Commentari biblici

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, [even unto] me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar. — Which was his last year, when Babylon was closely besieged: therefore Daniel was not now really at Shushan, but in vision only. Daniel 8:2

A vision appeared unto me. — While waking likely: and for further explication of the former vision, Daniel 7:1-2 whereof because Daniel made so good use, ampliorem gratiam accipit, saith Oecolampadius, he now receiveth further grace.

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And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

I saw in a vision. — God revealed himself to men waking in vision, as well as in dreams, Hebrews 1:1 wherein the prophets saw things actually done, which hereby they knew were to be done. 1 Kings 22:17

I was at Shushan. — Which signifieth a lily, Athenaeus. so it was called for the pleasantness of the place: now it is called Valdac, of the poverty of the place. Here it was that Alexander found fifty thousand talents of gold, besides silver great store. It was once the royal seat of the kings of Persia, and gave name to the whole province Susiane. See Nehemiah 1:1 Esther 1:1 .

And I was by the river of Ulai. — Called by heathen authors Eulaeus, but better ολυαιος . It compassed the temple of Diana at Shushan round, and, as some say, the whole city. Pliny Pliny, lib. vi. cap. 27. saith that the waters of this river were highly esteemed, so that the Persian kings drank thereof.

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Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

There stood before the river a ram. — With a golden fleece and full of flesh. This was the Persian monarch; who is also said to stand, because of his slow motion and sluggish disposition; and "before the river," because the Persians ruled over many nations, signified by waters. Revelation 17:1 A ram stalketh stately before the flock as a captain; but they are only sheep which he leadeth. Let a dog but lay his nose over the hedge, and away they run all: so did the sheepish cowardly Persians before Alexander.

Which had two horns. — These were the states of Medea and Persia.

But one was higher than the other, — i.e., The Persians at length became higher than the Medes, and overtopped them.

And the higher came up last. — Cyrus after Darius, uniting both nations into one monarchy.

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I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

And I saw the ram pushing westward, … — Hereby are set forth the Persian wars, and especially those waged by Cyrus, who subdued many nations and grew very great, as did also his successors, but especially Darius Hystaspes.

Neither was there any. — None could resist his rage, nor escape his reach.

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And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.

And as I was considering. — Such as are studious shall see more of God’s mind. Revelation 1:12

Behold, an he-goat came from the west, — i.e., From Greece and Macedon, west from Persia. This goat, more nimble, swift, and potent than a ram, was the Grecian monarch Alexander, who came capering and prancing over the whole earth - that is, over the whole Persian monarchy, and more - setting fire on all Asia, as the magicians foretold he would do, as being born the same day that Diana’s temple at Ephesus was set on fire. This Alexander the Great was Dux gregis ipse caper, of all whose victories we have here a notable abridgement, more like a history than a prophecy. The high-priest Jaddus is said Josephus. to have shown it to Alexander in his march against Darius Codomannus, the last king of Persia, who thereby, much encouraged in his enterprise, bestowed upon the Jews many favours and freedoms.

And touched not the ground. — Alexander was notably nimble, thinking nothing too hard for him to achieve, and slipping no opportunity. When he was to encounter with Darius’s army at Granicum, Parmenion persuaded him to stay till the next day, but he would not, neither was success wanting. With wonderful celerity, in six years’ time, he overrun so great a part of the habitable world, that he might rather seem to fly than to march. Apelles pictured Alexander with a thunderbolt, signifying his great swiftness in his exploits.

And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. — This notable horn is Alexander, founder of the Grecian monarchy. The Macedonians were at that time called Aegeades - i.e., goatish; the, occasion whereof see in Justin, lib. vii. Alexander is here fitly called Hircus caprarum, a he-goat, Sic Darius dicitur Aiil - i.e., Aries Persiae, Hebraice et Chaldaice, Elam. or the horn of sight, between the eyes of that goat - a fit emblem of a good prince, whose virtues are conspicuous as a horn is, who defendeth his people and offendeth their enemies; who, like this horn rising up between the eyes, is circumspect and well advised, doing all with counsel. Proverbs 24:6 Alexander had his father Philip’s counsellors about him, who were excellent in wisdom beyond any that came after them in the same empire.

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And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

And he came to the ram that had two horns. — He came. This may betoken the slower preparations of Philip, king of Macedonia.

And ran unto him. — Alexander did, by quick and furious marches.

“ Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendam

Fertur atrox. ” - De Cas. Lucan,

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And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

And I saw him come close unto the ram. — Who stood for a while in his stoutness, and brought several huge armies into the field - not less than fifteen hundred thousand - but all would not do; the fairest states are subject to change in their greatest flourish. Ezekiel 31:18

“ In se magna ruunt.; laetis hunc numina rebus

Crescendi posuere modum. ” - Lucan.

And he was moved with choler against him. — Neither would he be pacified with promise of great gifts, and of part of the kingdom, and the marriage of his daughter.

And smote the ram. — By overthrowing the Persian armies in three main battles - at Granicum, at Issus, and at Arbela, not far from which is the mountain Nicatorium, Nικατοριον ορος . - Strabo. so called by Alexander, as a constant trophy of that famous victory.

And there was no power in the ram to stand before him. — In that last battle at Arbela, the whole power of Persia was overturned, and Darius Codomannus was slain by Bessus, one of his own captains. It is observed that great kingdoms often fall and are destroyed under such kings as are of the same name with the founders thereof. Darius here, for instance; so Philip of Macedon, and Philip the father of Perseus, the last king of that country; so Constantine the Great, and Constantine Palaeologus; Augustus and Augustulus, …

And stamped upon him, — i.e., After full conquest, he crowed, insulted, triumphed; at the instance of his concubine Thais, he caused the most goodly palace in the world at Persepolis to be set on fire.

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Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

Therefore the he-goat waxed very great. — The Greeks became lords of all; their emperor was Et re et nomine magnus, not called great for nought; he began to take upon him as a god, and would be counted son to Jupiter Hammon; he called for divine honours, and slew Callisthenes, his tutor, because he would not yield thereto. This intolerable pride was a sure forerunner of his fall; his heart swelled so fast that the case could no longer hold it, but cracked. The world was a cage or little ease to him, therefore is he soon turned out of it, and of heaven’s darling made the disdain of all. Alexander orbi magnus, Alexandro orbis angustus est. - Seneca, Athenaeus.

And when he was strong, the great horn was broken. — Surfeiting and drunkenness cast him into a fever, whereof he died in the flower of his youth and height of his enjoyments - such is the instability of earthly monarchs’ worldly glory:

“ Magna repente raunt, summa cadunt subito. ”

Being not unlike those flores horae, flowers of the hour, very pleasant for the time, but dead and withdrawn in a trice. The vanities of this life, saith one, Turkish History, 331. at our most need, and when we least think, quite forsake us, leaving even them that most sought after them, and most abounded in them, shrouded often times in the sheet of dishonour and shame. Great Alexander lay unburied thirty days together; his conquests above ground purchased him no title for habitation under ground. The like befell Pompey the Great, our William the Conqueror, and others of the like reputation.

And for it came up four notable horns, — i.e., Four potent princes, out of the shipwreck of his empire; which four, in process of time, came to two. Daniel 11:5-6

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