Baltassar. He is believed to be the same as Nabonides, the last of the Chaldean kings, grandson to Nabuchodonosor. He is called his son (ver. 2, 11, &c.) according to the style of the Scriptures, because he was a descendant from him. (Challoner; St. Jerome in Isaiah xiii.; Usher, &c.) --- Some think... [ Continue Reading ]
_Loosed, so that he quaked for fear. (Ezechiel xxix. 7.) (Calmet) --- He was not so drunk as to be deprived of sense. (Haydock) --- This happened in the 17th and last year of his reign, when Daniel was about a hundred years old, (Worthington) though we have no certain account of his age. (Haydock) -... [ Continue Reading ]
_Purple. This and the chain were reserved for the highest nobility. --- Third, or one of the three great officers. (Chap. vi. 1. and 2 Kings xxiii. 8. 19.) _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Read. It was written in Samaritan characters; or, for want of vowels, could not be read or understood. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The queen. Not his wife, but the mother of the king; (Challoner) Amyit, widow of Nabuchodonosor, and sister of Darius, the Mede; or (Calmet) Nitocris, the mother of Labynithus, (Herod. i.) whom many confound with Baltassar. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father. So a grandfather might be styled. (Jeremias xxvii. 7.) (Worthington) ---Daniel was not perhaps at the head of the wise men. (Calmet) --- They were too jealous to mention him; and the intoxicated king and courtiers remembered not his merit, till an aged matron suggested that he should be con... [ Continue Reading ]
_Difficult. Literally, "things which are tied," or perplexing. (Haydock) --- The Persians still used the like expressions, to imply an intelligent governor. (Chardin.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another. He does not refuse the offers, but civilly replies that he will give satisfaction without regard to any recompense._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slew. He was an absolute monarch, and considered his subjects as so many slaves. (Calmet) --- Xerxes having called together his nobles, that he might not seem to have resolved on the war with Greece alone, said: "Nevertheless, remember that you have to obey rather than to advise." (V. Max. 9. 5. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beasts. His disordered imagination made him dwell with them. (Worthington) --- It is strange that such an example should have been so soon forgotten, that Daniel is forced to repeat it so explicitly. (Chap. iv. 13.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vessels. Only part had been returned to Sedecias: (Chap. i. 2.) but they were taken again, and kept in the palace, or in the temple of Bel. (Haydock) --- Breath, or soul. (Genesis ii. 7.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Phares. These words consist of three letters, mona, thokol, pros, as we add o merely for pronunciation. Being unconnected and almost destitute of vowels, (Haydock) it is not easy even for the learned to read these words, or to ascertain their meaning. Thus d b r being placed in a similar situation,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Persians. Those who confound Baltassar with Nabonides, say that Cyrus made himself master of all the empire. How then was it divided? Darius rather took possession of the greatest part while Cyrus had Persia, (Calmet) till his uncle's death. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Third, or over a third part. (St. Jerome; ver. 7.; Haydock) The honours wee conferred without delay, and they would have been made public in the morning. But death prevented the king; and Daniel did not enjoy them till they were ratified by Darius, to whom he adhered. (Calmet) --- The Medes then be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Darius. He is called Cyaxares by the historians, and was the son of Astyages, and uncle to Cyrus (Challoner) as well as to Baltassar, by the mother's side. He is styled Astyages, (Chap. xiii. 65.) or Artaxerxes. (Septuagint Chap. vi. 1.) He takes the title of king both of the Medes and Persians. (C... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER V.... [ Continue Reading ]