Commentary on Daniel (fragments)

Contents

Only the Daniel scholia printed by Mai are staged. The OCR of this edition is rough (many doubtful words are flagged); the translator corrects clear slips as logged corrections.

Reading pages: 1.1–3.11 · 4.1–6.32 · 7.1–8.43 · 9.1–10.30 · 11.1–11.117 · 12.1–13.4

1. 1.1Polychronius explains that Daniel begins with the exile, not the fall of Jerusalem, as the setting for his own story.
2. 1.2Polychronius distinguishes two kings named Jehoiakim.
3. 1.3Polychronius argues that Dan 1:1–2 describes Judah becoming tributary to Babylon, not its final destruction, which came under Zedekiah.
4. 1.4Only part of the temple vessels were taken because Jerusalem had not yet fallen.
5. 1.5Polychronius outlines the king's instructions on choosing and training the young captives.
6. 1.6Polychronius discusses the meaning of the word rendered 'nobles' in Dan 1:3.
7. 1.7The 'unblemished' youths were handsome and healthy.
8. 1.8The youths were quick learners.
9. 1.9Polychronius infers that Daniel was taken in this first deportation and brought at once to the palace.
10. 1.10Daniel refused the king's food because it came from idol sacrifices.
11. 1.13Polychronius explains the title 'chief eunuch'.
12. 1.14God's favor and Daniel's shrewdness won the chief eunuch's sympathy.
13. 1.15The chief eunuch feared the king would notice the youths' condition and punish him.
14. 1.16Daniel proposed a test rather than a prophecy, and the result convinced the official.
15. 1.17Polychronius argues that Daniel's abstention was not merely to avoid idol food but a deliberate fast and prayer, to show God's power to the Babylonians.
16. 1.21Polychronius explains that the youths learned letters, not magic, and that dream interpretation was Daniel's special gift.
17. 1.22The 'end of the days' is the three-year training, though Daniel showed his wisdom earlier in interpreting the dream.
18. 2.1Polychronius explains the 'second year' as dated from Nebuchadnezzar's conquests and sees God's timing in revealing the dream after only one year of the youths' training.
19. 2.2Polychronius explains that God made the king forget his dream so that the magi would fail and Daniel's divinely given knowledge would be manifest.
20. 2.4Polychronius distinguishes the classes of Babylonian diviners.
21. 2.5The king accuses the wise men of stalling to avoid being exposed.
22. 2.6God let the magi confess their inability so that Daniel's revelation would display his power.
23. 2.7Daniel approached Arioch calmly, trusting in prayer.
24. 2.8Daniel asks why the king issued so harsh a decree.
25. 2.9Arioch, by God's providence, answered Daniel respectfully.
26. 2.10Daniel leads his companions, though they share his zeal.
27. 2.11The four youths prayed together, knowing only God reveals mysteries.
28. 2.12God answered the youths' prayer so that the righteous would not die with the ungodly.
29. 2.15The mystery was revealed to Daniel, the leader and most fervent of the four.
30. 2.16Daniel responded to the revelation with praise, not self-congratulation.
31. 2.17Praise belongs to Israel's God, not Babylon's gods.
32. 2.18God, unlike idols, has neither beginning nor end.
33. 2.19Polychronius sees in Daniel's praise a summary of God's eternity, creative power, and incorporeality, against Babylonian pride in wisdom and power.
34. 2.20Babylon's victory over the Jews was God's will, not its own strength.
35. 2.21Present rulers will soon be subject to others.
36. 2.22The 'wise' are the God-fearing, trained in the law and prophets.
37. 2.23Polychronius distinguishes 'hidden' and 'deep' things in Daniel's praise.
38. 2.24God knows all things in himself.
39. 2.25Daniel names the God of his fathers to point to God's long providence and Israel's unworthiness.
40. 2.27Daniel interceded for the other wise men as well.
41. 2.28Polychronius notes that Arioch reported Daniel before bringing him in.
42. 2.29The king, still doubtful, demands that Daniel prove himself by telling the dream itself.
43. 2.30Daniel calls the dream a mystery known only by divine knowledge.
44. 2.31Daniel first tells the king's thoughts before sleep, so as to be believed about the dream.
45. 2.32God showed the king events of distant generations.
46. 2.33Daniel disclaims any wisdom of his own and gives God the credit.
47. 2.34God gave Daniel the meaning, and knowledge of the king's thoughts, for the king's sake.
48. 2.35Nebuchadnezzar's empire and his conquest of Judea were God's gift.
49. 2.36The beasts and birds stand for the warlike peoples subjected to Nebuchadnezzar.
50. 2.37Polychronius identifies the kingdom that 'rules all the earth' with the empire of Cyrus.
51. 2.40The third kingdom is Alexander's Macedonian empire.
52. 2.41The fourth, iron kingdom overthrew the Persians swiftly.
53. 2.42The 'root' means Alexander's successors continuing his empire.
54. 2.43The mixing of iron and clay refers to intermarriage among Alexander's successors.
55. 2.44Polychronius interprets the kingdom God will 'raise up' as the manifestation of the eternal divine kingdom in Christ.
56. 2.45God's kingdom, unlike the others, will last for ever and prevail over all opposition.
57. 3.1Polychronius explains the crowds and the instruments at the dedication of the statue.
58. 3.3The youths honored the king but refused to worship the image, as the law of Moses required.
59. 3.4The accusers' greeting is flattery, their charge envy.
60. 3.5The youths point to God the Creator and his past deeds, speaking with the restraint of men on trial.
61. 3.6The youths trust God to save them but prefer death to living against his law.
62. 3.7The fire was so fierce that the youths were thrown in from above.
63. 3.8The fire did not harm the youths but only burned their bonds.
64. 3.9Polychronius notes that the Song of the Three is not in the Hebrew or Syriac and declines to comment on it.
65. 3.11Taught by the miracle, Nebuchadnezzar publicly forbids blasphemy against the God of the Jews.
66. 4.1This time the king remembers the dream and asks only for its meaning.
67. 4.2Daniel can interpret by divine revelation where the wise men failed.
68. 4.3Daniel was astonished at the vision.
69. 4.4Daniel was troubled, knowing that human greatness depends on God.
70. 4.5Polychronius interprets the tree of the king's dream, its leaves, fruit, birds, and beasts as the empire and its army, tribute, officials, and subject nations.
71. 4.7Nebuchadnezzar's greatness came from his victories.
72. 4.8The king's 'greatness' grew into pride against God.
73. 4.9The king's rule extended everywhere, beyond the limits of human nature.
74. 4.10Polychronius explains the word 'watcher' as an angel.
75. 4.12Leaving the stump means the king was not destroyed entirely.
76. 4.13The iron band signifies the king's coming misfortune.
77. 4.14The king will live like a beast, eating grass.
78. 4.15Polychronius reckons the 'seven times' as three and a half years, counting each summer and winter as a 'time'.
79. 4.16Daniel's interpretation is brief, explaining only what was unclear.
80. 4.17The 'decree' is the interpretation that God gave Daniel to explain.
81. 4.18The past tense expresses the certainty of the future event.
82. 4.19Polychronius relates the tradition that the king went mad or was possessed, was confined in chains, and finally lived among the beasts.
83. 4.20The king ate grass because, though beast-like in appearance, he lacked a beast's nature.
84. 4.21The 'changed times' means the king's appearance will be altered.
85. 4.23God's punishment of the king was corrective, aimed at teaching him that all power is from above.
86. 4.24Daniel urges the king to heed his advice, since God's threat is merciful.
87. 4.25Daniel urges mercy because the king's cruelty to captives had angered God.
88. 4.26Daniel's measured hope did not move the king, so the sentence was carried out.
89. 4.27God gave the king a year to repent, but he forgot his fear and grew proud.
90. 4.28The 'temple of the kingdom' is the royal palace.
91. 4.29The king's boast shows that he thought God's threat had come to nothing.
92. 4.30The king's humiliation followed his boast immediately, as punishment for his whole pride.
93. 4.31The king's body became beastlike as the sentence was fulfilled.
94. 4.32Restored to sanity, the king recognized the fulfilment of the sentence and praised God.
95. 4.33The king learned from experience that God's rule is eternal and unchanging.
96. 4.34Nebuchadnezzar was restored to even greater power.
97. 5.1Polychronius explains that Daniel omits Evil-merodach because his purpose is to narrate God's wonders, not royal history.
98. 5.3Belshazzar's feast was lavish and lasted late into the night.
99. 5.5Belshazzar actually had the temple vessels brought.
100. 5.6The vessels were brought to insult God.
101. 5.7Belshazzar praised the idols as if they had defeated Israel's God.
102. 5.8The judgment came immediately, during the sacrilegious feast.
103. 5.9The writing hand delivered God's verdict like a royal decree.
104. 5.10Polychronius suggests the king first saw the hand alone, as Balaam's donkey saw the angel, and later all saw it, which ruled out illusion.
105. 5.11The king shook all over with fear.
106. 5.12The king's loud cry showed his inner turmoil.
107. 5.13The queen broke custom to enter the banquet, remembering Daniel.
108. 5.14The queen tells the king not to despair at the wise men's failure.
109. 5.15The queen points to Daniel, who interprets by grace rather than by learned custom.
110. 5.16The king's promised rewards signify a share in the kingdom.
111. 5.17Daniel refuses payment for the interpretation.
112. 5.18Daniel reminds Belshazzar that all Nebuchadnezzar's greatness came from God.
113. 5.19Nebuchadnezzar ruled all nations with unchallenged authority.
114. 5.20Nebuchadnezzar's pride against God cost him his kingdom.
115. 5.21Belshazzar outdid his father's pride by profaning the temple vessels.
116. 5.22'Mene' means God has measured and ended the king's rule, as in Zechariah's vision of the lead measure.
117. 5.23'Tekel' means the king's reign was weighed against his deeds and found wanting.
118. 5.24Polychronius explains why Daniel gave counsel to Nebuchadnezzar but none to the incorrigible Belshazzar.
119. 5.26Polychronius suggests that Daniel was honored that night while the proclamation existed only in writing.
120. 5.27Belshazzar was killed the same night, once God had been vindicated.
121. 5.28Polychronius reports the view that Darius was Belshazzar's governor who, believing Daniel, seized the kingdom for the Medes.
122. 6.1Darius appointed many satraps for his vast realm.
123. 6.2Daniel was one of three high officers.
124. 6.3The officers spared the king routine business, as Moses' judges did.
125. 6.5Daniel's 'excellent spirit' means his superior understanding, which Polychronius also traces to divine grace.
126. 6.6Darius promoted Daniel, and his rivals sought a pretext or fault in his administration.
127. 6.7Daniel's integrity left his rivals no grounds except his religion.
128. 6.8The officials flattered the king and rushed him into the decree before he could reflect.
129. 6.9The decree was made unalterable by royal law.
130. 6.10The king signed, unaware of the plot.
131. 6.11Daniel, knowing the decree, prayed more earnestly toward Jerusalem, choosing to obey God even at the risk of death.
132. 6.13The accusers trapped the king with his own decree while hiding their motive.
133. 6.14The king saw the trap but could not undo the law.
134. 6.15Darius strove until sunset to save Daniel.
135. 6.16The king had to choose between saving Daniel and upholding the law.
136. 6.17Darius hoped God would save Daniel, and the double sealing of the den, like the guard at Christ's tomb, made the deliverance indisputable.
137. 6.18The king's fasting and sleeplessness showed his concern for Daniel.
138. 6.21The king's cry showed both hope and doubt about Daniel's survival.
139. 6.22Daniel attributes his deliverance to God's angel.
140. 6.23God, knowing Daniel's innocence, protected him.
141. 6.24Daniel affirms that he was blameless toward the king as well as toward God.
142. 6.25The king's affection for Daniel grew.
143. 6.26Daniel's being unharmed proved the deliverance was God's work.
144. 6.27The lions' attack on the accusers proved they had not spared Daniel from satiety.
145. 6.28Darius, like Nebuchadnezzar, proclaimed God's power.
146. 6.29Darius promises peace to those who honor Daniel's God.
147. 6.30Darius confesses God as eternal, without successor, and mighty to save.
148. 6.32Daniel prospered under Darius and Cyrus.
149. 7.1The four kingdoms of chapter 7 correspond broadly, not exactly, to those of chapter 2.
150. 7.2Chapter 7 begins Daniel's own visions.
151. 7.3The sea is the turmoil of life, and the four winds are the angels over the four empires.
152. 7.4The four beasts are the four kingdoms, each fearsome but different.
153. 7.5The lion, like the gold of the statue, represents Babylon.
154. 7.6The plucking of the lion's wings signifies Babylon's fall by God's decree.
155. 7.9Babylon was humbled but not wholly destroyed.
156. 7.10The lion given a human heart signifies Babylon's loss of its fierce strength.
157. 7.11The bear's three ribs are the helpers of the Median kingdom's conquests.
158. 7.12The leopard's four wings signify Cyrus's wider empire, adorned rather than devastated by its subjects.
159. 7.13The four heads are the four nations under Cyrus's single rule.
160. 7.14Cyrus's authority was a gift from God, given because he would restore the Jews.
161. 7.15The fourth beast is Alexander's empire, the iron of the statue.
162. 7.16Alexander's conquests surpassed all expectation.
163. 7.17Alexander's swift conquests were unlike any other; what follows concerns the Jewish people.
164. 7.19Polychronius identifies the little horn with Antiochus Epiphanes and outlines his persecution of the Jews.
165. 7.20Polychronius identifies the three uprooted horns with Antiochus's conquests and rejects Apollinarius's Antichrist reading; a catena note adds that Eudoxius called his interpretation Porphyry's.
166. 7.21The horn's human eyes signify Antiochus's unnatural, calculated cruelty toward the Jews.
167. 7.24The boastful mouth shows Antiochus's beastlike arrogance against God.
168. 7.25The holy ones are the devout Jews persecuted by Antiochus.
169. 7.26Daniel sees God's coming help for the people as well as the persecution.
170. 7.28The Ancient of Days is the eternal God.
171. 7.30God's sitting expresses his unchanging majesty.
172. 7.31The white garment signifies God's incomparable nature and pure judgment.
173. 7.32The fiery wheels signify punishment.
174. 7.33God destroys the guilty without effort.
175. 7.34The attending hosts show God as Lord of the angels.
176. 7.35Polychronius reads the scene as a heavenly law court with judge, attendants, and recorders.
177. 7.36The opened books expose evil deeds.
178. 7.37The slaying of the beast signifies the end of Antiochus and the whole Macedonian empire.
179. 7.38The fire signifies the severity of the sentence, not its literal form.
180. 7.39The other kingdoms too lose their dominion, since nothing human lasts.
181. 7.40The kingdoms were granted time, but not for ever.
182. 7.42Polychronius describes the one like a son of man coming on the clouds directly to the judge, a sign of the highest honor.
183. 7.45The son of man receives an eternal, universal dominion.
184. 7.46Daniel was terrified and perplexed by the vision.
185. 7.49Daniel asked one of the attendants rather than the judge.
186. 7.50The attendant explained everything clearly.
187. 7.51The other kingdoms are shown only as background to Antiochus.
188. 7.52The holy ones are Christ's believers, who share his kingdom if they share his sufferings.
189. 7.53The fourth kingdom is the whole Macedonian empire, including Antiochus.
190. 7.54The fourth kingdom devours the earth unopposed.
191. 7.55The ten horns are ten successive kings.
192. 7.56Antiochus will surpass all in wickedness.
193. 7.57He will overcome three kings.
194. 7.58He will boast against God.
195. 7.59Antiochus will oppress the faithful Jews.
196. 7.61Antiochus will try to abolish the Jewish temple order.
197. 7.62The 'law' is the Jewish constitution and priesthood.
198. 7.63God permits Antiochus's persecution for a limited time but will punish him.
199. 7.64The saints' kingdom is universal, under the eternal God.
200. 7.65The angel did not explain the son of man.
201. 7.66Daniel was troubled by what the Jews would suffer.
202. 7.67Daniel's grief for the people altered his appearance.
203. 7.68Daniel kept the vision secret so as not to discourage the return from exile.
204. 8.1This vision follows that of Belshazzar's first year.
205. 8.2Polychronius locates the vision in Persia and explains that Daniel sought to learn more of his people's future.
206. 8.3The two-horned ram signifies the empire of the Medes and Persians.
207. 8.4The higher horn is Persia under Cyrus, which outgrew Media.
208. 8.5The butting ram is the Persian empire under Cyrus and his successors.
209. 8.6No nation could resist the ram.
210. 8.7Cyrus united Medes and Persians, and Darius the Mede is identified with Cyaxares.
211. 8.8Daniel was perplexed by the new vision.
212. 8.9The he-goat is the Macedonian empire.
213. 8.10The single horn is Alexander.
214. 8.11Alexander invaded Persia and defeated Darius.
215. 8.12Alexander routed Darius in Cilicia.
216. 8.13Alexander destroyed the Persian power entirely.
217. 8.14The broken horn is Alexander's death.
218. 8.15The four horns are Alexander's four successors.
219. 8.16The little horn from one of them is Antiochus.
220. 8.17South is Egypt, east is Judea.
221. 8.18Antiochus's pride reached against heaven.
222. 8.19The stars cast down are the Maccabees, who nevertheless defeated Antiochus.
223. 8.21The commander is the nation's guardian angel.
224. 8.22Antiochus disrupted the priesthood for a long time, by God's permission.
225. 8.23Antiochus defiled the temple, dedicating it to Olympian Zeus.
226. 8.24Under Antiochus the temple worship and all the law's observances were abolished.
227. 8.27Antiochus succeeded without immediate punishment.
228. 8.28A holy angel spoke; Phelmoni is explained as an angel's name.
229. 8.29Polychronius calculates the 2300 evenings and mornings as 1150 days, about three and a half lunar years of Antiochus's persecution.
230. 8.30After that period the temple would be restored.
231. 8.31Daniel wished to understand the vision.
232. 8.32A figure like a man appeared, and Gabriel was commanded to explain the vision.
233. 8.33Daniel fell down, overwhelmed by the angel's appearance.
234. 8.34The angel calls Daniel to understand.
235. 8.35The vision concerns the later period of the successive empires.
236. 8.36Daniel fell when the angel began to speak.
237. 8.37The angel raised and encouraged Daniel.
238. 8.38The people's suffering under Antiochus is God's punishment for their sins.
239. 8.39The ram's two horns are Cyrus and Darius the Mede.
240. 8.40The goat's first horn is Alexander.
241. 8.41The four kings come from the Macedonian nation, not from Alexander.
242. 8.42Daniel was left ill by fear.
243. 8.43Daniel kept his office and his silence, holding some post from Nebuchadnezzar's time though unknown to Belshazzar.
244. 9.1Daniel, reading Jeremiah's seventy years, prayed for the people's return.
245. 9.2Daniel prayed because the seventy years were nearly complete and the people did not seek their return.
246. 9.3Polychronius distinguishes the terms of Daniel's confession of sin.
247. 9.4Israel ignored God's law, land, and prophets.
248. 9.5God justly scattered Israel, who stand ashamed.
249. 9.6Daniel appeals to God's compassion, confessing Israel's disobedience.
250. 9.8The curse is that of the law, confirmed by the confession of the three youths.
251. 9.9The great evils include the famine in which mothers ate their children, foretold by Moses and recorded by Jeremiah.
252. 9.10Even after the disasters Israel did not repent.
253. 9.11God, being holy, rejected Israel's sin.
254. 9.12Daniel appeals to the exodus as precedent for God's undeserved mercy.
255. 9.13Daniel appeals to God for the sake of desolate Jerusalem.
256. 9.14Daniel asks God to hear his prayer.
257. 9.15Daniel asks God to look on the people's misery and the ruined city.
258. 9.16Daniel asks for mercy, not on the basis of merit, for the sake of God's name.
259. 9.18Gabriel came swiftly while Daniel was still praying.
260. 9.20This Gabriel is the angel of the earlier vision.
261. 9.21Gabriel came at the time of the evening sacrifice.
262. 9.22Gabriel calls Daniel to attend to the revelation.
263. 9.23Polychronius explains that the seventy weeks reveal the course of Jewish history after the return, up to the destruction of the city.
264. 9.24Israel would reach the full measure of sin.
265. 9.25Polychronius applies the wiping away of iniquities to baptism.
266. 9.26Sealing the vision means fulfilling the prophecies.
267. 9.28Polychronius applies the anointing of the holy of holies to Christ, anointed by the Spirit for the dispensation.
268. 9.29Polychronius works out the seven and sixty-two weeks: 49 years from Darius the Mede to the completion of the temple, and 434 years from Artaxerxes's thirty-second year to Christ's birth in Herod's thirty-second year, following Josephus and Eusebius's Chronicle.
269. 9.32This phrase gives the time of the temple's rebuilding.
270. 9.33The anointed leader is Christ; the seven weeks are the 49 years of the rebuilding.
271. 9.34The sixty-two weeks run from the rebuilding of the city walls to Christ.
272. 9.35When the 434 years run out, Christ comes.
273. 9.36The cutting off of the 'anointing' means the end of the Jewish priesthood and order, long after Christ, because of their sin.
274. 9.37The end of 'judgment' means the end of Jewish courts and civil order.
275. 9.38The 'flood' is the complete destruction of Jerusalem, as Christ foretold.
276. 9.39Christ will confirm the covenant promised before his coming.
277. 9.40The half-week is Christ's ministry, in which he confirmed the new covenant by his death and resurrection.
278. 10.1Daniel first summarizes the revelation before giving its details.
279. 10.2The revelation concerns real events.
280. 10.3The revelation was fearsome and required more than human grace to receive.
281. 10.4The vision came when the people were safe under Cyrus.
282. 10.5Daniel's three weeks of mourning were an unbroken fast of twenty-one days.
283. 10.6Daniel, though still a high official, gave up even the customary anointing.
284. 10.7Polychronius argues that Daniel's fast ran through Passover and the days of unleavened bread, rebuking contemporary Jews.
285. 10.10Daniel saw a man clothed in linen (baddin).
286. 10.11The man's golden girdle and shining body are described.
287. 10.12The man's face shone like lightning and his voice sounded like a crowd.
288. 10.14Daniel's companions prayed with him, but he alone saw the vision.
289. 10.15Daniel alone saw the vision and was overcome with fear.
290. 10.16The angel raised Daniel, beloved of God, who was humbled by fear.
291. 10.17The angel was sent by God; Daniel stood but was still afraid.
292. 10.18God sent the angel from the first day of Daniel's prayer.
293. 10.19Polychronius argues that the prince of Persia is not a demon but the angel set over Persia, who argued that the sinful Jews did not deserve release.
294. 10.21Michael supported Gabriel against the Persian angel's case.
295. 10.22With Michael's help Gabriel came to Daniel.
296. 10.23Daniel confessed he was too weak with fear to listen.
297. 10.26The angel's greeting of peace restored Daniel's strength.
298. 10.28Gabriel confirms that the prince of Persia opposed him.
299. 10.29The prince of Greece also argued against the return of Jews unwilling to return.
300. 10.30No one among the people supports Gabriel except Michael.
301. 11.1Polychronius dates the vision to Cyrus's first year.
302. 11.2The angel promises a true account.
303. 11.3The three kings are Cyrus, Cambyses, and the magi.
304. 11.4The mighty king is Alexander.
305. 11.5Alexander will do as he pleases.
306. 11.6Alexander's kingdom was broken up and did not pass to his descendants.
307. 11.8Polychronius identifies the king of the south with Ptolemy, who seized the kingdom of his son-in-law Alexander.
308. 11.9Ptolemy took Alexander's realm unopposed.
309. 11.10Ptolemy ruled Egypt, Asia, and Alexander's kingdom.
310. 11.11Alexander Balas sought marriage alliance with Ptolemy.
311. 11.12Polychronius gives two readings: Berenice's marriage to Antiochus II, or Ptolemy's daughter's marriage to Alexander.
312. 11.13Alexander sought Ptolemy's alliance to secure his kingdom.
313. 11.14The alliance broke down in strife.
314. 11.15Cleopatra was taken from Alexander and given to Demetrius, while Ptolemy seized Alexander's cities.
315. 11.16Through Cleopatra, Ptolemy brought down Alexander.
316. 11.18These events lie in the future.
317. 11.19The 'flower' is Ptolemy's daughter.
318. 11.20Ptolemy feigned goodwill at the wedding, then expelled Alexander.
319. 11.21Ptolemy took Alexander's forces and cities by deceit.
320. 11.22Ptolemy seized Antioch and defeated Alexander, who fled to Arabia.
321. 11.23Ptolemy carried off the treasures of the temples and the king to Egypt.
322. 11.24Tryphon made Alexander's son king and routed Demetrius.
323. 11.25Tryphon and the young Antiochus raised an army against Demetrius.
324. 11.26They defeated Demetrius and held Alexander's kingdom.
325. 11.27The attack used all his strength.
326. 11.28Polychronius identifies the enraged king with the Demetrius who fought Alexander Balas before his marriage to Cleopatra.
327. 11.31Demetrius prepared for war.
328. 11.32Alexander's army fell to Demetrius.
329. 11.33Demetrius became master of all.
330. 11.34Demetrius grew proud.
331. 11.35Demetrius died soon after his victory.
332. 11.36Alexander returned against Demetrius's son.
333. 11.37The younger Demetrius attacked Alexander.
334. 11.38Those who rose up are Jonathan and the Maccabees against Demetrius.
335. 11.39The 'pestilent' are Jewish enemies who plotted against Jonathan.
336. 11.40The plot against Jonathan failed.
337. 11.41Demetrius's forces passed to Alexander.
338. 11.42No one resisted Alexander.
339. 11.43Alexander sought to possess the whole kingdom.
340. 11.45Alexander made a treaty with Ptolemy.
341. 11.46Ptolemy betrothed his daughter to Alexander.
342. 11.47Alexander went to Cilicia to put down a revolt.
343. 11.48Alexander sought to silence those who mocked his earlier defeat.
344. 11.49Alexander's reproach returned when Ptolemy overthrew him.
345. 11.50Alexander hurried back to fight Ptolemy but was beaten.
346. 11.51Ptolemy broke faith out of desire for Alexander's kingdom.
347. 11.52Ptolemy gained nothing, dying soon after from a fall from his horse.
348. 11.53Ptolemy died without profiting from his treachery.
349. 11.54Ptolemy died before enjoying royal glory.
350. 11.55Demetrius took both kingdoms without a fight after Ptolemy's death.
351. 11.56Ptolemy's strength passed to Demetrius.
352. 11.57All submitted to Demetrius in fear.
353. 11.58The leader of the covenant is Jonathan, whom Demetrius sought to depose.
354. 11.59Jonathan's three thousand men put down the revolt in Antioch.
355. 11.60Emboldened, Demetrius extended his rule.
356. 11.61Demetrius's swift suppression of the revolt surpassed his ancestors.
357. 11.62The Jews shared in the spoils.
358. 11.63Demetrius feared for his whole realm, including Egypt.
359. 11.64Demetrius's rule was short.
360. 11.65This refers to Antiochus, son of Alexander.
361. 11.66Antiochus advances against Demetrius with a great force.
362. 11.67Antiochus and Tryphon routed Demetrius.
363. 11.68Tryphon murdered the young Antiochus and took the throne.
364. 11.69Tryphon betrayed the king whose table he shared.
365. 11.70Tryphon won the army and murdered Antiochus.
366. 11.71Many fell when Antiochus was killed.
367. 11.72Tryphon's promises to Antiochus were lies.
368. 11.73Tryphon was in turn killed by Antiochus son of Demetrius.
369. 11.74Polychronius offers two possible referents for the king who returned with wealth.
370. 11.75Tryphon killed Jonathan and oppressed the people under Simon.
371. 11.76Tryphon withdrew without entering Jerusalem.
372. 11.77Tryphon left only after killing Jonathan.
373. 11.78He returned to his own kingdom.
374. 11.79Tryphon used the same treachery against Jonathan as against Antiochus.
375. 11.80The Kittim are the army of Antiochus son of Demetrius, who killed Tryphon.
376. 11.81Polychronius applies the rage against the covenant to an Antiochus returning from Egypt.
377. 11.82Antiochus won over the apostates, selling the high priesthood to Jason.
378. 11.83With the king's backing the lawless grew strong against the faithful.
379. 11.84The temple will be treated as common, profaned by the apostates.
380. 11.86Antiochus stopped the daily sacrifices.
381. 11.87The people who know God are the Maccabees, who restored the temple.
382. 11.88The wise are Mattathias and his followers, who chose the desert over apostasy.
383. 11.89The righteous will suffer fire, sword, and exile.
384. 11.90The 'little help' is Judas Maccabee's first victory over Apollonius.
385. 11.91Mattathias and Judas rallied many to piety, sometimes by force.
386. 11.92Some joined from among the apostates.
387. 11.93Some of the wise will die as martyrs, like Eleazar and the seven brothers.
388. 11.94The persecution lasts until the appointed 2,300 days are fulfilled.
389. 11.96Antiochus will despise Egypt and its religion.
390. 11.97Antiochus, puffed up, plundered the temple and claimed equality with God.
391. 11.98Antiochus at first escaped punishment.
392. 11.99Antiochus would not repent until struck by God.
393. 11.100His punishment would come swiftly at the height of success.
394. 11.101Unlike his predecessors, Antiochus plundered the temple.
395. 11.102Antiochus despised every god, out of self-deification.
396. 11.103'Maozim' means the strong God, whom Antiochus acknowledged on his deathbed.
397. 11.104Antiochus at the end honored the Jews and sought peace with them.
398. 11.105Antiochus ended the wars against the Jews.
399. 11.106He granted the Jews self-rule and honored the temple.
400. 11.107Antiochus nevertheless died for his crimes.
401. 11.109Antiochus invaded Egypt and defeated Ptolemy.
402. 11.110The 'land of Sabaein' is Judea, the land of the worshipped God.
403. 11.111Antiochus plundered and defiled the temple.
404. 11.112After subduing Egypt, Antiochus took the nations' wealth.
405. 11.113News of the strife between Jason and Menelaus brought Antiochus back.
406. 11.114Antiochus came furious from Egypt to Judea.
407. 11.115Antiochus planned the Jews' utter destruction.
408. 11.116Antiochus camped among his supporters at Jerusalem before returning to Antioch.
409. 11.117God delayed Antiochus's punishment.
410. 12.1Michael's rising is the angelic help behind Judas Maccabee's victories.
411. 12.2The affliction under Antiochus surpassed even Egypt.
412. 12.4The righteous will persevere despite Antiochus.
413. 12.5Polychronius reads the awakening of the dead as the restoration of the captives, not the bodily resurrection.
414. 12.6The wise who shine are the faithful who kept the law.
415. 12.7The faithful will have unending honor.
416. 12.8Sealing the book means leaving it obscure.
417. 12.9The meaning will be clear when the events happen.
418. 12.10Ignorance was useful before the events, knowledge after them.
419. 12.11Polychronius explains why the two angels' question about the time is added: to comfort the despondent Daniel.
420. 12.12The angel's oath confirms the truth of the prophecy.
421. 12.14After the people's sufferings the temple will be restored.
422. 12.15Daniel recognized the truth of the words.
423. 12.16Daniel's question shows his desire to know.
424. 12.17Daniel is told to stop asking; the words stay hidden until fulfilled.
425. 12.18Polychronius applies Dan 12:10 to the apostles, the baptized, and the faithful at Christ's coming.
426. 12.19The lawless of Dan 12:10 are those who brought about Christ's death; the rejection of the Jews and calling of the Gentiles are veiled.
427. 12.20Those who did not understand are those who crucified Christ.
428. 12.21The godly will believe from the signs and fulfilled prophecy.
429. 12.22The continual offering is the daily sacrifice.
430. 12.23The abomination is Antiochus's altar of Olympian Zeus.
431. 12.24The 1,290 days run from the turn of fortune.
432. 12.26The 1,335 days mark the vindication of the faithful after Judas Maccabee's victory.
433. 12.27Daniel is told to rest content with what he knows.
434. 12.28The fulfillment lies in the future.
435. 12.29'Rest' means Daniel's death.
436. 12.30Daniel will share in the general resurrection and receive his reward.
437. 13.1Polychronius reconciles Astyages, Darius, and Cyrus in the opening of Bel and the Dragon.
438. 13.4Daniel's honor at court displays God's care for him.