Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

A

COMMENTARY

ON THE

BOOK OF DANIEL.

BY

D. L. SHIRRES, J.P.,

Author of Commentaries on the Apocalypse, and on the Psalms,
and on the Acts of the Apostles, &c., &c.

PUBLISHED BY A. BROWN & CO., ABERDEEN.

SNOW & CO., LONDON.

MENZIES & CO., EDINBURGH.

181e 4.

PREFACE.

THIS servant of God was descended from the royal family of the kings of Judah, and in early life became an exile from his country and his home. When carried captive into Babylon he was about the age of eighteen or twenty. God sent him there for his good, and in furtherance of His own divine purpose to make him a prophet, by whom to communicate His designs with respect to mankind in the ages to come.

Daniel from a child had known the Holy Scriptures so far as then revealed, and was impressed with the fear of God, both he and the companions with whom he associated. It was not until the reign of Belshazzar that his prophetic visions commenced, but before that, he was used of God to interpret two dreams to Nebuchadnezzar, the former of which is pregnant with importance to the interests of mankind.

Daniel never returned to his native country, but continued in Babylon, greatly honoured in the courts of the kings of the Medes and Persians, and died at an advanced age.

It is a great error, into which many have fallen, to imagine that it is not the will of God that we should concern ourselves about things to come, or enquire into future events; and that if we secure our own salvation we may be content to pass by the prophetic parts of Scripture, as we can neither add to, nor detract from, them. But if God willed us to be thus ignorant of the future, He would not have given so many proofs to the contrary. The Scriptures are full of information regarding events yet to be realised, and nowhere more than in this precious Book of Daniel, where a clear and distinct approximation is given of the coming era, when God will create new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. The prophetic parts of this book are rendered easy by comparing Scripture with Scripture, and the prospect of glory is shown to be very near, to the great joy of all who truly look for His appearing.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.

3 ¶ And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah,· Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah;

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names : for unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

8¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

« PredošláPokračovať »