Daniel 12:2

2. And many of them that sleep &c.] The prophecy, as we have seen, was brought down to the restoration of the Jews, and thereupon proceeds to the general restoration, or resurrection of all men, and the final judgment. The Jews themselves believed this doctrine, and had hopes therein founded on the promises of God to their fathers, Acts xxvi. 6; and there is no passage in the Old Testament that more strongly declares this truth than that before us. Wintle.

These expressions can with truth and propriety be applied only to the general resurrection of the just and unjust: and, though it may be said, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,” yet that is no objection to the truth here delivered; for as Theodore observed long ago, the Prophet had said “many” for “all,” as St. Paul does in Rom. v. 15. 19. The proper conclusion of all is the general resurrection, and the consequent happiness of the wise and good: ver. 3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Bp. Newton.

Daniel 12:3

3. And they that be wise shall shine &c.] The words allude to chap. xi. 33. 35, and import, that they, who have been the great “lights” of the world, and have instructed others by their doctrine, and confirmed them in the truth by their sufferings and example, shall have an eminently glorious reward at the day of judgment. So the martyrs are described as having a share in “the first resurrection,” Rev. xx. 5. Our Saviour’s words plainly allude to this text, Matt. xiii. 43. W. Lowth.

The Judge of all the earth will certainly do right. He hath given the fullest assurance that there is a reward for the righteous; and it is certain, that this reward will be augmented in proportion as men have been more extensively useful, or have advanced the real and best interest of their fellow-creatures. In the last verse the reward and punishment are expressed generally as to their degree, and merely said to be perpetual in their duration; in this they are exalted to the highest pitch of distinction in their degree, and their duration is expressed in the strongest terms of pointing out eternity. The design of which is to convince the eminently vir-

Daniel 12:4

4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, &c.] To “shut up” a book, and to “seal” it, is the same with concealing the sense of it from common understandings: see chap. viii. 26. The same reason is assigned for this command in both places; namely, because there would be a long interval of time between the date, and the final accomplishment, of the prophecy: compare chap. x. 1. But the nearer that time approached, the more light should men have for understanding the prophecy itself; as is implied in the following words, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased;” many shall be inquisitive after truth, and keep correspondence with others for their better information: and the gradual completion of some prophecies shall direct observing readers to form a judgment concerning those particulars which are yet to be fulfilled. W. Lowth.

One cannot help observing here the analogy between God’s word and works: not only operations of nature have been unravelled, but every useful art and invention traced out and brought to perfection by the continual labour and successive industry of man. And the like gradual process is observable with respect to the word of God: in its early communication it was wrapt up in mystery, and surrounded by obscurity, for this among other purposes, to excite the attentive observation of men, and engage their diligence; so that by affording proper employment for our active spirits, it may serve to train and habituate them to that temper and frame, which will be a suitable qualification for them in the future world; where we shall be continually exercised in acts of devotion and praise, and be making constant advances in knowledge, goodness, and happiness. Wintle.

Daniel 12:5

5. — behold, there stood other two.] I saw two other angels on the bank of the river Hiddekel, attending upon that supreme Angel, or the Son of God, who appeared in the glorious form above described: see chap. x. 4, 5. W. Lowth.

Daniel 12:7

7. And I heard the man clothed in linen, &c.] And I heard Christ, the great Angel of the covenant, the eternal Son of God, answer him again: who, lifting up both his hands towards heaven, the place of his throne,

Daniel is informed of the times. Before CHRIST 534. I Or. part. that it shall be for a time, times, and I an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel 12:8

8. And I heard, but I understood not: &c.] The full discovery was not made to the Prophet, but reserved for future ages, till time should bring it to light. The question that follows, “What shall be the end of these things?” alludes to the like expression having been used in the preceding parts of this book, and especially at chap. x. 14. The enquiry is checked at the next verse, and an intimation given, that it is not so much for the use of the present as of future ages, that this revelation is made. The prophecy is of distant reference and interpretation; it is necessary therefore that it should be involved in obscurity. What is delivered may satisfy the minds of the pious and faithful; but it is not meant that the curious should be gratified, that human pride should be indulged, or that the counsels of God should be made subservient to the ambition of princes, or any sinister designs of man. Wintle.

Daniel 12:9

9. And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: &c.] Such prophecies, as belong to things yet future, especially to the times and circumstances of those things, are few, if any of them, fit for the unlearned to pry into particularly. Nay, the learned themselves, if they are prudent also, will observe what answer the angel gave to the Prophet Daniel: “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” When the proper season comes, possibly in some cases not before the event hath interpreted them, the prophecies will prove their own reality by their clearness; and strengthen, perhaps in an hour of much need, “the patience and the faith of the saints,” Rev. xiii. 10. Thus it happened to the Apostles. They understood not beforehand our Saviour’s prediction, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But “when he was risen from the dead, they remembered that he had said this unto them: and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said,” John ii. 19. 22. Abp. Secker.

Daniel 12:10

10. Many shall be purified, &c.] The persecutions of the faithful are designed for the trial of their faith and the purification of their lives; see chap. xi. 35. But as for those, who are obstinately bent upon following the corrupt practices, to which they have been accustomed, neither the exhortations nor threatenings of God’s word, nor the judgments, which they see overtake others, will prevail with them to forsake their wicked practices. See Rev. ix. 20; xxii. 11. W. Lowth. — and none of the wicked shall understand; &c.] The holy writers often repeat this maxim, that an honest and good heart is a necessary qualification for receiving and understanding Divine truths. See Isa. vi. 9. &c.; Hos. xiv. 9; John viii. 47; x. 27; xviii. 37. W. Louth. It is not less our duty to subject all our vicious inclinations to the authority of holy writ, than our vain prejudices. For if we indulge but one, it will naturally bias us to reject, or misinterpret, whatever is inconsistent with it; and besides, we shall lose the hope of that illumination, without which we can apprehend nothing to good purpose. This is what the angel saith Before CHRIST 534. Daniel is informed of the times. Before CHRIST 534. up the abomination, &c. astomsheth.

Daniel 12:12

12. Blessed is he that waiteth, &c.] Some expositors suppose St. John to allude to these words, Rev. xx. 6, where he says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” In like manner the Prophet here pronounces those blessed, who, after a patient expectation of the fulfilling of God’s promises, come to have a share in the enjoyment of them. W. Louth.

Daniel 12:13

13. But go thou thy way till the end be: &c.] Be content with that state and condition, which God shall appoint thee, till the finishing of all these wonderful events. W. Lowth. The Prophet had been making enquiries after the end of these wonders; the angel had given him all the information that was needful either for himself or future times, and with this he dismisses him, subjoining at the same time a short epitome of his own fate; that, as he was now far advanced in life, he must expect soon to retire from this world; that he should rest in peace to the time of the end, when he should again be raised up and restored to life, and receive his final allotment from his righteous Judge, before whom he should stand in judgment at the last day, or “at the end of the days.” The word “lot” must here be meant in the good sense, that the Prophet should be ranked among the blessed, and partake of the heavenly inheritance, when the mystery of God shall be perfected. The expression seems to indicate a long space of time. Wintle.

The following are the Chapters from Daniel appointed for Proper Lessons on Sundays and Holydays:

CHAP. III. … 19th Sunday after Trinity. … Morning. — VI. … ditto. … Evening. — IX. … Thursday before Easter. … Morning. — X. ver. 5 … St. Michael and all Angels… Evening. # GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE # TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS.

THE writings of the twelve Minor Prophets were in the Hebrew canon comprised in one book, which was called by St. Stephen “the Book of the Prophets,” Acts vii. 42, compared with Amos v. 25. By whom they were so compiled is uncertain; probably, however, they were collected together in that form by Ezra, or by some member of the Great Synagogue; but certainly above 200 years before the birth of Christ.

The twelve Minor Prophets were so called, not in respect to any supposed inferiority in their writings as to matter or style, but in reference to the brevity of their works. The shortness, indeed, of these prophecies seems to have been one reason for joining them together; by which means the volume of their contents was swelled to a greatness in some degree correspondent to their importance.

These twelve Prophets furnish us in scattered parts with a lively sketch of many particulars relative to other kingdoms; they describe in prophetic anticipation, but with historical exactness, the fate of Babylon, of Nineveh, of Tyre, of Sidon, and of Damascus. The three last Prophets especially illustrate many circumstances at a period when the historical pages of Scripture are closed, and when profane authors are entirely wanting. They describe, under the most striking representations, the advent and character of Messiah and his kingdom; and endeavour, by the most admirable instruction, to excite those religious sentiments, which would facilitate the reception of the Gospel. Dr. Gray.

H O S E A. ## INTRODUCTION.

HOSEA has been supposed to be the most ancient of the twelve Minor Prophets; and indeed by some writers he is represented as having preceded all the Prophets, since he flourished about the middle of the reign of Jeroboam the Second, the son of Joash, king of Israel, and towards the commencement of that of Uzziah, who began to reign over Jerusalem about the year of the world 3194. According to some accounts of no great authority, he was of the tribe of Issachar, and of the city of Beleenor; others represent him to have been of the tribe of Judah. He was the son of Beeri, and entered on the prophetic office some time between the years of the world 3194 and 3219. He continued to prophesy above sixty years: during the successive reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and probably to about the third year of the reign of the last; or, if we reckon by the kings of Israel, he may be described as having flourished during the reign of Jeroboam and his successors, to the sixth year of Hoshea, which corresponds with the third year of Hezekiah. Hosea was therefore nearly contemporary with Isaiah, Amos, and Jonah. It is probable that he resided chiefly in Samaria; and that he was the first Prophet, of those at least whose prophecies we possess, that predicted the destruction of that country; which was effected soon after the Prophet’s death by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria. Dr. Gray.

Hosea’s principal subject is that which is the principal subject indeed of all the Prophets; the guilt of the Jewish nation in general, their disobedient refractory spirit, the heavy judgments that awaited them, their final conversion to God, their re-establishment in the land of promise, and their restoration to God’s favour, under the immediate protection of the Messiah, in the latter ages of the world. He confines himself more closely to this single subject than any other Prophet. Comparatively, he seems to care little about other people. He wanders not, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, into the collateral history of surrounding heathen nations. He meddles not, like Daniel, with the revolutions of the great empires of the world. His own country seems to engross his whole attention; her privileges, her crimes, her punishment, her pardon. He predicts, indeed, in the strongest and the clearest terms, the ingrafting of the Gentiles into the Church of God: but he mentions it only generally; he enters not, like Isaiah, into a minute detail of the progress of the business. He alludes to the calling of our Lord from Egypt; and to the resurrection on the third day; and he celebrates in the loftiest strains of triumph and exultation, the Saviour’s final victory over death and hell. But yet, of all the Prophets, he certainly enters the least into the detail of the mysteries of redemption. We have nothing in him descriptive of the events of the interval between the two advents of our Lord: nothing diffuse and circumstantial, upon the great and interesting mysteries of the Incarnation, and the Atonement. His country, and his kindred, is the subject next his heart. Their crimes excite his indignation; their sufferings interest his pity;