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. 1. vers. 1. How the second yeare is to be counted wherein Nebuchadnezzar had this dreame.

1. Theodoret thinketh that it was the second yeare from the beginning of his raigne: but that cannot be, for Nebuchadnezzars raigne beganne in part of the 3. and 4. yeare of Ie∣hoiakim, cap. 1. 1. and Ierem. 25. 1. and 3. yeares after that were appointed for Daniels e∣ducation, c. 1. 5. while those 3. yeares were expired, there was no proofe or triall had of Daniels wisedome; therefore it can not be, that the storie in the first chapter is set downe by way of recapitulation, as Theodoret thinketh: for till the three yeares were past, they were not brought before the king.

2. Some thinke that this was the second yeare of Nebuchadnezzars raigne by himselfe alone, who also raigned after a sort with his father, who also was called by the same name: Caluin. Geneuens. But this cannot stand, because the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar his sole raigne was in the 3. and 4. raigne of Iehoiakim. Ierem. 25. 1. after which three yeares must be counted for Daniels education: this then could not be the second yeare of his raigne alone.

3. Some vnderstand here two Nebuchadnezzars, the father mentioned before, cap. 1. 1. and his sonne, brother to Euilmerodach, who beeing the younger was preferred before the

other, and the Elder because of his wickednesse was put by the gouernment, ex Lyran. so also Emmanuel Sa. But this Nebuchadnezzar could not be sonne to Nebuchadnezzar the great,* 1.1 and brother to Euilmerodach, for the Lord had giuen the kingdomes of the earth, but vnto Nebuchadnezzar, and his sonne: that is Euilmerodach, and his sonnes sonne, which was Balthazar the sonne of Euilmerodach: but if there were a Nebuchadnezzar brother to Euilmerodach, then should there be three beside Nebuchadnezzar the great, and not two onely as Ieremie saith: there were indeede two Nebuchadnezzars, one called Nebuchad∣nezzar priseus, the auntient, the other Nebuchadnezzar magnus, the great: who beganne his raigne the same yeare Daniel went into captiuitie, in the 3. and 4. yeare of Iehoiakim.

4. The vsuall interpretation is, that it must be vnderstood of the second yeare of Nebu∣chadnezzars absolute Monarchie, after the subduing of Egypt: so Iosephus lib. 10. cap. 11. of the same opinion is Hierome, and of the later writers, Lyranus, Hugo Cardi, who thin∣keth it was the 26. yeare of his whole raigne, and the second of his Monarchie, Peter. also Pintus, Bullinger, Pellican, are of the same opinion: But this cannot stand: for Nebuchad∣nezzar conquered Tyrus, before he subdued Egypt: for Egypt is giuen him for his wages for his seruice against Tyrus, Ierem. 24. 18. 19. but Daniel was famous for his wisedome, (which was not knowne till he had expounded Nebuchadnezzars dreame) before Tyrus was destroyed: for he is celebrated for his pietie, and therein ioyned with Noah and Iob, Esek. 14. and for his wisdome, Esek. 28. 3. And then immeadiately in that chapter followeth the prophesie of the destruction of Tyrus.

5. Wherefore this second yeare must be counted from the time when Daniel first stood before the king: in the second yeare then of his seruice and ministrie, Nebuchadnezzar had this dreame: but where it is added, in the raigne of Nebuchadnezzer, these words are not to be ioyned with the former, in the second yeare, as appeareth by the Hebrew distinction, re∣biah, set ouer the word shetaim, second: this then happened in the raigne of Nebuchadnezzar, which is mentioned by way of distinction, because in the last words of the former chapter, it is said that Daniel was to the first yeare of King Cyrus; least any should thinke that this was done in the second yeare of Cyrus, direct mention is made of the raigne of Nebuchad∣nezzar. Inn. Polan. Pappus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ierem. 27 7.