The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 249

we have ah"ar. The referenoe then would unlike them in being of I\ higher olase, RB lie to ihe borne that still rem&incd after m&n is higher than the beasts. Further, it the one blaspheming lwrn was destroyed. is brought in line with the image-vision of 'rbeodotion agrees with the Massoretio. the second chapter, where the stone out out of The Peshitte. differs, but only slightly. As the mountain destroys the image. But wo the Massoretic text stands, there is difficulty must beware of applying mere logic to in maintaining that the reference here o.pooal~tic. In this vision we see tbnt cannot be to anv other then to the other "a man s heart" really mecmt weo.kncss as three beasts. 'l'hey should still occupy a compo.red with the eoumgo and strength place, but posse•s no dominion, even arter represented by the lion. Further, the poiut they were removed from supreme authority. of distinction between this vision nnd tbnt After Babylon lost imperial power, it still of Nebuchadnezzar is tbe.t this is more c-ontinued for a time a highly important dynfU!tio, looking at the monarchs, while pro\"ince in the Persian Empire, ~nd the the other looks at the powers-the ompiree ~0nsibilities of the inhabitants were con- RB distinct from their personal rulers. Hence sidered throughout the whole period of the while the Son of mnn here refers to th~ Persian rule. After the Persian Empire Messianic kingdom, it is in tbo Person of WII.S overturned by Alexander, there was its King. It is to be observed that, whilo Etil I the pron.nce of Persis; and from the the bee.sta came up out of the sea., tbo Son remains of the Persian Empire sprang up of man came with the clouds of heaven. Parthia, e.nd then the second Persian This indicates tbo Divine origin of tho Empire; e.nd after the rule of the caliphs Messio.h .. That the writer might not nppre- he.d been broken. Persia revived as e. hend this is no nrgument ago.inst this llfobammcdnn power. When the Greek being renlly symbolized. When be comes Empire fell, Greece still sur-rived, not to the throne of the Ancient of days, he is i11dependcnt, but still influential. It is o.ccompanied to the presence of the Judge difficult to see what meo.ning this verse by the attendant angels-o. scene which could ho.ve to one Ii ving at the time of the might seem to justify the LXX. Version of llfoccabees, especially if be thought the Dent. xxxii. 43 o.s o.pplied by the writer of Greek Empire we.a the fourth. Parthia the Hebrews. certainly might represent Persia, but where Ver. 14.-And there was given him we.a Medin? "For n season o.nd e. time" dominion, nnd glory, and a kingdom, tha.t all CUICI! not refer to e.ny definite time. J epbct- people, nations, and languages, should serve ihn-.ili regards the reference till the end of him: his dominion is nn everlasting the rule of the fourth beast. This militates dominion, which shall not pass away, and hie a,.,a-ainst the idea that 'iddan must always kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. mean "'a year." The versions differ only slightly and verbally Ver. 13.-I saw in the night visions, and, from thie. The persouo.l element is here behold, one like the Son of man c&me with made prominent. Compare with this Rev. the clond& of heaven, a.nd came to the v. 12, "Worthy is the Lnmb that wo.a ale.in .Ancient of days, a.nd they brought him near to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, before him. 'l'he version of the Septuagint e.nd strength, e.nd honour, and glory, e.nd is different in the last two clauses of this blessing." The Messianic kingdom, nud verse, "As the Ancient of days he ea.me, with it the Messiah, was to be everlnsting and those standing around were present The resemblance is grent, e.s might ba to him." Although the ree.ding here is expected, between this statement n!1<l tlml supported by Paulus Telleneis, we suspect in eh. ii 44, "A kingdom which shall never ~ome crror of oopyil!ts. Theodotion pre.cti- be destroyed, e.nd the kingdom ahe.11 not be cally agrees with the Me.ssoretic. The left to other people." It is to be noted tbo.t l'cshitte. renders the le.et clause, "Those even his dominion is bestowed upou him. et.anding before him e.pproe.ehed him." The .Ancient of days, whose sentence has These earthly kingdoms having been deprived the other dynasties of theiJ destroyed, the new kingdom of God is empire, bestows boundless empire on !be ushered in. " A son of man" (not "the Measie.h(comp. Paa. ii. and lxxii.). J eremio.b 'a Son of m.e.n," o.s in our Authorized Version) account of the state of matters on the r6turn appee.n in the clouds of heaven. It is a from the Captivity (eh. xu. 2l)ia compo.red question whether this is the King of the to this by Hitzig; but there it is not o. king Divine kingdom, the personal Messiah, or who is to come near before God, it is simply the kingdom itself personified. It is agreed "goveruor" (maslial). In Jeremiah wo have that, e.a the previous kingdoms were repre- to do with e. subject-people livi11g in the eeuted by a bee.at, a man would be necesae.ry fear of the Lord, but under the yoke of 11 symmetrically to represent at once the foreign power•. !e.ct that it ill &11 empire e.s th080 were, but  on. vu. 1-28.J 'I'HE BOOK OF bANIEL.