Daniel 7:9

till thrones were placed (R.V.)] for the angelic assessors of the Judge, who are not further mentioned, but who are naturally to be distinguished from the hosts which -stand," ministering before Him, in Daniel 7:10. A.V. means, -till the thrones of the Gentile powers were overthrown"; but the rendering of R.V. is much preferable. Exactly the same expression occurs in the Targ. of Jeremiah 1:15, -and they shall cast down(i.e. set down, place) each his throne in front of the gates of Jerusalem."

the Ancient of days The expression does not mean what the English words seem to imply, one who had existed from the days of eternity; it means simply an aged man; and the R.V., one that was ancient of days, is meant to indicate this. Exactly the same expression occurs in the Syriac version of Wis 2:10 for an -old man," and in Sir 25:4 (in the plural) for -elders." -What Daniel sees is not the eternal God Himself, but an aged man, in whose dignified and impressive form God reveals Himself: cf. Ezekiel 1:26 " (Keil).

his raiment was white as snow symbolizing purity (Isaiah 1:18; Psalms 51:7). The white hair would have the same symbolism, though this would be natural independently in an aged man. The imagery of Revelation 1:14 is derived from the present passage.

like pure wool The imagery of the visions in the Book of Enoch is based largely upon that of the present passage of Daniel. With the words quoted, cf. Enoch xlvi. 1 (cited below, p. 106), and lxxi. 10.

his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire in accordance with the usual representation of God as surrounded by, or manifested in, fire, the most immaterial of elements, and at the same time the agency best suited to represent symbolically His power to destroy all that is sinful or unholy: cf. in different connexions Genesis 15:17; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 16:35; Deuteronomy 4:24; Psalms 18:12-13; Psalms 50:3; Psalms 97:3; Isaiah 30:27; Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 1:13; Ezekiel 10:2; Ezekiel 10:6-7 (fire between the cherubim supporting the Divine throne), Ezekiel 1:27; Ezekiel 8:2 (fire representing the Divine form). With the description itself, comp. also Enoch xiv. 18 22 (in the Greek text, p. 347 of Charles" edition): -And I beheld, and saw a lofty throne … And underneath the throne there came forth rivers of flaming fire; and I could not look thereon. And the Great Glory sat thereon, and His raiment was brighter than the sun, and whiter than any snow … Fire burnt round about, and a great fire stood beside Him, and no one approacheth Him round about: thousand thousands stand before Him, and every word of His is deed."

the wheels thereof] The throne is pictured implicitly as a chariot, as in Ezekiel 1:15-28. The representation of the throne and wheels as beingfire is, however, more than is found even in the visions of Ezekiel.