III.
Scholia on Daniel.
Chap. i. 1 “In
the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim.” The Scripture
narrates these things, with the purpose of intimating the second
captivity of the people, when Jehoiakim and the three youths with him, together with Daniel, were taken captive and carried off.
2. “And the Lord gave,” etc. These words, “and the Lord gave,” are written, that no one, in reading the introduction to the book, may attribute their capture to the strength of the captors and the slackness of their chief. And it is well said, “with part,” for the deportation was for the correction, not the ruin, of the whole nation, that there might be no misapplication of the cause.
8. “And Daniel purposed in his
heart.” Oh, blessed are they who thus kept the covenant of
the fathers, and transgressed not the law given by Moses, but feared
the God proclaimed by him. These, though captives in a strange
land, were not seduced by delicate meats, nor were they slaves to the
pleasures of wine, nor were they caught by the bait of princely
glory. But they kept their mouth holy and pure, that pure speech
might proceed from pure mouths, and praise with such (mouths) the
heavenly Father.
12. “Prove now thy servants.” They teach that it is not earthly meats that give to men their beauty and strength, but the grace of God bestowed by the Word. “And after a little.” Thou hast seen the incorruptible faith of the youths, and the unalterable fear of God. They asked an interval of ten days, to prove therein that man cannot otherwise find grace with God than by believing the word preached by the Lord.
19. “And among them all, was found none like
Daniel.” These men, who were proved faithful witnesses in
Babylon, were led by the Word in all wisdom, that by their means the
idols of the Babylonians should be put to shame, and that
Nebuchadnezzar should be overcome by three youths, and that by their
faith the fire in the furnace should be kept at bay, and the desire of
the wicked elders (or chiefs) proved vain.
Chap. ii. 3 “I
have dreamed a dream.” The dream, then, which was seen by
the king was not an earthly dream, so that it might be interpreted by
the wise of the world; but it was a heavenly dream, fulfilled in its
proper times, according to the counsel and foreknowledge of God. And for this reason it was kept secret from men who think of earthly things, that to those who seek after heavenly things heavenly mysteries might be revealed. And, indeed, there was a similar case in Egypt in the time of Pharaoh and Joseph.
5. “The thing is gone from me.” For this purpose was the vision concealed from the king, that he who was chosen of God., viz., Daniel, might be shown to be a prophet. For when things concealed from some are revealed by another, he who tells them is of necessity shown to be a prophet.
10. “And they say, There is not a
man.” Whereas, therefore, they declared it to be impossible
that what was asked by the king should be told by man; God showed them, that what is impossible with man is possible with God.
14. “Arioch, the captain of the king’s
guard” (literally, “the chief slaughterer or
cook”). For as the cook slays all animals and cooks them, of a similar nature was his occupation. And the rulers of the world slay men, butchering them like brute beasts.
23. “Because Thou hast given me wisdom
and might.” We ought therefore to mark the goodness of God, how He straightway reveals and shows (Himself) to the worthy, and to those that fear Him, fulfilling their prayers and supplications, as the prophet says: “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? and prudent, and he shall know them?”
27. “Cannot the wise men, the
magicians.” He instructs the king not to seek an
explanation of heavenly mysteries from earthly men, for they shall be
accomplished in their due time by God.
29. “As for thee, O king, thy
thoughts.” For the king, on making himself master of the
land of Egypt, and getting hold of the country of Judea, and carrying
off the people, thought upon his bed what should be after these things; and He who knows the secrets of all, and searcheth the thoughts of the hearts, revealed to him by means of the image the things that were to be. And He hid from him the vision, in order that the counsels of God might not be interpreted by the wise men of Babylon, but that by the blessed Daniel, as a prophet of God, things kept secret from all might be made manifest.