Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

Quest. 26. When the kingdome of the Greekes, so often mentioned in the booke of the Macchabees tooke beginning.

1. Lyranus is of opinion, that the raigne of the Greekes should begin from the death of Alexander, comment. in 1. lib. Macchab. c. 1. But this cannot be, for after Alexanders death, for the space of 13. or 14. yeares, there was no certaine succession of the kingdom, Alexanders captaines one warring against another, till those fowre kingdomes of Macedo∣nia, Asia, Egypt, Syria, were setled.

2. Ioannes Annius is yet more bold,* 1.1 and controlleth those numbers set downe in the storie of the Macchabees, that whereas Antiochus is said to beginne his raigne in the 137. yeare of the kingdome of the Greeks, he saith it was the 153. yeare, from the death of A∣lexander, from whence the kingdome of the Greekes must be counted in his opinion: And he further affirmeth that those numbers in those bookes of: the Macchabees, were not inser∣ted by the author of that storie, but by Iosephus: But though the booke of the Macchabees is not receiued as Canonicall for any matter of faith or doctrine, yet it may be esteemed of for matter of storie: and therefore it is great bouldnes therein to contradict the same: And he in this his censure giueth vnto Antiochus 16. yeares, whereas he is held to haue raigned but 12. yeare: he began to raigne in the yeare 137. and died in the 149. yeare, 1. Mac. 6. 16.

3. Therefore these yeares of the kingdome of the Greekes must beginne from the raigne of Seleucus in Syria, not from the death of Alexander, as may thus be gathered. 1. where∣as Antiochus polluted the Sanctuarie in the 145. yeare, if this time were taken from Alex∣anders death, it should be the 157. or 159. yeare, for so long it was after Alexanders death.

2. Beside, Iosephus lib. 12. antiquit. cap. 7. saith, that this 145. yeare did concurre with the 153. Olympiads: then cannot this account begin from the death of Alexander, which was in the first yeare of the 114. Olympiad: from thence to the 153. Olympiad, are 39. O∣lympiads, which make an 156. yeares, whereas it was but the 145. yeare from the begin∣ning of the raigne of the Seleucians.

Notes

• * 1.1

  lib. super Phi∣lon. qui inseri∣bitur breviariū temporum.