Daniel 1

Daniel 1:1

THe third] Counting from the time as he lived, as a vassall to the King of Babylon, a Kings 24. 1. having before raigned seven yeeres as a vassall to Egypt; 2 Kings 23:34. Now these three yeeres must be understood compleat, because it hath beene said that it happened the fourth yeere of his raigne, Jer. 25. 1. and 46. 2.

Daniel 1:2

Of Shinar] namely, of Chaldea, or Mesopotamia, where Babylon was, Genesis 11:2.

Daniel 1:4

To 〈◊〉] To be Pages of honour, according to the prophecie, Isaiah 39:7. and to be from time to time advanced to the offices of the court They might teach] as Acts 7:22.

Daniel 1:7

The Prince of] By the Kings command, Daniel 5:12. To shew his absolute power over them, as over slaves: and to honour his Chaldean Idols, whereof the chiefe were Bel, or Belt, Sac, Rac, and Nego; and also to extinuish in them the memory of their parentage, countrey and Religion: together with the knowledge of the true God; whose names they bore: El and Ja. Now in Beltshazzar; it should seeme that Belt is the femll name of the Goddesse; answerable to the masculine Bel: but others doe judge otherwise of it.

Daniel 1:8

Dail] Followed herein, as it appeare by his three companions, Deile himselfe] Either because there might be amongst that food ome flesh, which was by the law uncleane: or that had been consecrated to Idol; or because he fered he should ndamage and corrupt his pltie and puritie through the pleasures of the court, and not participating sufficiently of the common afflictions of the Church.

Daniel 1:9

Had brought] See Genesis 39:21. Psal. 10. 46. Proverbs 16:7.

Daniel 1:10

orse liing] Lesse cheerefull, and comely.

Daniel 1:11

Melzar] It seemes to be 〈◊〉 name of office, as who should say, Over-ser and Governour of the Pages.

Daniel 1:17

Understanding] For the property of a Prophet is not onely to receive divine revelations in dream or in vision; but also to understand them, and know how to interpret them, Numb. 12. 6. 〈◊〉 Chron. 26. 5. Daniel 10:1.

Daniel 1:21

Continued] that is to say, Hee was in dignitie and honour whilest the Empire of Babylon lasted, and afterwards also: see Dan. 6. 28. and 10. 1.