The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 325

knowlc,lgo of the Divine plrm only limiter!. tho "prince" talking with Dnniel, is the His instrument-the nation committed to angel of prophecy, o.nd therefor~ or the his charge-is yet more imperfect. Let ELD idea.I kingdom. Keil would tnke the first imperfect being, however holy, have e. meaning of yatza', e.nrl would pe.raphmae piece of work to do, that work must ELssume, thus, "Now ehe.11 I return to resume e.nd to him, an oxaggerELted importELnce ; let continue the we.r with the Prince of Per.-ia · him be nssooiated as patron with sentient but while I thus go forth to war-while i beings, and bis affections must go forth to continue the conflict, the prince of Je.ve.n these beings in a special we.y. He will shall come, and then there shall be o. new resist any attempt to limit in any way the conflict," Yatza' never does mean" to con- function of that ro.ce which is apeciELlly his, tinue a conflict;" it means to begin either and will be apt to interpret too widely this a war, a be.ttle, or a campaign. A greo.t function, o.nd be loth to recognize tbe.t dee.I of the difficulty i• due to me.inte.ining its time is past, or this or that region ie that angels a.re under the time-relation beyond its province. If we regard Gabriel of human beings. The matter is clearer as an angel-not of Egypt, as Hitzig, but if we take it a.a meaning simply that when of the kingdom of heaven, and by this the Gabriel went out from the presence of angel of prophecy (Ewald}-then he mnst Daniel, the "Prince of Grecia" would exercise a watchful care over the actions of come. Lo, the Prince of G-recia eha!l eo.ch nationality, and therefore of its angel, come. Thie does not refer to Alexander lest the ultimate plll'poee of God be in any the Great, or the overthrow of the Per- wo.y hindered. The angel of Persia might sian Empire, still Ieee to the Seleucide regard the ne.tional semi-independence and their persecutions. Before hie Baby- allowed to the Jews as hindering the evo- lonian reign, Cyrus encountered the Greeks, lution of the idea exhibited by the Persian and roused their opposition. The angel, race. The Persian rule allowed races e. good then, of the Greek nation began to stir dee.I of licence if tribute were paid. It was up hie people. Then came the Ionian required to specialize its treatment of the revolt, and the successive invasions of Jews: to convey them back from Babylon Greece, which compelled the Persians to to Palestine : to protect them in Palestine: leave the "holy people" alone. The to assist them to set up a quasi-indepen- e.ngelio Prince of Grecia appears first as dence. All this was contrary to the nega- e.n instrument of the angel of prophecy, to tive character of the Persian rule, in con- limit the power of Persia. When, after tra.diction to its spirit, and therefore opposed prolonged conflicts, the empire of Persia. by its angel, who represented this spirit. gives place to that of Greece, the conflict Michael, the specie.I angel of the Jews, of the people of God must be renewed in. ne.tlll'e.lly ea.me to assist Gabriel. What a fiercer form. a conflict between angelic spirits may mean, Ver. 21.-Bnt I will show thee that which who.t may be the wee.pone of their warfare, is noted in the eoripture of truth: and we Jmow not : we do know that, though not there is none that holdeth with me in these oarne.1, they a.re mighty. And when I am things, but Michael your prince. The gone forth. To this phrase several mean- LXX. rendering is, "And in very truth ings have been attached. Hli.vemick, (µd"-a) I will show thee the first things in llie.urer, and Ewe.Id take it a.a meaning the writing of truth ; and there wa.s no "going forth to war." Ewald renders," I one helping with me against these, but will return to contend age.inst the Prince of MichELel the angel" The Septuagint Persia.: so, while I e.m going forth, the translator ree.d 0'1?1111 (hara'sheern), "the Prince of Javau will come." In this con- nection it is very doubtful whether IIJ~ heads," instead of 01:;;io (harashoom), (yatza') can mean" going forth to battle." written with N inserted e.s mater lectionis. Motion to the field of battle is indicated by Theodotion is in accordance with our "return." Yalza' simply means to go from English Version. The Peehitta. renders, a given place ; the purpose may be indi- " Yet will I show thee something noted cated by some other word. Another view in the writing of truth; and there wa., is that of Hitzig, Hofmann, and Bertheau, none in e.ll these who helped me but "to go out," not to, but from "a conflict." Michael your prince." The Vulge.te agrees This meaning is pos~ible ; it would car- with the Massoretic and the English. But te.inly need some determinant to fix this I will ,ho10 thee that which is noted in meaning on it, but this may be supplied the scripture of truth. '.?-~ ('•bal) is a. from the preceding clause. This view, strongly e.dversative conjunction. The though suiting admirably with the other- use of it is explained by Kra.nichfeld wise untenable supposition that the "princo" _ and Zockler as due to the fears for the speaking with Daniel is the angel of Egypt, theocracy aroused by the thought that the does not suit with the view tho.t Gabriel, Greek power was rising age.wt Israel. U  2!18 'l'[lE TIOOK OF nANmT,. [ea. x. 1-21.