kings | for the transgression against
19:22,23. 2 Chr. 32:15-22.
Is. 37:23,29. Jer. 48:26,42.
2 Thes. 2:4. Rev. 13:5-7.
† Or, against.
e Josh. 5:14,15.
the daily sacrifice.
h 11:31-35. Rev. 13:7.
i Ps. 119:142. Is. 59:14. 2 Thes. 2:10-12.
Heb. 2:10. k 4. 11:36. 1 Sam. 23:9. Job 12:6. Jer. 12:1,2. Rev. 13:11 -17.
Rev. 17:14. 19:13-16. † Or, from .
12. 11:31. 12:11.
42. Num. 28:3.
g See on 9:26,27. 24.
Ex. 29:38- 1 See on 7:16.-12:5,6. Deut. Ez. 46:14. 33:2. Zech. 1:9-12,19. 2:3,4. Luke 21:5,6, 14:5. 1 Thes. 3:13. 1 Pet. 1: 12. Jude 14.
Or, the host was given over
would also be "when the transgressors were come to the full;" (23) that is, when the Jews had made themselves ripe for judgment by their crimes. This horn denoted "a king of fierce countenance," and Antiochus was a king of a most ferocious cruelty; and one that "understood dark sentences;" or, of designing subtlety. "His power would become mighty, but not by his own power:" (24) for froin low beginnings he would arise to great prosperity, by the assistance of allies.
After the Romans had conquered his father Antiochus the Great, and exceedingly weakened his dominions; and Seleucus, his brother, had drained all his treasures to pay the sum stipulated to the Romans; Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome, returned home in a very obscure manner: but being favored by Eumenes, king of Pergamus, he obtained the kingdom in preference to his brother's posterity, and became in time powerful and formidable; carrying war into Egypt, "to the south;" and into Persia, and Armenia, "to the east:" and especially he subdued and oppressed the land of Judah, called "the pleasant land," because of the teinple and ordinances of God.
Thus "he waxed great," and employed his power "against the host of heaven," and "cast down some of the stars to the ground, and stamped on them;" this might figuratively describe his persecution of God's worshippers, and the cruelties which he exercised against many of the excellent and eminent persons among them.
And he not only "magnified himself" against the high priest, and the rulers of the Jews; but against God himself, "the Prince of this host," ," the Prince of princes: for he set up the image of Jupiter Olympus in the temple, profaned every thing with swine's flesh, compelled the Jews to blaspheme God; put a stop to the administration of all the sacred institutions, and desolated and polluted the whole sanctuary. For, to punish the sins of the Jews, "an host was given him against the daily sacrifices," i. e. God gave him power
V. 9-12. (23-25.) Expositors in general used in former times to interpret interpret this "little horn" to mean Antiochus Epiphanes, of whose persecutions we have an account in the books of Maccabees: but modern interpreters of to prevail against them: so that the truth was prophecy have shewn that this interpretation by him cast down to the ground, and he prac is not at all satisfactory; and have given us en- tised wickedness, and prospered in it: (24) tirely other views of the subject. According complishing his deep and dark machinations, to the first opinion, this part of the prophecy by the most crafty politics; behaving with the
may be thus explained. From one of the four kingdoms, into which the dominions of Alexander were divided, came forth "a little horn;" which represented Antiochus Epiphanes, descending from the kings of Syria. This would occur "in the latter time of their kingdom," and Antiochus lived but a little time, before the Romans subdued the Grecian empire: it
utmost arrogance; and making and infringing solemn treaties and agreements, to compass the destruction of multitudes. But at length, when he was coming, full of rage, to execute vengeance on the Jews, who opposed his tyranny; he was seized with a most loathsome and dire disease, and died miserably by the evident judgment of God, without the inter
ing, and another saint said unto that|| certain saint which spake, m How long shall
• Or, the numberer of secrets, or, the wonderful numberer. Heb. Palmoni. Judg. 13:18.
marg. Is. 9:6. Matt. 11:27. be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice ,
Luke 10:22. John 1:18.
Mr. Faber's Dissertation on the Prophecies. But the careful examination of his arguments and statement on the subject has convinced him, that the Mohammedan delusion, and not that of the papacy, is here pointed out. The copious reasonings, calculations, and quotations of this learned writer, cannot possibly be even condensed into so small a compass, as to be here inserted; and the reader must be referred to the work itself. ( Faber on the Prophe cies , Vol. I. chap. v.) A few hints, however, may be adduced. It seems unnatural to make "the little horn" of the he-goat, or the third beast, that is, of the Macedonian empire, exactly the same as "the fourth beast," or the Roman empire; especially in a prophecy, in which the fourth beast is not once mentioned: and the arguments above deduced, in support of that opinion, are by no means conclusive. It appears to me unaccountable, on mature reflection, that there should be, in these concise,
vention of any human power. Thus some interpret this prophecy. ( Notes , 11:21-30.) But many insuperable objections lie against this interpretation. 'A horn of a beast is never 'taken for a single person: it always signifies a ' new kingdom; and the kingdom of Antiochus 'was an old one. Antiochus reigned over one 'of the four horns; and the little horn was a fifth , under its proper kings. This horn was at first a little one, and waxed exceeding great; 'but so did not Antiochus. ... His kingdom on 'the contrary was weak, and tributary to the 'Romans; and he did not enlarge it.
The horn 'was "a king of fierce countenance, and de'stroyed wonderfully, and prospered and prac'tised:" ... but Antiochus was frighted out of 'Egypt by a mere message of the Romans, and 'afterwards routed and baffled by the Jews. 'The horn was mighty by another's power; 'Antiochus acted by his own.... The horn cast 'down the sanctuary to the ground, and so did 'not Antiochus; he left it standing. The sanc-yet most comprehensive prophecies of Daniel,
and host were trampled under foot two 'thousand and three hundred days, (14) and in 'Daniel's prophecies days are put for years; but 'the profanation Fanation of ion of the temple, le, in the reign of 'Antiochus, did not last so many natural days. '... These were to last to "the end of the in'dignation" against the Jews; and this indigna'tion is not yet at an end. They were to last 'till the sanctuary which had been cast down 'should be cleansed; and the sanctuary is not 'yet cleansed.' Sir Is. Newton .-'Antiochus's 'kingdom was nothing more than a continua'tion of one of the four kingdoms; and cannot 'possibly be reckoned as a fifth kingdom
so many repeated and particular predictions of the papal papal delusio delusions in the west; and not a hint of the Mohammedan delusion in the east, the progress and effects of which have been most extensively mischievous; and are specially and separately noted as such by St. John. ( Notes , Rev. 9:) "The Holy Spirit, now purposing to describe the exploits he exploits of another 'great enemy to Christianity, recals, in the 'vision of the ram and the he-goat, the atten'tion of Daniel, to the second and third em'pires, whose prophetic history had been al'ready detailed, for the purpose of introducing 'another "little horn," which was to come up
'springing up among the four. When he 'out of one of the principal horns of the Mace
'stood up "the transgressors in the Jewish na'tion were not come to the full."... The holy 'city was inhabited 'with all peace; and the ''laws were kept very well; because of the "godliness of Onias the high priest, and his "hatred of wickedness.' 2 Mac . 3:1.' Bp . New ton. These, and other expositors, therefore,
'donian beast, as the former "little horn" 'sprang up among the ten horns of the Roman 'beast. Faber , p. 190. It must be far more natural and reasonable, to look for the little horn of the he-goat, in the regions which formed the Macedonian empire, as broken into four divisions; than in any part of the Roman em
suppose this little horn to mean the empire of pire, even when extended to the same regions. the Romans, from the time when they had got It is plain, that the rise of the papal ecclesiasfooting in Greece and Macedonia; which forın-tical authority, by which "the saints of the
ed one horn of the goat. They then entered on that stage, on which these events were to take place. At first they seemed to have little power in the regions which Alexander had governed; yet that increased exceedingly, by the forces brought from Rome and Italy: and as these formed no part of this goat, "the horn grew strong not by its own power." The Roman emperors also became terrible persecutors of the Christian church, putting to death
Most High" were delivered into the hands of the bishop of Rome, by the edict of Phocas, constituting him universal bishop, A. D. 606; and the first dawn of Mohammed's religious imposture occurred in the same year: and, in all probability, the two delusions will be terminated precisely at the same time. ( Note , 23 -25.) In neither case, as it appears to me, is the temporal dominion exclusively , or even pri marily foretold; but the religious delusion. It when the pope became a temporal prince, or when Mohammed began his conquests. The little horn of the west, and that of the east,
many of the brightest ornaments of the gos- does not then remain to be inquired, either
pel, especially several of the apostles of Christ. Yea, they "magnified themselves against this Prince of the host," the King of kings; both as
Pilate the Roman governor ordered his cruci-seem to have entered on the work of spiritual
fixion, and as they persecuted his followers for three centuries. And after the emperors became Christians, then the church and bishop of Rome arose to great dominion, by power given from others; and they have proved "rulers of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences;" being ever notorious for savage cruelty and dark machinations against their opposers. ( Notes , 2:40–43. 7:7,8,19–27. 11:31-35.) With this interpretation of Sir Isaac Newton and Bishop Newton, the writer of this comment had acquiesced , though not with full satisfaction; till the appearance of
delusion, at the same period. It being carefully kept in mind, that the religious imposture and its effects, in both cases, are primarıly meant; and the temporal authority, merely as subservient to them; it will not be any objection to this interpretation, that the dominion of the Mohammedans began to decline in a few centuries, and probably will be extinct, before the close of the 1260 years: for the effects of the spiritual delusions will nevertheless remain, till dispelled by the triumphant light of divine truth: as will the papal delusion also, however the pope, and the dominion of the
⚫ and the transgression of desolation, to || thousand and three hundred days, then give both the sanctuary and the host to be shall the sanctuary be + cleansed. trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two
ο 9:27. 11:31. 12:11. Matt, 24: 15. Mark 13:14. Luke 21:20. * Or, making desolate.
p 7:23. Is. 63:18. Luke 21:24.
Heb. 10.29. Rev, 11:2. 9 7:25. 12:7,11,12. Rev. 11:2, 3. 12:14. 13.5.
kingdoms, supporting his ecclesiastical dominion, may be crushed. The extreme corruption of the professed Christian church, and the worship of images, and angels, and saints, and manifold other co corruptions, which had long been gaining ground in the church, gave occasion to the Mohammedan delusion, and plausibility to it as a protest against the idolatry of Christians, as well as of Gentiles: (23) and Mohammedism in an especial manner gained its first successes, and for a long time chiefly prevailed, in the regions which had constituted the corrupt parts of the eastern church.
When Christian churches were converted into mosques; "the daily sacrifices" might he said to be "taken away:" and the numbers of nominal Christians, who were thus led to apostatize, and of real Christians and ministers, who perished by the sword of this warlike persecuting power, fulfilled the prediction, that "he cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the ground, and stamped on them." Mohammed allowed that Jesus was an eminent prophet; but he declared, that he himself was above him, and came to supply his deficiencies, and supersede his gospel.
Thus he "magnified himself to the Prince of the host," and "stood up against the Prince of princes;" and his success through an amazing extent of country, in which his religion is upheld to this day, sufficiently shewed, that he "cast down the truth to the ground," and that "he practised and prospered." (24) This was to take place in the latter time of the Grecian kingdom; (23) and it is well known, that the remains of the eastern empire, (properly speaking, the Grecian kingdom,) and the power of the Greek church, as distinguished from the Latin, were subverted by the Mohammedans; so that a mere skeleton of the latter has hitherto subsisted in the east.
Whoever has read any part of the Koran, remarkable for sententious general obscurity; plausible, yet conveying no precise ideas; suited to impose on the ignorant and credulous, but incapable of enduring enlightened investigation; will see the propriety of the terms, "understanding dark sentences:" and the severe and overbearing requirements of its tenets, expressly enforced by the sword, surely mark out "a king of fierce countenance." Considered as a spiritual delusion, its power has been mighty, but not by its own power ; not by the energy of the doctrine , or by a divine pow er attending it , as Christianity prevailed against all opponents; but by the sword of war.
Mohammed tried, with little success, what preaching would do: but he prevailed only so far as to procure a few powerful adherents, by whose influence he raised an army, and by whose valor and prowess he soon accomplished great things.
Yet his worldly policy, and that of his adherents and successors, was equal to their valor in war; and never perhaps exceeded, except by the little horn of the fourth beast, or the papal antichrist. ( Note , 23-25.) Neither this little horn of the he-goat, nor the little horn of the fourth beast, sprang up at first, within the regions belonging to the Macedonian empire; in this respect the objections to each interpretation are equal: but Mohammedism soon spread from Mecca in Arabia, into VOL. IV.
[Practical Observations.]
15 And it came to pass, when I, even
Heb. evening, morning. 26. 11:15.
Gen. 1:5.
rIs. 1:27. Rom. 11:26,27. Rev.
Heb. justified. Is. 45:25. Gal
3 :8.
Syria, and occupied locally , as well as authori tatively , the ancient dominion of the he-goat, and does the same to this day; which the popish delusion has never done at any time, or in any degree. Mohammed and his successors came on numbers, who suspected no such harm; and while they promised themselves peace he prevailed against them: (25) of this Mr. Faber has adduced several remarkable instances. And finally, whatever human power has effected, or may effect, against the temporal dominion of the Mohammedan empire; the spiritual delusion will certainly be destroyed "without hand," or immediately by God himself, probably at the very time, when "the man of sin" also shall be destroyed. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes, 2 Thes . 2:8-12. Rev. 11:15-18. 19:11-21.)
V. 13, 14. The word rendered here "cer'tain saint," is translated in the margin, "The 'Numberer of secrets," or, "The wonderful "Numberer;" and must mean a person of ex'traordinary rank, as being able to unfold those 'secrets which were hid from angels; and is 'therefore justly supposed to mean the Son of 'God, called the WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, ( Is . 9:6.) as being acquainted with all God's 'purposes and designs. John 1:18. Lowth.
"The difficulty, or impossibility rather, of mak'ing these two thousand three hundred years 'accord with the times of Antiochus, I sup'pose, obliged the ancients to consider Antio'chus as the type of Antichrist. ... The question was asked, not only how long the daily sacri'fice shall be taken away, and "the transgres'sion of desolation" continue; but also how 'long the vision shall last. So the answer is 'to be understood; and these days, the whole 'time from the beginning of the vision, to the 'cleansing of the sanctuary.' Bp .
Newton.Some difficulty is found, in determining the precise time, from which to date these two thousand three hundred years: and the case is the same, in respect of the thousand two hundred and sixty years, repeatedly stated to be the term of the desolations of the church, both by Daniel and St. John. ( Notes , 12:5-13. Rev. 11:1,2.) "The abomination that maketh desolate" is mentioned, 11:31. A similar phrase, "for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate," occurs 9:27.
In both these passages, the desolating judgments brought on Jerusalem and the Jews, by the idolatrous Romans, are evidently meant, and our Lord explains them in this sense, when predicting those events. ( Notes , 9:25-27, υ. 27. 11:31. Matt . 24:15-18, v. 15.) In those texts, no particular dates or circumstances are mentioned, which interfere with this interpretation. But the words, in this place, "the transgression of desolation;" ( Marg .) are so connected with circumstances and dates, which cannot be made in any way to coincide with those events, that it is evident some other are intended.
The dates in these verses must be considered in connexion with those in the twelfth chapter. We are informed by Daniel, 'that "at the end of a time, and times, and half a time," or "1260 years," the restoration of the Jews will commence; and that all the matters, 'foretold in his preceding predictions, will be [673
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and *set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for at the time appointed the end shall be.
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
* Heb. made me stand upon 1 See on 5-7.-10:20. 11:2 m See on 8. 11:3. my standing.
Hence it necessarily follows, that since the 'period of 2300 days, and the period of 1260 days, both equally reach to "the time of the 'end," or to the end of the predicted wonders; 'they both exactly terminate together. Thus it appears that the period of 1260 days is in fact the latter part of the greater period of 2300 days.' Faber , Vol. I. pp. 207-211.
'The 'prophet represents the two-horned Medo'Persian ram, not as rising from the sea, but 'as standing by his river: in other words, he 'does not speak of the origin of the monarchy, ... but of some period, which he does not spe'cify, in the course of its regular and settled 'government. Now the Medo-Persian ram 'rose in the year A. C. 536. ... He continued 'standing,... till... A. C. 330. ... It appears there'fore, that the date of the vision must be fixed 'somewhere between the year A. C. 536 ... and 'the year A. C. 330. Faber , Vol. I. 228, 229.
If the 1260 years, so often spoken of, began A. D. 606, they must end A. D. 1866.... And 2300 reckoned backward from that period, will bring us to the year A. C. 334. And though we must not place too much confidence in the exactness of such calculations, yet the main points in this argument seem unquestionable. ( Note , 23-25.) It may perhaps be worthy of notice, that it is now about two thousand three hundred and seventy-three years, since Daniel had this vision: and, no doubt the end of the two thousand and three hundred days, or years, is not very distant.
'accomplished: that "from the time, that the 'daily sacrifice shall be taken away," and "the 'abomination that maketh desolate set up, 'there shall be 1290 years," to some event or 'another, which however he does not specify; 'and that "blessed is he that waiteth, and 'cometh to the 1335 years," after the time 'when "the abomination of desolation" shall be set "up." (Dan. 12:7,11,12.) ... Numbers, 'which by no efforts of calculation can be made 'to harmonize with the era of the siege of Je- 'rusalem.' Faber , Vol.
I. 199. ( Notes , 12:5-9, 9. 7,11-13.) Much more than 1335 years have passed, since the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, about A. D. 70; but no extraordinary events, either as to the Jews, or in fulfilment of Daniel's prophecies, have yet occurred, or any thing to place those who lived during them in a happy situation. Bp.
Newton, compelled, as it may seem, by chronological numbers, explains the prophecy in the twelfth chapter of the Mohammedan delusion: ( Note , 12:11-13.) yet "the abomina- tion, that maketh desolate" mentioned in that chapter; (12:7.) is doubtless the same as that here spoken of.
'Daniel informs us, ... that he 'heard a certain saint inquiring, "How long 'shall be the continuance of this vision," (which treats of') "this daily sacrifice," (taken away by the little horn) "and this transgression of 'desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" The answer 'made to this question was "Unto 2300 days," 'or, as the LXX read “2400 days,” or as certain 'copies mentioned by Jerome read, "2200 days," "then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Bp.
'Newton doubts, whether these prophetic days 'are to be calculated from the establishment 'of the Persian empire, from the invasion of 'Asia by Alexander, or from the beginning of 'the history of the little horn.- Whatever doubt 'there may be upon this point, and whatever 'difficulty there may be in ascertaining which 'of the three readings is the true one; I can- 'not but think, that it is sufficiently evident, 'both that the 1260 days are a certain part of 'the 2300 days, and that these two periods ex- 'actly terminate together in the self same year. -We are expressly told, that the vision of the 'ram and the he-goat, whenever it begins, reaches to "the time of the end," "or to the last 'end of the indignation:" (17,19.) and we are no 'less expressly informed, that to the end of the 'wonders, predicted by Daniel, there shall "be 'three times and a half, or 1260 days." (12:7,9.) || (Note, Gen. 10:2-5.)
V. 15-19. The eternal Son of God seems to have stood before the prophet, in "the appearance of a Man," and with a human voice to have called unto the angel Gabriel, to explain the vision to him. The power to command the angel shewed it was God.'-But the glory of what he saw, and the overpowering influences of the prophetic Spirit, filled Daniel with terror and astonishment: so that he fell on his face, and sunk into a deep sleep; till he was awakened, and raised up, and made to know what would come upon his people, in "the last end of the indignation," and about the time appointed for the termination of it. ( Note , 13,14.)-But in what sense could Antiochus's persecutions be called "the last end of the indignation;" seeing the destruction of Jerusalem by by the Romans was to follow, and all the calamities of the Jews to this day? ( Marg . Ref .)
V. 21. Grecia.] Javan , Heb. whence Ionia .
'province of this empire, from whence it had its original and name. Lowth . ( Note , 9-12.)
V. 22. Four kingdoms shall be set up by
'Alexander's generals, who shall be of the same 'nation with him, although not of his posteri'ty; nor shall they have that power or extent 'of dominion which he possessed.' Lowth . ( Notes , 8. 11:2-4.)
V. 23-25. Many things belonging to these verses have already been anticipated: because it appeared most adviseable to place in one view, the reasons which have induced the au
thor to alter his former expositon of the proph
ecy. ( Marg . and Marg . Notes , 9-14. 11: 40-43.) No doubt, the character here given of this "little horn," and the prediction of his exploits, as expositors have copiously shewn in a variety of circumstances, do accord to those of the Roman Antichrist: but do they accord to him exclusively? Probably, the more any sober-minded man studies the history of Mohammedism, the fuller will be his conviction, that the features of the two delusions (as of twin sisters,) are far more alike than it is generally supposed. - The Christian churches began very early to degenerate from their 'primitive purity, and to apostatize in the man'ner predicted by St. Paul. The apostacy, 'however, was long confined to individuals, 'nor did "the transgressors come to the full," 'until it was publicly authorized and upheld by the spiritual head of the catholic church. 'But in the year 606, when the "saints were 'delivered into the hand" of the papal horn,
'and the commencement of popery properly 'so called, is thus stated by Mr. Whitaker. 'Daniel states the rise of Mohammed as to
take place, when "the transgressors are come
'to the full." St. Paul says that "the delusion punish
of the Man of sin" shall be sent as a 'ment because men "believed not the truth, 'but had pleasure in unrighteousness," where 'surely the same period, (that in which the 'sins of the people call for judgment,) is char'acterized for the rise of the two powers. 'Now St. John assigns to each of them the 'same duration, and speaks of "the time of they
their end" as the same, and consequently t
'must begin at the same time; in exact cor'respondence with each of the separate dec
larations of the two former writers. Such 'coincidences in prophecy, of which the holy 'penmen themselves do not seem aware, prove, 'like the same in history, that the writers drew originally from the same source, with this 'only difference, that in the former case their 'information must have more than a human origin, even the operation of that "self same 'Spirit, who divideth to every man severally as 'he will."" Faber , Vol. I. p. 225.
Dark sentences )23( הידות: Riddles , or enig mas . (See on Note , 1 Kings 10:1,2, v. 2.) The word aptly describes the obscure and affected sublimity of the Koran.
V. 26. The vision of the two thousand three 'hundred mornings and evenings, mentioned 'in the fourteenth verse.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . -Note , 13,14.)-'The "shutting up of the vis
'the apostacy became an embodied system; 'ion," implies that it should not be understood 'for immediately afterwards idolatry was open- 'of some time: and we cannot say that it was ly and shamelessly established by the sove- 'sufficiently understood, so long as Antiochus 'reign pontiff. In In t this year then the 1260 days Epiphanes was taken for the little horn...
'commenced; "the cambodian atly in this year we must look 'cessarily infer eing a longer term, than the calam'for the rise of "the king." Accordingly the 'ity under Antiochus, of three years, or three 'Mohammedan apostacy commenced in the years and a half. Such a vision could not 'cast in the self same year, that the pope was constituted bishop of bishops, and supreme head of the church in the west. Insomuch that Dr.
Prideaux, struck with this wonderful 'chronological coincidence, could not refrain 'from exclaiming that Antichrist seemed at 'that time to have set both his feet on Chris'tendom together, the one in the east, the other 'in the west.' Faber , Vol. I. pp. 256, 257.-'The 'coincidence of the rise of Mohammedisin,
be called long to Daniel, who had seen so 'much longer before. Two thousand three hundred years,... may properly enough be 'said to be "for many days."" Bp. Newton. ( Marg . Ref . )
V. 27. Daniel's fainting, sickness, and astonishment, at the prospect of the evils which he saw coming on his people and on the church, are circumstances, which confirm the supposition, that calamities of very long continuance