PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel
John Ebenezer Honeyman Thomson [1841-1923] · 367,027 words · 376 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 181
n ie to be noliced th11t 1111 the versions trane- It seemed to the trnuslator more n:Ltuml ll\te 11fft~ (lzid'qah) "almegiving "-a lo.ta tha.t, after a, survey of the wall• anrl t<iwers mocrning, and one not present in tho M11eeo- o~ Babylon, NebuchfVlnezzar sh,,uld ap"'>k rctio here, H ce.n only be forced upon; thi…
1,032 wordsSECTION 182The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 182
it is B&.id, 0 King Nebuohndnozz11.r, the The next verse reeumos the prochtmation, kingdom of Babylon hns been taken from "I Nebuchadnezzar King of Dabylon we.a thee, nnd is being gin·n to 11.nother--a m,m bound seven years, and they fed mo with set nt. naught in lhy honse: behold, I set grllsB as nu ox. I ato froru…
1,065 wordsSECTION 183The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 183
sh,wkl,,a J•crmitl., rl him, wilh hair in matted sicfor it in the.t connection. The verse locks, anti hie n11ila rnisal,apcn ancl long. which succeeds suite morr, the conclnsion of Ver. 34.-And at the end of the days I such a letter or proclame.tion e.s is hem Nebuoh11dnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto represented, so f…
1,022 wordsSECTION 184The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 184
port!"IL'l'l! what seems lik<'lv t.o hnve te,kc-n c1tme short it m1ty be tl11\t ho yielded to tho ple,ce_:__fin,t., n revolution during the king's political nccC'~sitics of his sitnntion-aa madness, nnd a count.er-revolution to restore Na1tman bowing in the tomple of Rimmon, him when his ree,son returned. If, however…
1,010 wordsSECTION 185The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 185
logy. Thoeo suffering from it•• o.bo.nilon their the dream (vor. 25, LXX.), we find," An,! homes o.ncl mo.ko for tho forests, that lhcy tho o.ngels of heaven shal I drive thee (a,~ mny consort with those they imagine to be !ov-ra{ cr,) seven yenrs, and tbou shal t nr,t their kincl; they u.llow their ho.ir o.n<l no.i…
1,034 wordsSECTION 186The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 186
The phrase which stat.ee the duration objections of critics and lexicographers, we oocurs four timee-Yers. 16 (13), 23 (20), venture to follow these two authorities the 25 (22), 32 (29)-a.nd is nlwnye the same, mm·o readily that the critics ha.ve a.ssigned "till Be...-en times pa.Be over him (thee)."' no rcnson why we …
1,311 wordsSECTION 187The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 187
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-3.-The testimony of experience. It is interesting to observe that the account of Nebuchadnezzar's great humiliation comes from the lips of the king him- self, without a word of comment by his servant Daniel. While the conduct of the prophet teaches us to regard the chastisement of other people with…
815 wordsSECTION 188The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 188
Vers. 28--83.-The king's mad'MSs. I. INSANITY 18 SOMETIMES THE DIBEOT RESULT AND NATURAL PENALTY OF WRONG CONDUCT. .Although the physician may rightly detect here the symptoms of brain-disease, the religions teacher may go further, and see in this br.i.in-disease the fruits of moral faults. InsaniLy ofteu shows itse…
707 wordsSECTION 189The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 189
Ver. 87 (last clause).-Pricie humi1iated. I. Tm: GREATEST PROSPERITY co::.- TAINS IN ITSELF NO SECURITY AGAINST THE GREATEST ADVEHSITY, 1. As all earthly things are changeable, it is foolish to place our trust in the permanence of any. Yet there is a tendency to infer that because all is well, all will remain well, as …
1,201 wordsSECTION 190The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 190
Vers. 4-18, 20-21.-Human greatness, ita rise, fall, and restoration. "Behold a tree in the midst of the earth, aud the height thereof was great" (ver. 10). The subject naturally fiUggested by the text is that of human greatness, its rise, its decay, its restoration. It should be rem•am bered, even in the first entertai…
1,081 wordsSECTION 191The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 191
" Aslonied for one hour." 'l'his is not quite accurate. The me11ning is that D11niel wns so troubled, so ovorcome, that he remained for some time without uttel'ing a word. Perhaps he st.ood gazing at the king in mute amazement and sorrow. At length tho king himself broke the distressing silence, encouraging the prop…
858 wordsSECTION 192The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 192
mattcre would have, by way of introduction, to be set in a true light. They would all foll under thcee three heads: 1. Confirmations of Bible history from the science of medicine, 2. From the probabilities of the case. 3. From secular history. (See Exposition above; and' Daniel, Statesman and Prophet,' R.T.S., where th…
936 wordsSECTION 193The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 193
V crs. 1-3.-Royal witness for God. Even kings learn the humiliating lesson at last that they are but men. As a counterpoise to their advantages, thero is, on their side, this great disaclvantage, viz: th~t their miuds are singularly impervious to appeals from God. A drawback thu which more than counterweighs all the…
759 wordsSECTION 194The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 194
proved aforetirne the vain pretensions of his magicians and soothsayers, and harl proved too, the lncomparnblo superiority of Daniel; ncvcrtheles~, he neglects Daniel auain 0 ~ this occasion, and sends for the pretentious astrologers. Such men must be p~unded in a mortar before the folly can be expurgated, I. 'l'rm PI…
821 wordsSECTION 195The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 195
to suffer a suc1den and complete reverse. "Riches make· for themselves wings, and fly away." The props of a throne are soon snapped. The arm of military power is soon broken. Kinii:s have ended life in a dungeon or on a scaffold. Not more complete is the contr&Bt between a fruit tree in spring ~nd the same tree in t…
836 wordsSECTION 196The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 196
release and rescuo the real man. The prophet feels for him, enters into his peqi'.exitieR boars with him the burclen of sin. He woulcl, if he might, take those bur,:ens on hi; own shoulclers, 1mcl bt·ar them to the feet of the Sin-destroyer. To a large extent he identifies himself wiLh rnffering and enslaved humanit…
801 wordsSECTION 197The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 197
1 ,:(ory. Nutwitbstandin,:, the hour or reckoning was about ~o strike. Walking upon lus elernted palace-roof, and eurvcyin11: the grandeur of the city, Nebuchadnezzar gave the reins to natural pride-thought and spoke as if there wore none greater than he. 'l'bi~ is the end pride ever aims at, viz. to make man a god unt…
815 wordsSECTION 198The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 198
I. PnEBJllNT 0IIASTJBEMENTB ARE NOT FINAL. Thie is a gracious alleviation of tho severity. 'fho darkest element in the Divine judgment ie absent. There is scope for nmonclment, repentance, return. A ray of hope lights up the darkness of the scene. Yea, more; the chastisement, however severe, may be transfigured into su…
2,787 wordsSECTION 199The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 199
the second bninb bed l'CRched the know- The faot that the vessels belonging to the ledge of ibc Bebylonien police. If rn, the temple of the God of the Jews were brought act of Delsbnzznr wee an act of dcfinnce forward from the treasury of Del would again.et Jehovah of Israel. nfford an occa.sion for praising llol, t…
1,007 wordsSECTION 200The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 200
tho gypeum elo.ba of Kouyounjik. Yet the favour of the Maeaoretic rending here. Dabyloninn monarchs not unlikely followed Thcodotion and the Peehitta agree with the tho snme practices as thoee of Nineveh. Maesoretio text. The omen of " h1tnd 'fho wo.lls wore built and plastered, o.nd then appearing to write on the we.…
991 wordsSECTION 201The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 201
four clNIBee of wiee men Mlled in; IUl th<i Massoretio text.' The trnth aeema to be SC'ptue.gint he.s, otherwillll it e.grees ";~h the th11t the word really was ~lta, as l.n the Me.Moretic text. It is II matter of some Syriao, and the difficulty has risen in not interest to observe tbat the position of the recognizi…
1,005 wordsSECTION 202The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 202
It we.a o word epeofo.lly e.pt to be e.dded on as the Maeeoretic toxt hna it, would the margin, ond onoe on the margin it incree.ee the trouble of the king, anr\ this would r.•aeily drop into the text. Even in the trouble would naturally sprenrl to thP, ce,se of the Maeeoretic text, there eeeme to courtiers. be o. repe…
1,020 wordsSECTION 203The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 203
ing Dantel." This use of ,rpbs after µ,µ114,- his stead," something might have been said ,,.,,., is unknown in olassio Greek. In for the view mainte.ined by all critics, that Homer's 'Odyssey• it is accuse.tive of person ; the author thought Delshazzar the son of in Plato, 'Laches,' 200 D, it is dative of N ebuohadn…
1,000 wordsSECTION 204The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 204
hlm, yet when he comes, Belshazze,r specially fo.vourable to the ,Jews. As tho e.ddreeeee him RB knowing who and whence text of the Septuagint gives the no.rro.tive, he is. 'fhe suspicion that is engendered we have the king eager to h,tve hia terrors by tho mere rending of tho text as wo h":vo laid, and, to lead thi…
1,052 wordsSECTION 205The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 205
sn.<'re<l vessels by drinking wine in them him- terioua writing, e.n.d then, he.vlng ree.d tt se H. and his wives. and ltis concubines. It is himself, turn to the king and address him? to be not.ed thnt the princes are omittcd from The word~ of the Maesoretio and of the text the enumerntion here. In pl'OOf that our oon…
1,036 wordsSECTION 206The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 206
happen tho.t p (In the older script <I> and 4) is not repeated as in the Maseoretio text wns rosolved into, (in the older script <I and and 'P.i: is derived from ',~p, which in BQme of A). In support of tbis,itmaybeobscrvod tl,at the conjugations means "destroyed " where- while in the fifth verse the older conetru~ as…
970 wordsSECTION 207The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 207
there is no word of I\ procl1une,tion. Thoo- given here of the feast of Delshn.zzar and dotion e,nd the Peshitte. e,gree with tho its results to the foe.et which Antioohue Massoretio text. We have Kl;l~I:' here in- g1we to the people of Antiooh, o.s described 11tead of •rfl'I. The presenoe or" the haphel by Polybius…
982 wordsSECTION 208The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 208
nll lhis lhnt the writing nppea,rs. Tliere ls Ver. 31.-And Darius tb.e Median took next tho calling of the wiso men, who were the kingdom, being about three score e.ud in tho vicinity of tho pa,lnce. On their two yea.re old. It is probable thnt the failure to explnin tho writing, the other wise Mnssoretic division of t…
1,033 wordsSECTION 209The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 209
HOMILETICS. Ver. 6.-The writing on the wall. We have here a declaration of judgment, tho circumst11ncee, form, and effects of which are full of significance. I. 'l'HE cmcUMSTANCES OF TIIE DECLARATION OF JUDGMENT, 1. It was in the ldng's palace. The guards who may keep off the hum~n intruder cannot shut out t-he ?i,·i…
759 wordsSECTION 210The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 210
Ver. 23 (last clauso).-Natural religion. I. WE HAVE NATURAL RELATIONS WITH Gon. Men ofton act as though we had no rela.tions with 8011 hut thos~ we v,,hmt,uily assume in religious worship, so that if we chose we could have nothing to clo with God. 1'his is e. gross delusion. We have rele.tions with God (1) apart from o…
860 wordsSECTION 211The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 211
what onr position will be at" the end of the days" I How vain to be satisfied with present ease, ~ince these days of sinful idleness are few and shortening I Who of us will be able to say at the end of life, "It is finished"? 2. Abuse of opportunitiea will loo.d to the loss of them. The kingdom appears to be "number…
813 wordsSECTION 212The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 212
degree greater: For IlelHhnzzar there was: 1. T~e wilness of creation. 2. The open page of providence. (See ver. 22.) 3. The voice of that moral nature which is commou to every rno.n, 4. 'l'he interpretation of them by the high Chaldw,n wltwe. o.g. the revelation of the glory of Go<l in the stArB of heaven was one that…
834 wordsSECTION 213The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 213
the king's employ, but probably in some obscure position (eh. viii. 1, 27)-appearance 0f the queen-mother on the scene-Daniel called-the advent of the seer, now more than eighty-bad been sixty-eight years in Babylon. I'icture the tremendous scene, with a background or night, through which seen obscurely the action o…
770 wordsSECTION 214The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 214
cxcgotically out of tho passage, nevertheless) is suggested by the text, which is ndmirnbly trentcd by Hornco Bushnell, in '8ermons on Living SubjectR,' For the snke of any who may not hnve access to the book, we give a brief outline, for the most part in Bushnell's words. I. 'l'HE PREVALENCE OF DOUDT. The prevalence …
774 wordsSECTION 215The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 215
of Belshe.zze.r. 3. Failure in man's prime duty; viz. to glorify God. (1) The duty. To honour God. We put the highest honour on him when we repeat bis likeness. To glorify God is to reflect God, as the IB.ke does the heaven above with all its light.. This the finRl end of our creation. (2) Its grO'Und. Our complete dep…
835 wordsSECTION 216The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 216
W o do not attempt to measure the sin of those Orion tal lords by the stnn,hr,l of modem reflne_mont or ~~dor~ religious belief; but judged only by the standard of public consmence preva1lmg JU that age, they stand censured and condemned. The ancient 11ntions, however strong their attachment to their peculiar deities,…
804 wordsSECTION 217The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 217
trifles, much montmust we condemn the man who throws thoughtlessly away the lessons taught by history and experience. Whether we know it or not, we are respon- aible for the right use of the past, "A burnt child dreads the fire." A sensible navi- gator will avoid the hidden reefs on which former mariners have suffered …
830 wordsSECTION 218The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 218
Delehazzar. God'e chastisement of a father is intended to benefit 11, son and God'a intentions cannot be frustrated with impunity, To despise the lessons of the past is wnnton ein nnd irreparable loss. If Belshazzar's pride bad only been equal to that of hie grandsire, the guilt would have been greater, because he h…
1,128 wordsSECTION 219The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 219
EXPOSITION. bracketed parts ue easily separable from CHAPTER VI. the rest, and then what remains forms e. Ven. 1-28.-DAl>'IEL IN THE LIONS' Do. continuous narrative. Theodotion differs, though slightly, from the Massoretio text, Vers. 1-3.-It pleased Darius to set over Darius "set (,ca.na.rf,a,v) Daniel over the. …
582 wordsSECTION 220The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 220
Bahylo'!l, The phrase whioh eto.tee this the ehields of Gntinrn guarding the cihtdel occurs ID the AnDBle of N o.bunahid ( col. and the temple Esakkil. Thie bein" tho iii. line 20), "And Gobryrte hie governor case, naturally the official class of the l'~rmer appointed governors in llo.bylon." Delitzsch monarchy wonld b…
991 wordsSECTION 221The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 221
it is llll cllfflcult to imBgine Bny one think- nid thll■ llllto him, l[l.11.f Dar1u■, liYe tor ing of introdudng thBt I\S B logical c,quivB- ner. All the p~1ident1 ot the kingdom, lent. Young men would not be put in the governors, and the prinoe■, the ooun 11uch n l'<'spon~ible plsro, nor would they 1ellor1, and th…
1,019 wordsSECTION 222The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 222
Egyptians (Exod. viii. 2G). Tho offoring ove,r whfoh Cyrus waA king, lny hd,wcr,n of n prayer among heathen pcopleR generally Rlam and Media, but helongerl mr,re t'l mettnt the offering of encriflcoe, nl,o Bccom- tho formor thnn to the lattr-r or th,,a 0 pttniecl poeeibly by proceeeions. 'fhnt the countries. Both co…
944 wordsSECTION 223The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 223
to the engraving the d<lOree on the ole.y. the apartment to be seen. The prnctice of If we imagine y•qum to he.ve fa.Hen out prayer "toward Jerusalem" is aolruow- before •1ara, we have e. reading not unlike ledged to ha'l'"O arisen in Babylon during the LXX. In the seventh verse there is a tho Captivity. Solomon,'in h…
1,014 wordsSECTION 224The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 224
a day. Then the king, when he heard he had been entrapped. Ria suhorrline.to lhceo words, was sore displeased with him• position, occupying tho place of King of self, and set hie heart on Daniel to deliver Babylon merely for a see.son, instend of him : and he laboured till the going down Cyrns, would make it more cl if…
1,023 wordsSECTION 225The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 225
opposition of the legn li8ts who hRd deter- this door WRB Daniel cRet, and when he IH\d mined on DRniel'a dPRth; be is obliged, been 80 OR.et in, a stone was rolled up to therefore, t,o gil•e the order tbe.t the scntenoe the aperture 11.nd seRled. There is no neces- be Pxccuted. In doing 80 he commends sity for 11.r…
1,028 wordsSECTION 226The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 226
rondere, "odours." The Medimvnl Greek then, repented hie hasty decrco, a.n,l pnyed Version tre.nele.tee, "inetmmente of mueio." for the deliverance of Dani~!. Filret epee.ks with favour of the Byrie.o Vere. 19, 20.-Then the king arose very rendering, "food-tables." Han'ayl, the early in the morning, and went in haste e…
1,002 wordsSECTION 227The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 227
l11tstcn in the somi-dnrkness of the first Ver. 29.-Then wa1 the king exceeding f,:limmer or dRwn to tho lions' den to see glad for him, and oomm&nded that they whether Dtmiel were yet e.lfre, WRS but should take Daniel up out of the den. So nnturnl. As the see.ling of the lions' den Daniel was taken up out ot the d…
1,041 wordsSECTION 228The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 228
'' or over thoy rnimo l\t the bottom of the plied unto_ ,:on. I ma.ke e. deoree, That in ·fon," is l\n intcnaillcn.tion of the narro.Uve. every doIDJ.n1on of my kingdom men tremble In U10 Mn.ssorctic loxt it is "all their bones;" and fear before the God or Daniel; for he i• in tho LXX. it is simply "their bones." the l…
1,007 wordsSECTION 229The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 229
phon's • Cyropll!dia.' Theodotion and tlrn mean that from eoma highar powor ha PeshiU,l\ agree with the M&BBOretic toxt. "received" his appointment. His ngo we The stRtement th&t De.niol proepered in me.y Msume to be correctly stated, notwith- tho reign of Darius nnd in the reign of standing the Septuagint rendering; t…
1,023 wordsSECTION 230The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 230
onco more to ho offered? 'fho fact thflt he.a nothing to support it. A much mora ho ie nleo onllcd Artnxerxee in the LXX., ple.ueible theory has been devi•erl by Mo.rcus nntl tho further fact that in the LXX. von Niebuhr, in his 'Geschichte A••nr. 11 . Version of BcJ and tho Dragon tho nnme Babils.' He mninte.ined t…
1,014 wordsSECTION 231The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 231
they forg<'t to be.rmoni~o these e.lleged by Cyrus nnd tl10 Persians. Doth l\lcdoa Pouroee of knowl<'dgo with the stupendous and P<'rsians were oppressed by the l\fanda i!?J)oranoo tbev nttrihutc to him whenever -probably e. Scythinn horde-and Cyrus this is rc-quired by tho necessities of their commenced the rebelli…
853 wordsSECTION 232The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 232
Jealousy woe the first cause of the attack on Daniel, his religious fidelity afforded the lmmcdil\te occasion for it. In the long run right will triumph, but here and now wrong often triumphs. I. It is desirable to "cownt elld cost," and not to expect all things to go smoothly, when we set out on the Christian warfare …
915 wordsSECTION 233The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 233
Ver. 12.-" The law of the Medes and Persians." The unalterable chllracter of" tho law of the Jlfodes and Persians" is evidently regarded with superstitious venerntiou, an,\ considered to be a sonnd principle of government. But in the present instance it lends to gross injustice, and, instead of honouring, it humilia…
687 wordsSECTION 234The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 234
the other ministcrd of the crown. Ily intell!g~nce,. ex~rience, industry, ancl piety, ho moved ~t once to the front (ver. 3). Rehg1on kmg 1n every realm. Ficlc1ity in common thmgs (ver. 5). 2, In tM absenc11 of egotism. Shallow scepticism charaes Dnniol with egotism, partly on the ground of ver. 3. The tables may here …
988 wordsSECTION 235The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 235
Ver. 22.-.Ang~l-m,_nistratfo_n. :: My GO?- hath sent his angel" (ver. 22). ".A.re they not all mm1stcrmg spmts? (Heb. 1. 14). The text in Daniel suagests the whole doctrine of angel-ministration. That imperilled life guarded by ~ sentinel from heaven is no solitary spectacle. It has many parallels. There had been th…
671 wordsSECTION 236The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 236
IV, Tmi:m APOBTOLI0 0HARA0TEB. "Are they not all , .. sent forth?" Where ho nppoints, they go. Describe their coming and going as recorded in Scripture But nil this mysterious appearing and disappearing was not at all of their ow~ self-moved will; they were "sent forth." They came on embassage, and the love that sent…
802 wordsSECTION 237The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 237
virtue is not rrsf'{'nsible for this result. Eminent goodness either allures or repels men. Yirtue may be the innocent occasion of wickedness: it is not its oriainating cause. The warm er the sun shines on our gardens, the faster grow the weed.:' on the dunghill. Yet the sun is not to be blamed, The peerless purity …
836 wordsSECTION 238The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 238
I. TRUE Pll!lTY FINDR ITB 0HIEF EXPRESSION IN PRAYER, Piety shows itself in many ncls, some of which, though useful, are accidental; one, however, is essential, viz. prayer, If there be no outgoing of desire from the soul Godwards, there is no real piety; if there be prayer, vocal or silent, there is piety, Pious me…
906 wordsSECTION 239The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 239
Vere. 14--18.-" One thcughaess act "brings much so,.,.ow." Kina Darius was free from many bad qualities which have stained the reputation of oth;r monarchs. He had more gentleness and kindness-had more regard for the interests of others-than most Orient.al kings. Yet he had grave faults also. He was too fond of ease…
904 wordsSECTION 240The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 240
Vers. 19-28.-The tables turned. If human law and human authority arc impotent to save an innocent man from death, the unseen but supreme Monarch will appear upon the scene, and will vindicate the cause of injured innocence. The c,ilculations of human sagacity often prove false. One factor is omitted, which entirely vit…
987 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.