Daniel 8

&c.] Or, “against the host of heaven.” This part of the prophecy relates mostly to the persecution and oppression of the people of God. “The host of heaven” are the people and great men of the Jews. Sir Isaac Newton. Either the Jewish state in general, “the mighty and the holy people,” ver. 24: or the priests and Levites in particular, who are called “stars,” as being eminent for their station, and illustrious for their knowledge; and “the host of heaven,” as they watched and served in the temple, and their service is denominated “a warfare,” Numb. viii. 24, 25. Our Saviour makes use of the like expressions in speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, Matt. xxiv. 29. Bp. Newton. In this elevated language is the Jewish hierarchy shadowed out after the manner of the Eastern writers. The Jewish polity, both civil and religious, was the work of Heaven. The government, laws, and worship of the holy people, were figured by the sun, moon, and stars. See Matt. xxiv. 29; Mark xiii. 24. Thus the fall of Babylon is foretold in Isa. xiii. 10; and the destruction of Egypt in Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8; and that of Idumen in Isa. xxxiv. 4, 5. Dr. Zouch. 11. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host.] Or, “against the prince of the host.” Bp. Newton. The Messiah, the Prince of the Jews, whom he put to death. Sir Isaac Newton. See the note on ver. 25. and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.] The Romans took away the daily sacrifice of the Jews, and utterly destroyed their temple. Bp. Newton. In the 7th verse the he goat is said to “cast down the ram to the ground, and to stamp upon him;” by which is implied the total destruction of the ram. And here the expressions of “casting down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamping upon them;” of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

power.] The strength of the other kingdoms consisted in themselves, and had its foundation in some part of the goat; but the Roman empire, as a horn or kingdom of the goat, was not mighty by its own power, was not strong by virtue of the goat; but drew its nourishment and strength from Rome and Italy. There grew the trunk and body of the tree, though the branches extended over Greece, Asia, Syria, and Egypt. Bp. Neuton. Or, it may mean, that the singular progress of the Roman greatness was to be attributed, not so much to their own strength, as to the assistance to their allies, and not seldom to the feuds and divisions of their enemies, of which they were always on the watch to take advantage. Dr. Hales. It was the consummate policy of the Romans to use the resources and strength of every conquered nation in still further conquest; and thus to make the world, as it were, the great instrument of its own subjection. Dr. Zouch. — and he shall destroy wonderfully, &c.] See the note on ver. 12. The Romans “destroyed wonderfully” both by their arms and their arts: and, even in times of “peace,” by their cruel and bloody combats of gladiators and captives. Dr. Hales. Rome was the seat of perpetual wars. Mithridates, when he saw the Romans eager to watch every opportunity of embroding themselves in war, said of them, “These conquerors of mankind seem to be really descendants of a wolf; such is their rapacity, such their insatiable avidity.” In wars with foreign nations they were not sparing of the blood of their enemies. Their cruelty excites our indignation. The effusion of blood in their civil commotions, the dreadful carnage which followed their odious proserpions, the savage massacres of their best and most virtuous citizens, can only tend to inspire sentiments of horreur and aversion. And, as to their humanity in the administration of justice, many of their laws may be said, like those of Draco, to have been written in blood. Dr. Zouch. — and shall prosper.] What nation was ever so

— and practise.] That is, shall perform great actions. The great and splendid actions of the Romans have commanded the admiration of all ages. To this subject the panegyrist finds himself unequal. So long as the volumes of history are read, the achievements of this wonderful people will be viewed with astonishment and applause. Dr. Zouch. — and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.] And thus fully accomplish the direful imprecation of the Jews, when they urged Pontius Pilate to hasten the death of Jesus Christ; “His blood be on us and on our children.” Dr. Zouch. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, see the notes on Deut. xxviii; Matt. xxiv. 25. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand.] The original word, rendered “craft,” is always taken in a bad sense, and implies every kind of fraud, injustice, and deception. This strong lineament is exemplified by the insincerity, artifice, and injustice of the Roman patricians in their conduct towards the piblerines: but it particularly belongs to the character of the Romans, if we consider those scenes of fraud and injustice, which were exhibited by them towards the conquered nations, when reduced to the form of a province. Dr. Zouch. — and he shall magnify himself in his heart.] See

— and by peace shall destroy many.] Or rather, “in peace shall destroy many.” Even in times of tranquillity and peace, he shall delight in scenes of cruelty and slaughter. As the character of a people may be deduced from their diversions, when we consider the entertainments to which the Romans were principally addicted, we must, I fear, pronounce them a people estranged from the sentiments of humanity, “in peace destroying many.” What can fix them in a more unpleasing point of view, than the shews of their gladiators? Even in the most flourishing and polished periods of their state, they left their theatres, to become Gabriel interpreteth the vision. Before CHRIST about 553. d 2 Mac. 9. 9. against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

princes;] It was by the malice of the Jews, but by the authority of the Romans, that the Messiah was put to death, and He suffered the punishment of the Roman malafactors and slaves. Bp. Newton. “He shall stand up against,” that is, shall become the judge of, “the Prince of princes.” The word, rendered “shall stand up against,” is probably used here, as in other passages of Scripture, in a forensic sense; and thus expresses, in vivid colours, the judicial proceedings of the Roman judge against Jesus Christ. For that by “the Prince of princes” is here meant Jesus Christ, will admit, I think, of little doubt. This splendid title is properly applied to Him, who is called the “Prince of the kings of the earth,” Rev. i. 5; “Lord of lords, and King of kings,” Rev. xvii. 14; “The Prince of Peace,” Isa. ix. 6; whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,” Dan. vii. 14; “to whom all power was given in heaven and in earth,” Matt. xxviii. 15; who, like a triumphant conqueror, “led captivity captive,” Eph. iv. 8; who is the “Star” that was to come out of Jacob, and the “Sceptre” that was to arise out of Israel, Numb. xxiv. 17; before whom “all kings shall fall down,” and whom “all nations shall serve,” Is. lxxii. 11; the “Prince” or “Captain of our advation,” Heb. ii. 10. Or, “to stand up against the Prince of princes” may be interpreted, to oppose his authority, by persecuting his faithful servants, and depreciating their merit; and thus to wage war against Him and his religion. The page of history is stained with deeds of exquisite cruelty and inhuman barbarity, exercised by the Romans against the first professors of Christianity; and while the supreme magistrate of Rome indulged himself in the various modes of torture, the zeal of the historian was equally exerted in debiasing the characters of innocent men, and branding their religion with odious appellations. Dr. Zouch. — but he shall be broken without hand.] As “the stone,” in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, was “cut out of the mountain without hands,” that is, not by human, but by supernatural means, so “the little horn shall be broken without hand;” not die the common death, nor fall by the hand of men, but perish by a stroke from Heaven. And this agrees perfectly with other predicitions of the fatal catastrophe of Rome. See chap. ii. 34; vii. 11. 26. All which implies, that the dominion of the Romans shall be finally destroyed with some extraordinary manifestation of the Divine power. Bp. Newton. To a reader conversant in the history of Rome, the up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Before CHRIST about 553. # CHAP. IX.

Daniel 8:12

12. And an host was given &c.] Or, as we read in the margin, “the host was given over for the transgression against the daily sacrifice, and he cast down the truth to the ground, and he practised, and prospered.” Or, as the same thing is expressed by the angel, “He shall destroy wonderfully,” &c. see ver. 24, 25. The Romans carried their conquest and their revenge so far, as to put an end to the government of the Jews, and entirely to take away their place and nation. Bp. Newton.

Daniel 8:13

13. — unto that certain saint which spake,] “Unto that excellent one that was speaking.” Wintle. This “excellent Saint,” who uttered the response, was the Oracle Himself, who before appeared to Isaiah in glory, sitting on his throne between the Seraphim, Isa. vi. 1; and now appeared to Daniel, “as a man standing before him,” and bidding the other angel, whom He called Gabriel, to explain the vision to the Prophet. Dr. Hales. The word, rendered here “certain Saint,” is translated in the margin “the Numberer of secrets,” or “the wonderful Numberer;” and must mean a Person of extraordinary rank, as being able to unfold those secrets, which were hid from the angels; and is therefore justly supposed to be the Son of God, called “Wonderful, Counsellor,” Isa. ix. 6, as being acquainted with all God’s purposes and designs; compare John i. 18. W. Lowth. — How long shall be the vision &c.] Moses had predicted, that the desolation to follow the Roman captivity would be of very long continuance, Deut. xxviii. 59. And Isaiah had enquired from the Oracle, in vision, How long it should continue? Isa. vi. 11; to which no definite answer was then given. That was reserved for the highly favoured Daniel, in this remarkable episode, introduced into the midst of the second vision, and intimately connected therewith; immediately following the account of the destruction of the temple by the Romans. Dr. Hales. — the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, &c.] In the original there is no such word as “concerning;” and Mr. Lowth rightly observes, that the words may be rendered more agreeably to the Hebrew thus, “For how long a time shall the vision last, the daily sacrifice be taken away, and the transgression of desolation continue?” &c. Thus it is rendered in several translations. The answer is, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” In the original it is “unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings,” an evening and morning being in Hebrew the notation of time for a day; and

Daniel 8:16

16. And I heard a man’s voice—which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.] And I heard the voice of Him, who was the Word of his Father, speaking in the tone of a man, betwixt the banks of Ulai; which called and said, Gabriel, it is the pleasure of Him, who is the God of spirits, that thou make this man to understand the vision. Bp. Hall.

The Person who utters this voice seems to be the same who is called ’the wonderful Numberer,’ ver. 13; because He speaks as one that had authority over the angel Gabriel. W. Lowth.

Daniel was so overpowered by the Divine presence, that he fell on his face in a deep sleep or trance towards the earth, till Gabriel touched him, and restored him to his senses, and set him upright, and then explained to him more particularly the former historical part of the vision: concluding with a reference to the latter chronological part, or ‘vision of the evening-mornings,’ that it was ’true,’ or would be verified by the accomplishment; but that the accomplishment was remote, or ‘for many days,’ and that ’the vision was shut up,’ or sealed, and its further disclosure hidden for the present. Dr. Hales.

Daniel 8:17

17. — O son of man.] This title is given to none of the Prophets but Ezekiel and Daniel. Probably it is

here given to the Prophet, either to put him in mind that he was but flesh and blood, that he might not be exalted for having these heavenly visions imparted to him; or else it may be interpreted for a mark or title of honour, implying something more than an ordinary man, even such an one as was highly favoured and beloved of God. W. Lowth. See the note on Ezek. ii. 1.

— for at the time of the end shall be the vision.] Or, ’to the time of the end,’ that is, there is a precise time appointed for the accomplishment of the vision, when it shall certainly be fulfilled. See ver. 19; and compare chap. ix. 27; xi. 35, 36; Hab. ii. 3. W. Lowth.

Daniel 8:19

19. — in the last end of the indignation.] Or, ’to the last end of the indignation.’ I will explain to thee the whole series of God’s judgments upon his people to the end and conclusion of them. See chap. xii. 8. W. Lowth.

Daniel 8:23

23. And in the latter time of their kingdom, &c.] That is, of Alexander’s successors. Dr. Hales. The Romans might well be said to stand up ‘in the latter time of their kingdom,’ for they saw the end, not only of one kingdom, but of all the four, which were successively subdued, or otherwise gotten possession of, by the Romans. Bp. Newton.

— when the transgressors are come to the full.] Alluding to the various invasions of the Jewish polity and religion which took place under the Romans; when, among other profanations, under the Roman consul Paulus Emilius, the Jewish religion was put down, and the heathen worship was set up in the cities of Judea, and in Jerusalem; and the temple itself was consecrated to Jupiter Olympius, and his image was erected upon the very altar. Then indeed ’the transgressors were come to the full;’ and then, as we see, the Romans ‘stood up a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences.’ Bp. Newton.

— a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences.] ‘A king’ in the prophetic style is the same as ‘a kingdom;’ and a kingdom is any state or government. Bp. Newton.

What follows is a description of the Roman power and policy, in subduing the world by force and fraud. That peculiar characteristic of the Romans, ’the fierce countenance,’ first noticed by Moses, Deut.

Gabriel interpreteth the vision. Before CHRIST about 553. people of the holy ones.

Daniel 8:26

26. — wherefore shut thou up the vision;] The same thing is expressed by “shutting up the words,” and “sealing the book,” chap. xii. 4. The expression in both places denotes the concealing of the sense of it from common understandings; or the deferring of the accomplishment of the events therein foretold. So we find “shutting” and “opening,” “sealing” and “unfolding,” are opposed in the prophetic language, and import the same as concealing and revealing; delaying the accomplishment of a prophecy, and bringing it into effect. See Isa. xxix. 11; Rev. v. 1—5; xxii. 10. The words instruct us, that prophecies are never fully understood till they are accomplished; and the nearer the time approaches of their accomplishment, the more light shall diligent searchers have for explaining them. See chap. xii. 4. W. Louth.

Daniel 8:27

27. And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days;] So much was he affected with the misfortunes and afflictions, which were to befall the Church and people of God. This concern of Daniel, and affection for his religion and country, shew him in a very amiable light, and give an additional lustre and glory to his character. Bp. Newton. Chap. IX. This chapter contains a very affecting and fervent prayer of Daniel, on a near view of the expiration of the seventy years allotted for Judah’s captivity; the success of his prayer is pointed out at the conclusion of it, and the deliverance of his brethren is communicated to the Prophet, in a very extraordinary