the destruction of Jerusalem, and were both of them dignified with the title of prince or Cesar.

27.-and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,] He shall cause the sinful city of Jerusalem to be overrun with the abominable legions of the Roman conquerors to the utter desolation of it,

The Romaus, after they had set the temple on fire, placed the idolatrous ensigns of their army over against the eastern gate of the temple, and offered sacrifice to them, as Josephus the Jewish historian informs us. Compare Matt. xxiv. 15. Mark xiii. 14. Luke xxi. 20.

This last vision, in the third year of Cyrus, not long before the Prophet's death, was ushered in with circumstances of peculiar solemnity; with the presence of Christ Himself and His angel, both appearing in human form. First, the spiritual High Priest, clothed in linen, as on the great day of atonement, appeared in glory to Daniel, and spoke to him; and when he heard the voice of His words, he fell into a trance with his face to the ground. The Prophet alone saw this great vision, for his trembling attendants fled to hide themselves, ver. 1-10.

Verse 2.-1 Daniel was mourning] On account, probably, of the interruptions that were caused in the building of the temple; and the disposition' of some of his brethren, who chose rather to continue in the land of their captivity, than to go up to Jerusalem to hasten the work.

three full weeks.] In the Hebrew, as in the margin of the Bible. "three weeks of days:" probably to distinguish them from the weeks of years prophesied of in the last chapter.

5.-behold a certain man clothed in linen, &c.] Behold, the Son of God stood before me, in the form of a man clothed in white linen, to signify His perfect holiness; and His loins were girt about with a girdle of the finest gold.

8.-my comliness was turned in me into corruption,] Rather, " my vigour was turned" &c.

12.-I am come for thy words.] To give an answer to thy requests, by the direction of that Divine Person upon whom I attend: verse 5.

-Michael, one of the chief princes,] chael" is supposed to be a name for our Lord Himself, in His particular character of the Champion of His faithful people, against the violence of their enemies, and the wiles of the devil.

I remained there with the kings of Persia.] I still continued to oppose any motions, which the" chief men among the Persians might make in prejudice of the Jews.

17. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my Lord ?] How can thy servant, a poor mortal man, maintain a discourse with person of thy rank and dignity?

20.-the prince of Persia :-the prince of Gre cia By "the prince of Persia" is probably to be understood a party in the Persian state, which opposed the return of the captive Jews, first atter the death of Cyrus, and again after the death of Darius Hystaspes. And by "the prince of Grecia" may be understood a party in the Greek empire, which persecuted the Jewish religion after the death of Alexander the Great, particularly in the Greek kingdom of Syria.

21.-in the scripture of truth:] Meaning, what is certain and irrevocable. God's decrees are spoken of as if they were committed to writing, and registered in a book.

CHAP. XI.

This and the following chapter contain the sub-, stance of Daniel's last vision, or a series of prophetical story from the third year of Cyrus to the end of time. The dominion is soon made to pass from the Persians to the Grecians; the state of the Greek empire is continued through various changes and revolutions, and particularly with respect to Syria and Egypt, till at length it yields to the Romans. Several particulars afterwards follow that must relate to the fate of the Church of Christ; and the last chapter has a peculiar respect unto the "time of the end" to the end of all prophecy, or to the grand consummation of all things.

Verse 1.-even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen * him.] This verse should have been joined to the last chapter: the angel adds, that as he now joins in defending the cause of the Jewish nation, so, at the time of the overthrow of the Babylonish monarchy, he assisted in advancing Darius to the succession, which was the occasion of restoring the Jewish captivity.

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2.-there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; &c.) "There shall stand up yet," that is, after. Cyrus, the founder of the empire, who was then reigning, three kings in Persia;" these were Cambyses, Smerdis, and Darius the son of Hystaspes. "And the fourth shall be far richer than they all." The fourth after Cyrus was Xerxes, whose riches were most abundant. "And by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all," both subjects, and allies, "against the realm of Grecia." The expedition of Xerxes into Greece is one of the most memorable events in ancient history. The whole number of his armament has been computed to amount to more than five millions of men. After him no mention is here made

of any of the other kings of Persia. The Prophet, or the Spirit that guided hin, did not care to follow the order of history, but only to touch upon the most famous events. Xerxes was the principal author of the long wars and inveterate hatred between the Grecians and Persians; and as he was the last king of Persia who invaded Greece, he is the last mentioned. The Grecians then in their turn invaded Asia; and Xerxes's expedition being the most memorable on one side, as Alexander's was on the other, the reigns of these two are not improperly connected together.

8.-a a mighty king] Alexander the Great.

4.

And when he shall stand up, &c.] When he shall be in the heighth of his prosperity. The particulars foretold in this verse, were in a good measure suggested before, chap. viii. 8, see the note there. Thus was Alexander's kingdom" broken and divided, not to his posterity," but was "plucked up, even for others beside those."

5. And the king of the south] The king of Egypt. "The king of the north" in the next verse, means the king of Syria. It is in respect of their situation to Judea, that they are called the kings" of the south" and "of the north."

and one of his princes;] One of Alexander's princes; namely Seleucus king of Syria; " and he shall be strong above him;" that is, stronger than the king of the south. The dominions of Seleueus were very extensive; and he was considered the greatest king after Alexander..

6. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; &c.] After many years of hostility between the kings of Egypt and Syria, Ptolemy Philadelphus, the second king of Egypt, and Antiochus Theus, the third king of Syria, agreed to make peace upon condition, that Antiochus should put away his former wife Laodice and her two sons, and should marry Berenice the daughter of Ptolemy. For the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make" agreements: and accordingly Ptolemy brought bis daughter to Antiochus, and with her an im

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mense treasure. "But she shall not retain the the power of the arm," that is, her interest with Antiochus; for after some time, be brought back his, former wife Laodice with her children, Neither shall he stand, nor his arm," or his seed: for Laodice, fearing the fickle temper of her husband, lest he should recall Berenice, caused her husband to be poisoned; and neither did bis seed by Berenice succeed him in the kingdom, but Laodice contrived things so that her son Seleucus Callinicus was fixed on the throne. "But she" (Berenice)" shall be given up;" for Laodice, not content with poisoning her husband, caused also Berenice to be murdered. And they that brought her:" her Egyptian women, in endeavouring to defend her, were many of them slain." And he that begat her," or rather, as in the margin of the Bible, he whom she had brought forth;" for the son was murdered as well as the mother." And he that strengthened her in these times," either her husband, or those who took her part, or rather her father, who died a little before.

7, 8, 9. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up &c.] Out of the same root with Berenice sprang Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother; who no sooner succeeded his father Ptolemy Philadelphus, than "he came with an army, and entered into the fortress," or fenced cities, "of the king of the north," that is, of Seleucus Callinicus, who with his mother Laodice, reigned in Syria: and he "dealt," or acted "against them, and prevailed" so far, that he took Syria, &c. And when he had heard that a sedition was raised in Egypt, he plundered the kingdom of Seleucus, and took 40,000 talents of "silver," and "precious vessels," and images of their "gods" two thousand and five hundred. "So the king of the south came into the kingdom of the north, and then returned into his own land." He likewise " continued more years than the king of the north;" for Seleucus Callinicus died in exile of a fall from his horse, and Ptolemy Euergetes survived him about four or five years.

10. But his sons shall be stirred up, &c.] The sons of the king of the north should endeavour to avenge the cause of their father and their country. The sons of Seleucus Callinicus were Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great. The former, who succeeded his father on the throne, was indeed" stirred up, and assembled a multitude of great forces," in order to recover his father's dominions, but was poisoned by two of bis generals after an inglorious reign of two or three years. Upon his decease his brother Antiochus was proclaimed king. The Prophet's expression is very remarkable, that "his sons should be stirred up, and assemble a multitude of great forces;" but then the number is changed, and

11. And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, &c.] Ptolemy Philopator, king of Egypt," came forth and fought with, him, even with the king of the north" or Syria." And he' the king of the north, "set forth a great multitude," amounting to 62,000 foot, 6000 horse, and 102 elephants. But yet" the multitude was, given into his band," that is, into the hand of the king of the south: for Ptolemy obtained a complete victory.

12. And when he hath taken away the multitude, &c.] Ptolemy's" heart was lifted up" by success. Being delivered from his fears, he now more freely indulged his lusts; so that instead of being "strengthened" by his victory, he provoked even his own subjects to rebel against him. "And he cast down many ten thousands:" Ptolemy persecuted the Jews who resided in Alexandria; and not less than forty thousand, or according to some accounts, sixty thousand were slain about this time. No king could be " strengthened" by the loss of so many subjects.

14.-also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision;] Meaning the factious and rebellious among the Jews, who were at that time much broken into parties. These were to "exalt themselves to establish the vision :". accordingly they revolted from Ptolemy, and thereby contributed greatly, without knowing it, to the accomplishment of this prophecy concerning the calamities, which should be brought upon the Jewish nation by the succeeding kings of Syria.

16.-he shall stand in the glorious land,] The king of Syria shall establish himself in Judea.

17. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom,] Antiochus, not contented with having rent the principal provinces from Egypt, was forming schemes to invade the country itself with all his forces: " and upright. ones with him," that is, the Jews, who marched under his banners, and are so called to distinguish them from the idolatrous soldiers. And so Antiochus would have seized upon Egypt by force; but, as he was meditating a war with the Romans, he judged it better to proceed by stratagem, rather than by arms. For this purpose" he shall give him the daughter of women." his daughter so called, as being one of the most beautiful of women: accordingly Antiochus gave his daughter Cleopatra

marriage to Ptolemy, with a fradulent intention

to "corrupt her," and induce her to betray her husband's interest to her father. But his design did not take effect; " she shall not stand on his" (her father's)" side, neither be for him.".

18. After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, Antiochus having fitted out a formidable fleet," turned his face unto the isles" of the Mediterranean, subdued most of the maritime places on the coasts of Asia, Thrace, and Greece, and took" Samos, Enboa, and " many" other islands. This was a great indignity and “reproach offered" to the Romans, when their confederates were thus oppressed, and the cities, which they had lately restored to liberty, were enslaved. “But a prince," or a leader, meaning the Roman generals, repelled the injury, and caused his "reproach to cease." After various defeats, Antiochus and his successors became tributary to the Romans; so` truly and effectually did they not only cause the reproach offered by him to cease," but, greatly to their own honour, " caused it to turn upon him.",

19. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land:] After the battle, that decided his fortunes, Antiochus fled away to Sardes, and thence into Syria, to Antiochus," the fort of his own land." Afterwards in an attempt to plunder the rich temple of Jupiter Belus in Elymais, he was assaulted by the inhabitauts of the country, and himself and all his attendants slain. Thus by an inglorious death, he “ stumbled and fell, and was no more found."

20. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom:] Or rather, as in the margin of the bible," one that causeth an exacter to pass over the glory of the kingdom." Seleucus Philopator succeeded his father Antiochus the Great in the throne of Syria; but he performed nothing worthy of the empire of Syria, and of his father. The tribute of a thousand talents, which he was obliged to pay annually to the Romans, was a grievouз burden to him and his kingdom; and he was little more than "a raiser of taxes" all his days. He was tempted even to commit sacrilege; for being informed of the money that was deposited in the temple of Jerusalem, he sent his treasurer Heliodorus to seize it. This was literally "causing an exacter to pass over the glory of the kingdom," when he sent his treasurer to plunder that temple, which even kings did honour and magnify with their best gifts." But within few days," or rather years, according to the prophetick style, he was " destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle;" neither in rebellion at home, nor war abroad; but by the treachery of his own treasurer Heliodorus.

21. And in his estate shall stand up a vile per son,] Antiochus Epiphanes, " to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom;" for he did

not succeed to the throne honourably, or with the acknowledgment of the people; but "obtained the kingdom by flatteries," or a counterfeit clemency. This prince well deserved the title of "a vile person," for he disgraced himself by such profligate and ridiculous conduct, as induced a writer of that age, and others after him, instead of Epiphanes, or the illustrious, more rightly to call him Epimanes, or the madman.

22. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown &c.] Heliodorus, who now aspired to the kingdom, and his party were overcome with a great army by Autiochus Epiphanes. "The prince also of the covenant was broken:" that is, the high priest of the Jews. Antiochus removed Onias from the high priesthood, and preferred Jason, the brother of Onias, to that dignity; but though he bad made a league" (verse 23) with Jason, the new high priest, he did not adhere to it faithfully, but acted "deceitfully;" and having deposed Jason, placed Jason's younger brother, Menelaus, in his room.

23, 24.-for he shall come up, &c.} Antiochus Epiphanes had been many years an hostage at Rome; and coming from thence with only a few attendants, he appeared in Syria little at first, but soon received a great increase," and became strong with a small people." By the friendship of Eumenes and Attalus he "entered peaceably," verse 24, upon the upper provinces, and upon those of Cole-Syria and Palestine. And whereever be came, he outdid his "fathers and his fathers' fathers" in liberality and profusion. "He scattered among them the prey, and spoil, and riches." The" prey" of his enemies, the "spoil" of temples, and the riches" of his friends, as well as his own revenues, were expended in publick shows, and bestowed among the people. After some time, apprehensive of a war with Egypt, he went into Phenicia, to fortify his own "strong holds," and to "forecast his devices against" those of the enemy: thus he did "even for a time" and employed some years in his hostile preparations.

25, 26. And he shall stir up his power &c.] Antiochus entered into Egypt with a great multitude. "And the king of the south" (Ptolemy Philometor)" shall not stand;" he was afraid and fled before the king of Syria; " and his army shall overflow;" or be routed, says the Prophet.

27. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief. &c.] Ptolemy Philometor by some means or other came into the hands of Antiochus: aud after Antiochus was come to Memphis, and the greater part of Egypt had submitted to him, he and Philometor did frequently eat and converse together" at one table;" but notwithstanding this appearance of peace and frien !ship," their hearts"

were really bent" to do mischief," and they "spoke lies" the one to the other. Still this artifice and dissimulation did "not prosper" on either side. These wars were not to have an "end" till the time appointed," which was not yet come.

28. Then shall he return into his land with great riches; &c.] He (Antiochus) did indeed "return with great riches;" for the spoils which he took in Egypt were of immense value. Returning thence, he set "his heart against the holy covenant:" for having heard of some disturbances, which had arisen at Jerusalem on a report of his death, and concluding that the whole nation of the Jews had revolted, he marched against Jerusalem, besieged the city, and took it'; slew 40,000 of the inhabitants, and sold as many more for slaves; polluted the temple and altar, profaned the holy of holies by breaking into it, and took away the golden vessels and other sacred treasures to the value of 1800 talents. When he had "done" these " exploits," he "returned to his own land."

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: 29, 30. At the time appointed &c.] The time hinted at before, verse 28. Antiochus again invaded Egypt. But this expedition was not so successful as his former" ones; because "the ships of Chittim," which brought the Roman ambassadours from Italy, to command a peace between the contending kings, came against him." Antiochus was terrified, and withdrew his army. "Therefore he grieved and returned." He led back his forces into Syria: " and had indignation against the holy covenant;" for he vented all his anger upon the Jews, slaying great multitudes, plundering and burning the city, shedding the blood of those who came to worship at the temple, defiling the sanctuary, and causing the whole service to be omitted. "So he did;" and after his "return" to Antioch he published a decree. which obliged all persons upon pain of death to conform to the religion of the Greeks: and so the Jewish law was abrogated, and the heathen worship set up in its stead. In the transacting of these matters, he had intelligence with them that forsook the holy covenant," Menelaus and the other apostate Jews of his party, who were the king's chief instigators against their religion and their country.

31. And arins shall stand on his part, &c.] The last attack of Autiochus on the city and people of the Jews has been already noticed. Another power was introduced at verse 30, in the term "ships of Chittim;" and to this the narrative most probably now turns, and will be found applicable to the affairs and consequences of this fourth beast or kingdom to the end of the book, although there are various opinions conccruing the application of this part of the prophecy.

Hitherto Daniel described the actions of the kings

of the north and south; but upon the conquest of Macedon by the Romans, he left off describing the actions of the Greeks, and began to describe those of the Romans in Greece.

32, 33. And such as do wickedly against the covenant &c.] The Roman magistrates and offi cers made use of the most alluring promises, ́as well as the most terrible threatenings, to prevail upon the primitive Christians to renounce their religion, and offer incense to the statues of the emperors and images of the gods. Many were induced to comply with the temptation, and forsook the faith: but the true Christians, "the. people that knew their God were strong," remained firm to their religion, and gave the most. illustrious proofs of patience and fortitude. It may be said also with the strictest truth of the primitive Christians, that being dispersed every where, and preaching the Gospel in all the parts of the Roman Empire, they "instructed many," and gained a great number of proselytes to their religion: "yet they fell by the sword, and by Hame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days;" for they were exposed to the malice and fury of ten general persecutions, and suffered all manner. of injuries, afflictions, and tortures, with little intermission for the space of three hundred years.

: 34, 35. Now when they shall fall, &c.] The Christian Church laboured long under persecu tions, till they were put an end to by Constantine, the first Roman Emperor, who made open profession of Christianity. The Church was then protected by the civil power. But still this is called only a little help:" because, though it added much to the temporal prosperity, yet it contributed little to the spiritual welfare, of Christians. "Many clave to them with flatteries," that is, became Christians for the sake of temporal advantages. This is also called " a little help," because the temporal peace of the Church lasted but a little while. The Spirit of persecution presently revived; and no sooner were the Christians delivered from the fury of their heathen adversaries, than they began to quarrel among themselves, and persecute one another. Such, more or less, has been the condition of the Church ever since: and generally speaking, " those of understanding have fallen" a sacrifice to others, some of the best and wisest men to some of the worst and most ignorant. These calamities were to befal the Christians," to try them, and to purge, and to make them white," not only at that time," but even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed."

36. And the king shall do according to his will; &c.] A" king" or " kingdom" signifies any government, state, or potentate: and the meaning of this verse seems to be, that, after the empire

was become Christian, there should spring up in the Church an anti-christian power, that should act in the most arbitrary manner, exalt itself above. all laws divine and human, dispense with the most solemn obligations, and in many respects enjoin what God had forbidden, and forbid what God had commanded. This power began in the Ro. man emperors, and was afterwards increased by the bishops of Rome.

37.-nor the desire of women,] Or conjugal affection: the meaning is, he shall peglect and discourage marriage: thus contradicting the primary law of nature; and making that dishonourable which the Scripture hath pronounced honourable. in all," Heb. xiji, 4,

38.-the God of forces:] Or “ Mahuzzim,”, that is properly, "bulwarks, or fortresses," or, as the word may signify," protectors, guardians." Them he should worship as God, or with, God: alluding probably to the worship of saints and angels established in the Romish Church.

40. And at the time of the end shall the king of, the south push at him; &c.] The last part of this vision, verse 40-45, appears to be yet unfulfilled. It is therefore" sealed" or "shut up" at present, till further light shall be furnished by the events.

every one that shall be found written in the book.] Whosoever shall be registered or arrange i in the class of the pious or faithful." Rejoice," says our Lord to His disciples, Luke x. 20, " because your names are written in heaven;" because ye are enlisted under the banners of the Gospel, called the kingdom of heaven, and are thereby entitled to its present graces, and if ye persevere with faith and constancy will be rewarded with its future glories.

3. And they that be wise shall shine &c.] The words import, that they, who have been the great "lights" of the world, and have instructed others by their doctrine, and confirmed them in the truth by their sufferings and example, shall have an eminently glorious reward at the day of judgment.

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