3. The questions and doubts discussed.
1. Quest. The difference betweene this vision and the former.
1. In the former there was a description of foure kingdomes: here the Chaldean and Babylonian is omitted, quia mox abolendum erat, because it was now at hand to be abolish∣ed, Calvin. which may be the cause why hitherto from the second chapter Daniel had writ∣ten in the Chalde tongue, because those things concerned the Chaldean state, which were reuealed to Daniel: now he vseth the Hebrew tongue, because these things which fol∣low in this prophesie, specially concerned the people of God, as of their great affliction vn∣der Antiochus, in this chap. and c. 11. and of the comming of the Messiah, c. 9. first then this differeth from the former vision, c. 7. vt pars à toto, as a part from the whole, Calvin. 2. In the former vision there is a large description of the kingdome of Christ, which is omitted here. 3. Here is a more particular explication of such things, as should befall the people of God vnder Antiochus, as likewise c. 11. which is but briefly touched before. Prter.
2. Quest. Of the time of this vision.
In the third yeare of the raigne of Belshazar, &c. 1. Pererius thinketh, that this was 14. yeares before the taking of Babylon by the Persians, for he giueth vnto Belshazars raigne 17. yeares: so also Ioseph. lib. 10. antiqui••. c. 12. 2. Iunius and Polanus following Berosus and Metashenes, which make Balthazar to raigne 5. yeares, thinke this vision was shewed vnto Daniel three yeares before the destruction of Babylon. 3. But the third opinion of the Hebrewes is more probable, which Oecolampad. and Pellicane follow, that this vision was in the third and last yeare of Beshazar: for the next time which is noted of Daniel, was the first yeare of Darius, c. 9. 1.
3. Quest. What manner of vision this was.
v. 1. A vision appeared vnto me, &c. Whereas there are two sorts of visions, some are shewed vnto men in a traunce, when they are waking, as that vision of the foure cornered sheete which Peter saw, Act. 10. some are reuealed in sleepe, as Ioseph was admonished by an Angel in a dreame, Matth. 1. 1. Some thinke, that Daniel had this vision as the former, because he saith, after that which appeared vnto me at the first: as making no difference be∣tweene this vision, and the former, which was shewed vnto Daniel by night vpon his bed: Perer. following Theodoret.
2. But it is more probable, that this vision was sent to Daniel, now beeing awake: one reason is, because simply it is called a vision: there is no mention made of sleepe•• which is al∣waies expressed, when the vision is reuealed by dreame, Osiand. Oecolampadius addeth this reason further, that because Daniel made good vse of the former vision, remembring it, and committing the same to writing, ampliorem gratiam accipit, he receiueth greater grace, and