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Ask a QuestionDaniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue seventy years, which were drawing to a close. God's promises are to...
Herodotus and Xenophon confirm Daniel as to the suddenness of the event. Cyrus diverted the Euphrates into a new channel and, guided by two deserters, marched by the dry bed into the city, while...
(De 19:19; Pr 19:5). accused--literally, "devoured the bones and flesh." It was just that they who had torn Daniel's character, and sought the tearing of his person, should be themselves given to...
displeased with himself--for having suffered himself to be entrapped into such a hasty decree (Pr 29:20). On the one hand he was pressed by the immutability of the law, fear that the princes might...
Shushan--Susa. Though then comparatively insignificant, it was destined to be the capital of Persia after Cyrus' time. Therefore Daniel is transported into it, as being the capital of the kingdom...
Daniel takes away the king's opinion of his magicians and soothsayers. The insufficiency of creatures should drive us to the all-sufficiency of the Creator. There is One who can do that for us, and...
Darius the Median--that is, Cyaxares II, the son and successor of Astyages, 569-536 B.C. Though Koresh, or Cyrus, was leader of the assault, yet all was done in the name of Darius; therefore, he...
accused the Jews--literally, "ate the rent limbs," or flesh of the Jews (compare Job 31:31; Ps 14:4; 27:2; Jer 10:25). Not probably in general, but as Da 3:12 states, Shadrach, Meshach, and...
answered--responded to God's goodness by praises. name of God--God in His revelation of Himself by acts of love, "wisdom, and might" (Jer 32:19).
to give thee...understanding--Da 8:16; Da 8:26 shows that the symbolical vision had not been understood. God therefore now gives "information" directly, instead of by symbol, which required...
(1 Maccabees 1:52). corrupt--seduce to apostasy. by flatteries--promises of favor. people that...know their God--the Maccabees and their followers (1 Maccabees 1:62, 63).
I was...at rest--my wars over, my kingdom at peace. flourishing--"green." Image from a tree (Jer 17:8). Prosperous (Job15:32).
kings--that is, kingdoms. Compare Da 7:23, "fourth kingdom"; Da2:38; 8:20-22. Each of the four kings represents a dynasty. Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Antiochus, and Antichrist, though individually...
third year of Cyrus--two years after Cyrus' decree for the restoration of the Jews had gone forth, in accordance with Daniel's prayer in Da 9:3-19. This vision gives not merely general outlines, or...
comeliness--literally, "vigor," that is, lively expression and color. into corruption--"deadliness," that is, death-like paleness (Da 5:6;7:28).
Gabriel--signifying "man of God," the same who appeared to Daniel at the time of incense (Da 9:21) and to Mary (Lu 1:26). stand, &c.--as his attendant (compare 1Ki 17:1).
I thought it good--"It was seemly before me" (Ps 107:2-8). signs--tokens significant of God's omnipotent agency. The plural is used, as it comprises the marvellous dream, the marvellous...
tree--So the Assyrian is compared to a "cedar" (Eze 31:3; compare Eze 17:24). in the midst of the earth--denoting its conspicuous position as the center whence the imperial authority radiated in...
Then--When thou liftedst up thyself against the Lord. the part of the hand--the fore part, the fingers. was...sent from him--that is, from God.
whiles I was speaking--repeated in Da 9:21; emphatically marking that the answer was given before the prayer was completed, as God promised (Isa 30:19; 65:24; compare Ps 32:5).
shut up...seal the book--John, on the contrary, is told (Re 22:10) not to seal his visions. Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas...
mourning--that is, afflicting myself by fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh and wine" (Da 10:3), as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake. Compare Mt 9:14, "fast," answering to "mourn" (Da 10:15)....
Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the...
gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh--answering to "no man upon the earth"; for there were, in their belief, "men in heaven," namely, men deified; for example, Nimrod. The supreme gods are...
He calls for the magicians, who more than once had been detected in imposture. He neglects God, and Daniel, whose fame as an interpreter was then well-established. The world wishes to be deceived...
Here begins the Chaldee portion of Daniel, which continues to the end of the seventh chapter. In it the course, character, and crisis of the Gentile power are treated; whereas, in the other parts,...
assembled together--literally, "assembled hastily and tumultuously." Had they come more deliberately, the king might have refused their grant; but they gave him no time for reflection, representing...
that certain saint--Daniel did not know the names of these two holy angels, but saw only that one was speaking to the other. How long shall be the vision concerning...daily sacrifice--How long...
Chaldeans--here, a certain order of priest-magicians, who wore a peculiar dress, like that seen on the gods and deified men in the Assyrian sculptures. Probably they belonged exclusively to the...
gain...time--literally, "buy." Compare Eph 5:16; Col 4:5, where the sense is somewhat different. the thing is gone from me--(See on Da 2:5).