3. Ptolemy, son of Lagus, who had Egypt, from whom sprang the Lagidae. And,
4. Cassander, who had Greece and the neighboring countries. These held dominion towards the four winds of heaven.
Cassander had the western parts, Lysimachus had the northern regions, Ptolemy possessed the southern countries, and Seleucus had the eastern provinces.
Verse 9
Out of one of them came forth a little horn - Some think that Antiochus Epiphanes is meant; but Bp. Newton contends that it is the Roman government that is intended; and although very great at its zenith, yet very little in its rising.
Waxed - great toward the south - The Romans made Egypt a province of their empire, and it continued such for some centuries.
Toward the east - They conquered Syria, and made it a province.
Toward the pleasant land - Judea, so called [Psa 106:24]; [Jer 3:19]; [Dan 11:16], [Dan 11:41]. It is well known that they took Judea, and made it a province; and afterwards burnt the city and the temple, and scattered the Jews over the face of the earth.
Verse 10
The host of heaven - The Jewish hierarchy. The stars, the priests and Levites. The powers or host of heaven are probably intended by our Lord, [Mat 24:29], to signify the whole Jewish hierarchy.
Verse 11
Even to the prince of the host - They seemed, in this case, to fight against God himself.
The daily sacrifice was taken away - By the destruction of the city and temple; and has never been restored from that day until now.
Verse 12
And a host was given him - That is, power; or perhaps the host of heaven - the priesthood - the whole sacrificial system, by reason of transgression. They had filled up the measure of their iniquities, in rejecting the Lord that bought them; and the daily sacrifice, being no longer of use, was given up with the rest to destruction.
Cast down the truth - Probably the whole Jewish ritual and religion.
Practiced, and prospered - Prosperity or success followed all their acts.
Verse 13
One saint speaking, and another saint said - One angel asked another how long the sanctuary was to be trodden down?
Verse 14
Unto two thousand and three hundred days - Though literally it be two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings. Yet I think the prophetic day should be understood here, as in other parts of this prophet, and must signify so many years. If we date these years from the vision of the he-goat, (Alexander's invading Asia), this was A.M. 3670, b.c. 334; and two thousand three hundred years from that time will reach to a.d. 1966, or one hundred and forty-one years from the present a.d. 1825. This will bring it near to the time mentioned [Dan 7:25] (note), where see the note.
Verse 15
As the appearance of a man - Supposed to be the Messiah.
Verse 17
At the time of the end shall be the vision - Or, as Houbigant, "The vision shall have an end at the proper time."
Verse 20
The ram which thou sagest - See this explained under the vision itself, [Dan 8:3] (note), etc.
Verse 22
But not in his power - The four kingdoms which shall arise out of the Macedonian empire shall not be of Alexander's power or family, nor have his strength and dignity.
Verse 23
When the transgressors are come to the full - When the utmost degradation has taken place, by the buying and selling of the high priesthood; for Onias was ejected for a sum of money, to make room for wicked Jason; and Jason again was supplanted for a greater sum by a worse man, if possible, than himself, Menelaus; and the golden vessels of the temple were sold to pay for this sacrilegious purchase. Thus transgressions were come to the full, before the Romans had commission to destroy Jerusalem and its temple, etc.
A king of fierce countenance - The Roman government, as before; for king is often taken for kingdom or empire.
Understanding dark sentences - Very learned and skillful in all things relating to government and its intrigues. The learning of Rome is proverbial to the present time.
Verse 24
But not by his own power - The strength of the other kingdoms consisted in themselves; but the Roman empire, as a horn or kingdom of the goat, was not mighty by its own power - was not strong by virtue of the goat, but drew its nourishment and strength from Rome and Italy. There grew the trunk and body of the tree; though the branches extended over Greece, Asia, Syria, and Egypt. - Bp. Newton.
Shall destroy wonderfully - In the taking of Jerusalem by the Romans ninety-seven thousand Jews were made captives, and eleven hundred thousand were slain. So they destroyed this once mighty and holy people!
Verse 26
He shall cause craft to prosper - They subdued as many by their diplomatic skill and political intrigues as they did by the sword.
He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes - Against Christ, for it was by the Roman authority that he was condemned to death and crucified; and their persecutions had nearly destroyed the Christian religion; but the house was founded on a rock.
But he shall be broken without hand - The tide was turned by the invisible hand of God; and thus heathen Rome was overcome, and converted to Christianity.
The vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true - That mentioned in [Dan 8:14].
For it shall be for many days - Not less than two thousand three hundred years!
Verse 27
Daniel fainted - To foresee the desolations that were coming on the land, the city, the temple, and the people.
Did the king's business - Transacted the affairs of state that belonged to my department, after having been sick for certain days through the effects of this vision. He had a pious and feeling heart; and he was distressed for the desolations that were coming upon his people.