_Palace. He continues the edict, having subdued all his enemies. (Calmet) --- Daniel recites his words. The king had the dream in the 34th year of his reign, which continued in all forty-three, including the seven of absence. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Colleague. Chaldee also, "another, or afterwards, (Haydock) or at last." (Calmet) --- My god. He says this, because the name of Baltassar, or Belteshazzar, is derived from the name of Bel, the chief god of the Babylonians. (Challoner) --- Gods. He speaks conformably to his false opinion; (St. Jerom... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the. He is convinced that Daniel could do both, but condescends now to relate his dream. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tree often denotes princes; (Ezechiel xxxi. 3.) and according to the false principles (Calmet) of those who pretend to explain dreams, always (Haydock) implies some great personage. (Achmet. C. 200.) (Grotius) --- But nothing is more vain than these pretensions. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_A watcher. A vigilant angel, perhaps the guardian of Israel. (Challoner) --- Chaldee: hir; (Haydock) whence Iris the messenger of the gods, is derived. (St. Jerome) --- Theodot. retains eir. See St. Jerome in Psalm lxxvi. 4. The Scholiast (Rom. ed.) says: "the Septuagint renders it an angel, the re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Branches, to shew that all (Haydock) the king's subjects should abandon him._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let it, the tree, representing the king who was confined when he began to shew signs of madness: but he broke loose, and fled away. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Changed, &c. It does not appear, by Scripture, that Nabuchodonosor was changed from human shape, much less that he was changed into an ox, but only that he lost his reason, and became mad; and in this condition remained abroad in the company of beasts, eating grass like an ox, till his hair grew in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Over it. Kings are not always of the most noble dispositions. (Haydock) --- "All honour comes from Jove." (Homer, Iliad 17.) --- Let the greatest monarchs be humble, (Haydock) and cast their crowns at the feet of God. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hour. Chaldee: shaha, (Haydock) implies "a little while;" (Grotius) yet of some duration, not precisely like one of the modern hours. The prophet was silent, being troubled by the divine spirit, (Chap. x. 8.) at the view of impending misery; or unwilling to hurt the king's feelings, till he should... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remain. His son and the nobles should act in his name. (ver. 13.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Alms. Chaldee: "justice," is often taken in this sense. (Syr. &c. 2 Corinthians ix. 9.) (Calmet) --- The prediction was conditional, and therefore Daniel exhorts the king to strive to obtain pardon by the powerful remedy of alms-deeds; as he did, after enduring some punishment. (Worthington) --- Ye... [ Continue Reading ]
_Came. Daniel informs us of this event, unless the king speak of himself in the third person, from ver. 16 to 31, giving an account of what he had heard and experienced. (Haydock) --- A year of trial was allowed him at first; (Theod.) or he obtained this reprieve by his alms, and lost his former mer... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answered his own vain thoughts. (Haydock) --- He was admiring the city, (Calmet) which he had greatly enlarged and beautified. (Berosus &c.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heaven: God having looked on me with pity. St. Augustine (ep. 111. (Calmet) or 122. (Worthington)) seems to think that he was saved; and the author of the B. on Pred. & grace, (chap. 15) attributes to him, remarks that his repentance was different from that of Pharao. Hence none must despair. (St.... [ Continue Reading ]
_With, or "by the powers ( angels. ver. 10.)....as by men." (Grotius) --- The stars are also frequently thus described. (Matthew xxiv. 29.) The king probably believed that the God of the Jews was above his gods, the sun, fire, &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shape. He had not assumed that of an ox, (Haydock) but had greatly neglected his person, (Calmet) so that he was covered with hair, &c. (ver. 30.) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, &c. From this place some commentators infer, that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, was probably saved. (Challoner) (Josephus, Antiquities, 10) --- This is the last act of his which is recorded. If he had lived much longer, he would probably have restored the Jews. (Wort... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IV.... [ Continue Reading ]