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In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
Verse 1. Baltassar. Chal. a letter is wanting. Bible.—This Baltassar was slain. Calmet. 5. Calmet.—The two visions happened before that event. Worthington.—The. Prot. “visions of his head, upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.” Bible.
Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night and behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea.
Verse 2. Winds, to imply the tumults occasioned by fresh kingdoms ( Worthington.) in the world. Theod.
Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
Verse 3. Four great beasts; that is the Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires. But some rather choose to understand the fourth beast of the successors of Alexander the great, more especially of them that reigned in Asia and Syria, ( Challoner.) or in Egypt. Calmet. 2:40. Bible.
“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.
Verse 4. Man. The emperors of Babylon were forced to confess that they were nothing more. Calmet.—Their cruel and rapid conquests ( Worthington.) are denoted by this monstrous animal. Its wings shew how the lands were divided between the Medes and Persians. Perhaps Neriglissor, and so forth shared a part. Calmet. 5:1. Calmet.
“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’
Verse 5. Bear, which is cruel, and eats what is set before it greedily. Worthington.—Side. Cyrus did not attack the Jews. Saint Jerome—He stood ready to attack the Chaldeans.—Three. He ruled over the Medes and Chaldeans, as well as over the Persians. Calmet.—Rows. Greek “wings or sides” of an animal, ( Bible.) or “bones.” Grot.—Cyrus was always at war; and Justin (1.) says, that Tomyris II. of Scythia, ordered his head to be cut off, and thrown into a vessel full of blood. His troops are styled robbers, Jeremiah 51:48. The ambition of Cambyses, Hystaspes, and so forth are insatiable.
“After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Verse 6. Leopard, a small spotted beast, may denote the size and disposition of Alexander, as well as his rapid conquests. When he was asked how he had subdued so many, he answered, “by never putting off.” Calmet.—Four. He led his forces on all sides; ( Bible.) and after his death, his empire was divided into four, ( Worthington.) Egypt, Syria, Asia, and Macedon, (Theod.) as he had united in his person the empire of the Chaldees, Medes, Persians, and Greeks. Calmet.
“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.
Verse 7. Unlike. It is not named: but shews the incomparable power of the Romans, governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, dictators, emperors, at different times. Worthington.—This in the opinion generally received, which we shall explain. Yet many think that the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt are designated, as Calmet. 2:40. S. Jerom acknowledged that what is understood of antichrist, had been partly verified in Epiphanes, his figure. The beast was to be slain before the coming of the Son of man. verse 11, 26. It would persecute for three years and a half; but God would grant victory to his saints, as he did to the Machabees. Yet they only exhibited a faint idea of what has been done by the Church. The same subject is treated, Calmet. 11. Many things caused the dominion of the successors of Alexander to be unlike that of others. It was never united, and was very destructive to the Jews. Calmet.—Horns. That is, ten kingdoms, (as Revelation 17:12) among which the empire of the fourth beast shall be parcelled: or ten kings of the number of the successors of Alexander, as figures of such as shall be about the time of antichrist. Challoner.—Epiphanes was the eighth king, and Laomedon, Antigonus, and Demetrius, had been governors of Syria before. Most understand this of antichrist, whom Epiphanes foreshewed. Others think that it points out Vespasian, the tenth successor of Cæsar, who made war on the Jews. The same prediction may regard different events, as the abomination (Calmet. 9) may allude to the profanations committed by Epiphanes, by the Romans at the last siege, and by antichrist. Others apply this to the Turkish empire, which may be paving the way for the great antagonist of Christ. Calmet. Dioclesian and Julian may also be meant, as well as other forerunners of the man of sin. Bible.—He shall overcome many, but his fury shall continue but a short time. verse 25. Worthington.
“I considered the horns, and behold, another horn came up among them, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Verse 8. Little horn. This is commonly understood of antichrist. It may also be applied to that great persecutor, Antiochus Epiphanes, as a figure of antichrist. Challoner.—He was the youngest son of Antiochus the great, and was a hostage of Rome. While he was returning, his elder brother died, and Epiphanes excluded his son Philometor, of Egypt, and the usurper Heliodorus. He also defeated three, Philometor, on the south; Artaxias, king of Armenia, on the east; and the strength, or God’s people, verse 24 and Calmet. 8:9.—Man. He gained several at first, by his affability.—Things: blasphemy. 1 Maccabees 1:23. 43. Calmet.
“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
Verse 9. Ancient. The Son is born of the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both, yet all three are coeternal. Worthington.—Hence the Father is sometimes painted in this manner, though he be a pure spirit. His throne resembled that seen by Ezechiel, Calmet. 1. Bible.—He takes cognizance of all, and punishes accordingly. Calmet.
A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.
Verse 10. Fire. Psalms 96:3.—Thousands. Greek implies one million and one hundred millions. Menochius.—The angels are very numerous, particularly the highest, styled assistants. Saint Thomas Aquinas Worthington.
“I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
Verse 11. Spoke. I wished to see how the king would be punished. He felt the hand of God as he was going to destroy all the Jews, when he pretended to repent. 1 Maccabees 6 and 2 Maccabees 9:4. His successors could not much disturb the Jews. verse 13. Calmet.
As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Verse 12. Time. Each of the four empires had its period assigned. That of Rome attracted the prophet’s attention most, and is mentioned first. Menochius.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
Verse 13. Heaven. Christ appeared about sixty years after the subversion of the Syrian monarchy. Yet these expressions literally refer to his second coming. Matthew 26:64. Calmet.—He had the form of man, as he had the nature. Menochius.—He is clearly predicted. by his power antichrist is overthrown. Worthington.
Dominion was given him, with glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.
Verse 14. Destroyed. The eternal dominion of Christ could not be expressed in stronger terms. He seems to allude to them, Matthew 28:18. Calmet.
“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
Verse 17. Earth. The first was on the point of disappearing. Calmet. 5:31. Bible.
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
Verse 18. Most High, (Th.) or rather Chal. “the very high saints of God;” as also verse 22, 25, and 27.
“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them
Verse 21. Saints. The Machabees at last prevailed. Christ will punish the Jews. Matthew 24:30.
until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Verse 23. Greater. Chal. “unlike,” as verse 7. Epiphanes was a greater scourge of the Jews than any of the preceding.
As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings.
Verse 24. Mightier. Chal. again, “unlike.” Antiochus the great had lost many provinces: but his son was the most implacable enemy of God’s people. He subdued them, Egypt and Armenia; or his three competitors. verse 8.
He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
Verse 25. Against, or “over against,” like an accuser. Sym. “as if he were God.”—Laws. He did this with regard to the Jews, (1 Maccabees 1:41. Calmet.) prohibiting their festivals. Antichrist will do the like, and pretend to work miracles. Bible.—A time, and so forth That is, three years and a half; which is supposed to be the length of the duration of the persecution of antichrist. Challoner. Revelation 11:2 and 12:14.—Josephus (Bel. pref.) says the sacrifices were discontinued so long, or rather this time elapsed from the publishing his edict till the temple was purified. During six months, people offered sacrifice clandestinely. 1 Maccabees 4:36. 52.
“‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’
Verse 27. Him. The power of the Machabees was too limited, to be here understood. The Church and Christ must be meant.
“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Verse 28. Word. The angel spoke no more at this time. Calmet.