Daniel detecteth the fraud of Bels priestes: who pretend that Bel eateth much meate: 21. for which they are slaine, and the idol destroyed. 22. Likewise he destroyeth a dragon, which the Babylonians held for a god. 27. He is cast into the lake of seuen lions. 32. whithet Habacuc miraculously bringeth him meate: 39. the lions hurt him not: & his accusers are deuoured.
1And Daniel was the king’s guest, and was honoured above all his friends.E Daniele era un di que', che mangiavano alla tavola del re, e onorato sopra tutti gli amici di lui.AND Daniel was the kings ghest, and honoured aboue al his freindes.Erat autem Daniel conviva regis, et honoratus super omnes amicos ejus. 2Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel: and there was spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.E i Babilonesi aveano un idolo chi amato Bel, e si consumavan per lui ogni dì dodici artabe di fior di farina, e quaranta pecore, e sei anfore di vino.There was also an idol among the Babylonians named Bel: and there were bestowed on him euerie day of floure twelue a•ctabaes, and fourtie sheepe, and of wine six great pottes.Erat quoque idolum apud Babylonios nomine Bel: et impendebantur in eo per dies singulos similæ artabæ duodecim, et oves quadraginta, vinique amphoræ sex. 3The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not adore Bel?Il re stesso gli rendeva culto, e andava ogni di ad adorarlo. Ma Daniele adorava il suo Dio. E il re gli disse: perchè non adori tu Bel?The king also did worshipe him, and went euery day to adore him: But Daniel adored his God. & the king sayd to him: Why dost thou not adore Bel.Rex quoque colebat eum, et ibat per singulos dies adorare eum: porro Daniel adorabat Deum suum. Dixitque ei rex: Quare non adoras Bel ? 4And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and hath power over all flesh.Ed egli rispose a lui: perché io non rendo onore agli idoli manofatti, ma a Dio vivo, che creò il cielo, e la terra, ed è Signore di tutti gli animali.Who answering, sayd to him: Because I worshipe not idols made with hand, but the liuing God, that created heauen, and earth, and hath powre ouer al flesh.Qui respondens ait ei: Quia non colo idola manufacta, sed viventem Deum, qui creavit cælum, et terram, et habet potestatem omnis carnis. 5And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a living god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?E il re disse a lui: Non sembra a te, che Bel sia un Dio vivo? Non vedi tu quanto egli mangia, e beve ogni giorno?And the king sayd to him: Doeth not Bel some vnto thee to be a liuing God? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euerie day?Et dixit rex ad eum: Non videtur tibi esse Bel vivens deus ? an non vides quanta comedat et bibat quotidie ?
6Then Daniel smiled, and said: O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any time.E disse sorridendo Daniele: Non ingannarti, o re, imperocché egli al di dentro è di fango, e al di fuora è di bronzo, e non mangia mai.And Daniel smiling sayd: Be not deceiued ô king. For this same is within of clay, and without of brasse, neither hath he eaten at any time.Et ait Daniel arridens: Ne erres, rex: iste enim intrinsecus luteus est, et forinsecus æreus, neque comedit aliquando. 7And the king being angry, called for his priests, and said to them: If you tell me not who it is that eateth up these expenses, you shall die.E il re montò in collera, e chiamò i sacerdoti di Bel, e disse loro: Se voi non mi dite chi mangi tutto quello, ch'io spendo, voi morrete.And the king being wrath called his priests, & sayd to them: Vnlesse you tel me, who it is that eateth these expenses, you shal dye.Et iratus rex vocavit sacerdotes ejus, et ait eis: Nisi dixeritis mihi quis est qui comedat impensas has, moriemini. 8But if you can shew that Bel eateth these things, Daniel shall die, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel said to the king: Be it done according to thy word.Se poi farete vedere, che queste cose se le mangi Bel, morrà Daniele per aver bestemmiato contro Bel. E Daniele disse al re: Sia fatto secondo la tua parola.But if you shew, that Bel eateth these things Daniel shal dye, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel sayd to the king: Be it done according to thy woord.Si autem ostenderitis quoniam Bel comedat hæc, morietur Daniel, quia blasphemavit in Bel. Et dixit Daniel regi: Fiat juxta verbum tuum. 9Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives, and little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.Or i sacerdoti di Bel erano settanta senza le mogli, e i figliuoli. E il re si portò con Daniele al tempio di Bel.And the priests of Bel were seuentie, beside their wiues, and litle ones, & children. And the king came with Daniel into the temple of Bel.Erant autem sacerdotes Bel septuaginta, exceptis uxoribus, et parvulis, et filiis. Et venit rex cum Daniele in templum Bel. 10And the priests of Bel said: Behold, we go out: and do thou, O king, set on the meats, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thy own ring:E dissero i sacerdoti di Bel: Ecco che noi andiam via: e tu, o re, poni le vivande, e mesci il vino: e chiudi la porta, e ponvi sigillo col tuo anello:And the priestes of Bel sayd: Behold we goe forth: & thou ô king set the meates, & mingle the wine, & shut the doore, & seale it with thy ring:Et dixerunt sacerdotes Bel: Ecce nos egredimur foras: et tu, rex, pone escas, et vinum misce, et claude ostium, et signa annulo tuo:
11And when thou comest in the morning, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, that hath lied against us.E quando tu entrerai domattina, se non vedrai, che Bel abbia mangiate ogni cosa, noi morremo; altrimenti morrà Daniele, che ha detto il falso contro di noi.and when thou shalt come in the morning, vnles thou finde al eaten of Bel, dying we wil dye, or Daniel that hath lyed against vs.et cum ingressus fueris mane, nisi inveneris omnia comesta a Bel, morte moriemur, vel Daniel qui mentitus est adversum nos. 12And they little regarded it, because they had made under the table a secret entrance, and they always came in by it, and consumed those things.Or ei si burlavano, perché aveano fatto sotto la mensa un apertura segreta, e per questa entravano sempre e mangiavano quella roba.And they contemned, because they had made vnder the table a secrete entrance, & by it they came in alwayes, and deuoured those thinges.Contemnebant autem, quia fecerant sub mensa absconditum introitum, et per illum ingrediebantur semper, et devorabant ea. 13So it came to pass after they were gone out, the king set the meats before Bel: and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought ashes, and he sifted them all over the temple before the king: and going forth, they shut the door, and having sealed it with the king’s ring, they departed.Usciti adunque coloro, il re pose dinanzi a Bel le vivande. Ma Daniele diede ordine a' suoi servi, che gli portassero della cenere, e la sparse col vaglio per tutto il tempio alla presenza del re: e se n'andarono, e chiuser la porta, sigillandola coll'anello del re.It came to passe therfore after they were gone out, the king set the meates before Bel: & Daniel commanded his seruants, and they brought ashes, and he sifted them ouer al the temple before the king: and going forth they shut the doore, and sealing it with the kings ring, they departed.Factum est igitur postquam egressi sunt illi, rex posuit cibos ante Bel: præcepit Daniel pueris suis, et attulerunt cinerem, et cribravit per totum templum coram rege: et egressi clauserunt ostium, et signantes annulo regis abierunt. 14But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, with their wives, and their children: and they ate and drank up all.Or i sacerdoti andarono di notte tempo secondo il loro costume eglino, e le mogli, e i loro figliuoli, e mangiaron tutto, e bevvero.But the priestes went in by night, according to their custome, and their wiues, and their children: and they did eate, and drinke al.Sacerdotes autem ingressi sunt nocte juxta consuetudinem suam, et uxores et filii eorum, et comederunt omnia, et biberunt.
15And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him.E si levò il re al primo albore, e Daniele con esso.And the king arose in the first breake of day, and Daniel with him.Surrexit autem rex primo diluculo, et Daniel cum eo. 16And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered: They are whole, O king.E il re disse: Son eglino intatti o Daniele? Ed ei rispose: intatti, o re.And the king sayd: Are the seales safe, Daniel? Who answered: Safe ô king.Et ait rex: Salvane sunt signacula, Daniel ? Qui respondit: Salva, rex. 17And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried out with a loud voice: Great art thou, O Bel, and there is not any deceit with thee.E subitamente aperta la porta, il re veduta la mensa, con voce grande esclamò: Tu se' grande, o Bel, e in casa tua non è frode alcuna.And forth with when he had opened the doore, the king looking on the table, cried out with a lowd voice: Great art thou ô Bel, and there is not any deceite with thee.Statimque cum aperuisset ostium, intuitus rex mensam, exclamavit voce magna: Magnus es, Bel, et non est apud te dolus quisquam. 18And Daniel laughed: and he held the king, that he should not go in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are.E Daniele sorrise, e trattenne il re, che non entrasse dentro, e disse: Ecco il pavimento, osserva di chi siano queste pedate.And Daniel laughed: and he held the king that he should not goe in: and he sayd: Behold the pauement, marke whose steppes these are.Et risit Daniel, et tenuit regem ne ingrederetur intro: et dixit: Ecce pavimentum: animadverte cujus vestigia sint hæc. 19And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and children. And the king was angry.E il re disse: Veggo pedate di uomini, di donne, di ragazzi. E il re si adirò.And the king sayd: I see the steppes of men, & wemen, and of infantes. And the king was angrie.Et dixit rex: Video vestigia virorum, et mulierum, et infantium. Et iratus est rex. 20Then he took the priests, and their wives, and their children: and they shewed him the private doors by which they came in, and consumed the things that were on the table.Allora fece pigliare i sacerdoti, e le mogli, e i figliuoli loro: ed eglino fecero vedere a lui le piccole porte, per le quali entravano, e consumavan quel, che si trovava sulla mensa.Then apprehended he the priests, & their wiues, & their children: and they shewed him secrete litle doores by which they came in, & consumed the thinges that were on the table.Tunc apprehendit sacerdotes, et uxores, et filios eorum: et ostenderunt ei abscondita ostiola, per quæ ingrediebantur, et consumebant quæ erant super mensam.
21The king, therefore, put them to death, and delivered Bel into the power of Daniel: who destroyed him and his temple.E il re li fece morire, e diede Bel in poter di Daniele, il quale lo distrusse in un col suo tempio.The king therfore them, & he deliuered Bel into the powre of Daniel: who ouerthrewe him, & his temple.Occidit ergo illos rex, et tradidit Bel in potestatem Danielis: qui subvertit eum, et templum ejus. 22And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians worshipped him.Ed era in quel luogo un dragone grande e i Babilonesi lo adoravano.And there was a great dragon in that place, & the Babylonians worshipped him.Et erat draco magnus in loco illo, et colebant eum Babylonii. 23And the king said to Daniel: Behold, thou canst not say now, that this is not a living god: adore him, therefore.E disse il re a Daniele: Ecco tu non puoi dire, che questo non sia un dio vivo: tu adunque adoralo.And the king sayd to Daniel: Loe now thou canst not say, that this same is not a liuing god: adore him therfore.Et dixit rex Danieli: Ecce nunc non potes dicere quia iste non sit deus vivens: adora ergo eum. 24And Daniel said: I adore the Lord, my God: for he is the living God: but that is no living god.E Daniele disse: Io adoro il Signore Dio mio, perché egli è il Dio vivo, ma questo non è il Dio vivo.And Daniel sayd: The Lord my God I doe adore: because he is the liuing God:Dixitque Daniel: Dominum Deum meum adoro, quia ipse est Deus vivens: iste autem non est deus vivens. 25But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or club. And the king said, I give thee leave.Ma tu o re, dammene la permissione, ed io senza spada, e bastone ammazzerò il dragone: o il re disse: Te la do.but thou ô king geue me licence, and I wil kil the Dragon without sword and clubbe. And the king sayd: I geue thee licence.Tu autem, rex, da mihi potestatem, et interficiam draconem absque gladio et fuste. Et ait rex: Do tibi. 26Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and boiled them together: and he made lumps, and put them into the dragon’s mouth, and the dragon burst asunder. And he said: Behold him whom you worship.Prese adunque Daniele della pece, e del grassume, e de' peli, e cosse ogni cosa insieme, e ne fece bocconi, e li gettò in bocca al dragone, e il dragone crepò: e disse: ecco quello, che voi adoravate.Daniel therfore tooke pitch, & fatte, and heares, and sod them together: & he made lumpes, and gaue into the Dragons mouth, & the Dragon burst in sunder. And he sayd: Loe whom you worshipped.Tulit ergo Daniel picem, et adipem, et pilos, et coxit pariter: fecitque massas, et dedit in os draconis, et diruptus est draco. Et dixit: Ecce quem colebatis.
27And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the dragon, and he hath put the priests to death.La qual cosa udita avendo i Babilonesi, ne presero grandissimo sdegno, e adunatisi contro del re dissero: il re è diventato Giudeo: ha distrutto Bel, ha ucciso il dragone, e messi a morte i sacerdoti.Which when the Babylonians had heard, they were wrath excedingly: and being gathered together against the king, they said: The king is become a Iewe. Bel he hath destroyed, the Dragon he hath killed, & he hath slaine the priests.Quod cum audissent Babylonii, indignati sunt vehementer: et congregati adversum regem, dixerunt: Judæus factus est rex: Bel destruxit, draconem interfecit, et sacerdotes occidit. 28And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house.E andati a trovar il re, dissero: Da nelle nostre mani Daniele, altrimenti uccideremo te, e la tua famiglia.And they sayd when they were come to the king: Deliuer vs Daniel, otherwise we wil kil thee, & thy house.Et dixerunt cum venissent ad regem: Trade nobis Danielem, alioquin interficiemus te, et domum tuam. 29And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being constrained by necessity: he delivered Daniel to them.Vide adunque il re, che lo assalivano con impeto, e forzato dalla necessità, diede loro Daniele.The king therfore saw that they pressed vpon him vehemently: and compelled by necessity he deliuered Daniel to them.Vidit ergo rex quod irruerent in eum vehementer: et necessitate compulsus, tradidit eis Danielem. 30And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six days.Ed ei lo gettarono nella fossa dei leoni, e vi stette sei giorni.Who cast him into the lake of lions, and he was there six dayes.Qui miserunt eum in lacum leonum, et erat ibi diebus sex. 31And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not given unto them, that they might devour Daniel.Ed erano nella fossa sette leoni, e davansi ad essi ogni dì due cadaveri, e due pecore: ed allora non furono date loro, affinchè divorasser Daniele.Moreouer in the lake were seuen lions, & there were geuen to them two bodies euerie day, & two sheepe: and they were not geuen vnto them, that they might deuoure Daniel.Porro in lacu erant leones septem, et dabantur eis duo corpora quotidie, et duæ oves: et tunc non data sunt eis, ut devorarent Danielem.
32Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers.Or il profeta Habacuc stava nella Giudea, ed egli avea cotta una polenta, e fatte delle schiacciate in una teglia, e andava al campo per portarle ai mietitori.And there was d Habacuc a prophete in Iewrie, & he had boyled broth, & had broken bread in a bowle: and he went into the field, to carie it to the reapers.Erat autem Habacuc propheta in Judæa, et ipse coxerat pulmentum, et intriverat panes in alveolo: et ibat in campum ut ferret messoribus. 33And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon, to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den.E l'Angelo del Signore disse ad Habacuc: Porta il desinare, che hai, in Babilonia a Daniele, che è nella fossa de' leoni.And the Angel of our Lord sayd to Habacuc: Carie the dinner which thou hast, into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lake of lions.Dixitque angelus Domini ad Habacuc: Fer prandium quod habes in Babylonem Danieli, qui est in lacu leonum. 34And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den.E Habacuc disse: Signore, non ho veduta Babilonia, e non ho notizia della fossa.And Habacuc sayd: Lord, Babylon I haue not sene, and the lake I know not.Et dixit Habacuc: Domine, Babylonem non vidi, et lacum nescio. 35And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon, over the den, in the force of his spirit.E l'Angelo del Signore lo prese alla cima del suo capo, e pe' capelli della sua testa, e portollo colla celerità del suo spirito, e posollo in Babilonia sopra la fossa.And the Angel of our Lord tooke him by the toppe of his head, and caried him by the heare of his head, & put him into Babylon ouer the lake in the force of his spirit.Et apprehendit eum angelus Domini in vertice ejus, et portavit eum capillo capitis sui, posuitque eum in Babylone supra lacum in impetu spiritus sui. 36And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee.E Habacuc alzò la voce, e disse: Daniele servo di Dio, prendi il desinare, che Dio ti ha mandato.And Habacuc cried, saying: Daniel, take the dinner that God hath sent to thee.Et clamavit Habacuc, dicens: Daniel serve Dei, tolle prandium quod misit tibi Deus. 37And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee.E Daniele disse: tu ti se' ricordato di me, o Signore, e non hai abbandonato color, che ti amano.And Daniel sayd: Thou hast remembred me ô God, and hast not forsaken them that loue thee.Et ait Daniel: Recordatus es mei, Deus, et non dereliquisti diligentes te.
38And Daniel arose, and ate. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place.E si alzò Daniele, e mangiò: e l'Angelo del Signore restituì tosto Habacuc al suo luogo.And Daniel rysing vp did eate. Moreouer the Angel of our Lord restored Habacuc forth with in his place.Surgensque Daniel comedit. Porro angelus Domini restituit Habacuc confestim in loco suo. 39And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions.Venne adunque nel settimo giorno il re per piangere Daniele, e arrivò alla fossa, e gettò dentro gli occhi: e vide Daniele a sedere in mezzo ai leoni.The king therfore came the seuenth day to lament Daniel: and he came to the lake, and looked in, and behold Daniel sitting in the middes of the lions.Venit ergo rex die septimo ut lugeret Danielem: et venit ad lacum, et introspexit, et ecce Daniel sedens in medio leonum. 40And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions’ den.E gridò ad alta voce il re dicendo: Grande se' tu, o Signore Dio di Daniele. E lo trasse fuori della fossa de' leoni.And the king cried out with a lowd voice, saying: Great art thou ô Lord the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lake of lions.Et exclamavit voce magna rex, dicens: Magnus es, Domine Deus Danielis. Et extraxit eum de lacu leonum. 41But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him.E quelli, che erano stati causa di sua perdizione, li fece gettar nella fossa, in un momento furono divorati alla sua presenza.But those that had bene the cause of his perdition, he cast into the lake, and they were deuoured in a moment before him.Porro illos, qui perditionis ejus causa fuerant, intromisit in lacum, et devorati sunt in momento coram eo. 42Then the king said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions’ den.Allora il re disse: Tutti gli abitanti di tutta quanta la terra temano il Dio di Daniele: perocché egli è Salvatore, e fa segni, e prodigi sulla terra, ha liberato Daniele dalla fossa de' leoni.Then the king sayd: Let al inhabitants in the whole earth feare the God of Daniel: because he is the Sauiour, doing signes, & meruels in the earth: who hath deliuered Daniel out of the lions denne.Tunc rex ait: Paveant omnes habitantes in universa terra Deum Danielis: quia ipse est salvator, faciens signa et mirabilia in terra: qui liberavit Danielem de lacu leonum.
14:1
Calmet
Guest. It seems most probable that the king here spoken of was Evilmerodac, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and great favourer of the Jews; (Challoner; Worthington) or it might be Darius, (Houbigant.) or Cyrus, under whose reign St. Irenaeus (IV. 11.) and others place this history. (Calmet)
Menochius
The more correct Greek editions begin with the preceding verse. (Menochius)
Haydock
Septuagint read, "Prophecy of Abaum, son of Juda, of the tribe of Levi. There was a priest, Daniel, son of Abda, who was a guest of the king of Babylon," etc. See Pref. (Haydock)
14:19
Houbigant
Angry. Cappel thinks the priests would not be so easily caught, or that such an imposture would not be so long concealed. But it was their interest to keep the secret, particularly if the king furnished the provisions; and in the night time they would not perceive the small ashes. (Houbigant.)
Aristophanes
The pagans stupidly believed (Calmet) that the idols eat. (Aristophanes, Plutus. 3:2.)
Houbigant
All the objections against this history are refuted by Jeremias 51:5. (Houbigant.)
Haydock
It is wonderful that so learned a man as Cappel should urge so many. (Haydock)
14:22
Calmet
Dragon. The devil had seduced our first parents in the form of a serpent, and caused most nations to adore it. (Calmet)
They expected benefit, or to be preserved from harm. (Valer. 1:8.; St. Augustine, de Civ. Dei. 14:11.; Worthington)
14:26
Menochius
Asunder, being choked, and not poisoned. (Vales. 81.) (Menochius)
The throat is narrow. (Solin. 43.)
14:27
Grotius
Jew, or "a Jew is king;" Daniel governs all. (Grotius)
14:28
Houbigant
House. Religion is daring. Darius was weak, and only a sort of viceroy, left by Cyrus. (Houbigant.)
14:30
Challoner
The den of lions. Daniel was twice cast into the den of lions: once under Darius, the Mede, because he had transgressed the king's edict, by praying three times a day; and another time under Evilmerodac, by a sedition of the people. This time he remained six days in the lions' den; the other time only one night. (Challoner)
14:31
Houbigant
Carcasses: people condemned, (Calmet) or dead. (Houbigant.)
14:32
Challoner
Habacuc. The same, as some think, whose prophecy is found among the lesser prophets: but others believe him to be different. (Challoner)
Worthington
About twenty years before there was no prophet in Judea, Daniel 3:38. Habacuc, the eighth of the minor prophets, lived before the Babylonian monarchy was formed, Daniel 1:6. (Worthington)
Haydock
Yet he might still survive. If this had not been a true history, such an extraordinary mode of conveyance would not have been mentioned. Cappel imagines it was an allusion to Philip, the deacon, and fabricated by some Christian. But Theodotion found it in Hebrew (Houbigant.) and he was no friend to Christianity when he wrote; though he had once followed Tatian, and the Marcionites. (Haydock)
14:39
Houbigant
Seventh. He had not come before, supposing he was dead, till at last a rumour got to his ears, notwithstanding the precautions of the Babylonians, who hoped that Daniel would be starved to death. (Houbigant, Proleg. p. 2. p. 425 which end here.)
14:40
Haydock
Daniel. Greek adds, "besides thee there is no other." (Haydock)
14:41
Menochius
Den, by the law of retaliation, Daniel 6:24. (Menochius)
14:42
Calmet
Then, etc. is not in Greek nor in the ancient manuscripts of St. Jerome. The verse may be taken from Daniel 2:26. (Calmet)
14:1
The king’s guest.... It seems most probable, that the king here spoken of was Evilmerodach, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and a great favourer of the Jews.
14:30
The den of lions.... Daniel was twice cast into the den of lions; one under Darius the Mede, because he had transgressed the king’s edict, by praying three times a day: and another time under Evilmerodach by a sedition of the people. This time he remained six days in the lions’ den; the other time only one night.
14:32
Habacuc.... The same, as some think whose prophecy is found among the lesser prophets but others believe him to be different.
14:42
THE PROPHECY OF OSEE
OSEE, or Hosea, whose name signifies A saviour, was the first in the order of time among those who are commonly called lesser prophets, because their prophecies are short. He prophesied in the kingdom of Israel, that is, of the ten tribes, about the same time that Isaias prophesied in the kingdom of Juda.
14:1
It semeth most probable that this king vvas Euilmerodach, who fauoured the Ievves, & deliuered Iechonias (otherwise called Ioachin) out of prison. 4. Reg. 25. v. 17.
14:2
Concordanza Gen. 10. v 10.
amphore.
14:3
VVhich supposed, Daniel vvas novv about the age of 55. yeares. For being caried into Babylon at the age of tenne yeares, vvas there 8. yeares before Ioachin, who was there 37. yeares before he vvas deliuered from prison, vvhich make in al. 55.
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Not only the Babylonians as is manifest in manie places, but also the Romanes and most nations worshipped Bel for a great god: But it is more wonderful that both the Chaldees and the Romans otherwise most wise worshiped a serpent, or dragon, a beast naturally most hating men, & most abhorred by al men, The cause of this blindnes can be no other but Gods iust punishment suffering them for their abominable pride, and other sinnes to fal into so sotish conceites as to thinke, that serpentes could either greatly benefite them, or by such vvorshippe be appeased, and cease from annoying them, As Valerius vvriteth. li. 1. c. 8. •. Augustin also li. 14 c 11. ••it. & manie others testifie the same.
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d Although about 20 yeares before, there vvas no prophet in Iurie (ch. 3. v. 38.) yet novv this Habacuc vvas indued vvith the spirit of prophecie. As for Habacuc, the eight in order of the lesse prophetes, he prophecied before the captiuitie: yea before the Chaldees became a Monarchie. As appeareth, Hab. 1. v 6.
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san Gregorio Nazianzeno † 389 d.C. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 18.30
… How did God sustain her? Not by raining down manna, as for Israel of old or opening the rock, in order to give drink to His thirsting people, or feasting her by means of ravens, as Elijah, or feeding her by a prophet carried through the air, as He did to Daniel when a-hungered in the den.
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et templum ejus. 22. Et erat draco magnus in loco illo, et colebant eum Babylonii. 23. Et dixit rex Danieli: Ecce nunc non potes dicere quia iste non sit Deus vivens: adora ergo eum. 24. Dixitque Daniel: Dominum Deum meum adoro; quia ipse est Deus vivens; iste autem non est Deus vivens. 25. Tu autem, rex, da mihi potestatem, et interficiam draconem absque gladio et fuste. Et ait rex: Do tibi. 26. Tulit ergo Daniel picem, et adipem, et pilos, et coxit pariter: fecitque massas, et dedit in os draconis, et diruptus est draco. Et dixit: Ecce quem colebatis. 27. Quod cum audissent Babylonii, indignati sunt vehementer: et congregati adversum regem, dixerunt: Judaeus factus est rex: Bel destruxit, draconem interfecit, et sacerdotes occidit. 28. Et dixerunt cum venissent ad regem: Trade nobis Danielem, alioquin interficiemus te, et domum tuam. 29. Vidit ergo rex quod irruerent in eum vehementer: et necessitate compulsus tradidit eis Danielem. 30. Qui miserunt eum in lacum leonum, et erat ibi diebus sex. 31. Porro in lacu erant leones septem, et dabantur eis duo corpora quotidie, et duae oves: et tunc non data sunt eis, ut devorarent Danielem. 32. Erat autem Habacuc propheta in Judaea, et ipse coxerat pulmentum, et intriverat panes in alveolo: et ibat in campum ut ferret messoribus. 33. Dixitque angelus Domini ad Habacuc: Fer prandium, quod habes, in Babylonem Danieli, qui est in lacu leonum. 34. Et dixit Habacuc: Domine, Babylonem non vidi, et lacum nescio. 35. Et apprehendit eum angelus Domini in vertice ejus, et portavit eum capillo capitis sui, posuitque eum in Babylone supra lacum in impetu spiritus sui. 36. Et clamavit Habacuc, dicens: Daniel, serve Dei, tolle prandium, quod misit tibi Deus. 37. Et ait Daniel: Recordatus es mei, Deus, et non dereliquisti diligentes te. 38. Surgensque Daniel comedit. Porro angelus Domini restituit Habacuc confestim in loco suo. 39. Venit ergo rex die septimo ut lugeret Danielem: et venit ad lacum, et introspexit, et ecce Daniel sedens in medio leonum. 40. Et exclamavit voce magna rex, dicens: Magnus es, Domine Deus Danielis. Et extraxit eum de lacu leonum. 41. Porro illos, qui perditionis ejus causa fuerant, intromisit in lacum, et devorati sunt in momento coram eo. 42. Tunc rex ait: Paveant omnes habitantes in universa terra Deum Danielis: quia ipse est salvator, faciens signa et mirabilia in terra: qui liberavit Danielem de lacu leonum. 1. ERAT AUTEM DANIEL CONVIVA REGIS. — Hic rex non fuit Cyrus, uti volunt Theodoretus et Irenaeus, lib. IV, cap. XI, nec Astyages, ut videtur velle S. Athanasius, serm. 4 Contra Arianos; sed Evilmerodach, sive Balsasar. Probatur primo, quia hic fuit rex Babylonis adhuc stantis et florentis. Secundo, quia hic, utpote Babylonius, coluit Bel; Cyrus vero et Persae non coluerunt Bel, sed solem: imo Xerxes sepulcrum Beli destruxit, teste Strabone, lib. XVI. Tertio, quia Babylonii voluerunt regem hunc occidere, vers. 28, nisi eis traderet Danielem: hoc autem non ausi fuissent minari Cyro, utpote jam ab eo subacti; nec etiam Nabuchodonosori, utpote potenti et terribili. Ita Torniellus, Pererius et alii. Hinc patet quod Daniel cum Belum evertit, et cum missus est in lacum leonum, non fuerit duodennis, ut vult S. Chrysostomus, hom. 1 in Psal. XXX; fuit enim tunc ut minimum 72 annorum. Id patet primo, ex eo quod historia haec contigerit sub Balsasare, qui coepit regnare anno regni Nabuchodonosoris 45; illo enim anno Balsasar morienti patri successit; Daniel autem 20 erat annorum, antequam regnare inciperet Nabuchodonosor. Secundo, quia historia haec contigit post regnum Astyagis, regnante jam Cyro, ut patet ex titulo, sive ex ultimis verbis capitis praecedentis; Astyages autem, ut ibi dixi, coepit regnare anno captivitatis Babylonicae sexto, quo Daniel erat 34 annorum, regnavit vero 38 annis: jam adde 34 et 38, habebis annos 72 vitae Danielis. Erat ergo Daniel 72 annorum, cum mortuus est Astyages, et regnare coepit Cyrus, sub quo haec historia contigit. 2. BEL. — Bel, sive Beel, Baal, Bal, et Belus fuit Nemrod, fundator et primus rex Babylonis, pater Nini, uti dixi Genes. X, 10. De templo et idolo hoc Beli mira scribunt Herodotus, lib. I, qui Daniele vix 100 annis fuit posterior; Diodorus, lib. II, cap. IV; Strabo, lib. XVI, ubi inter alia docent statuam Jovis Beli auream fuisse longam pedes 40, ponderantem mille talenta Babylonica: cui dicatus erat crater ex auro talentorum 1200. Videtur haec statua ex aere fuisse, sed tecta auro; aut certe ex aurichalco, id est aere aureo: Daniel enim eam vocat aeream.
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Tropologice, Belum et idola imitantur, primo, qui vestibus sericis et aureis exterius se ornant, interius terream habent vel mentem, vel conscientiam, puta in luto et sordibus gulae, libidinis, etc. versantur. Secundo, hypocritae, qui foris aurei videntur, intus sunt lutei. Audi Billium in Antholog.: Bel erat externe pulcherrimus, undique et aere Tectus; at intus erat nil nisi vile lutum. Qui Curium simulat, cum sit nequissimus, illum Cur ego non Belem jure vocare queam? Bel erit, exterius tumuli qui candidus instar, Interius tantum vile cadaver habet. ARTABAE. — Artaba continet 72 sextarios, inquit Epiphanius, lib. De Ponderibus et mensuris, et Isidorus, lib. XVI Etymolog.; magna ergo copia similae huic Beli idolo quotidie impendebatur. Triplex fuit artaba, scilicet Persica, capiens medimnum, et tres choenices; Medica, capiens medimnum; Aegyptia, capiens quinque modios. Ita Pererius. AMPHORAE. — Amphora continebat 48 sextarios, sive scyphos majores, quorum quisque continebat viginti uncias aquae aut vini, uti dixi in appendice Pentateuchi. 12. CONTEMNEBANT. — Corrige confidebant: graece enim est κατεφρόνουν, id est despiciebant, scilicet periculum suae fraudis et mortis.
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13. ET CRIBRAVIT, — id est cribrando sparsit per totum templum, ne, si lapilli cineri immixti spargerentur, in eos pedibus impingentes venturi noctu sacerdotes fraudem persentiscerent, cineremque everterent. Cribrando ergo fecit ut solus purus tenuisque cinis per cribrum dilaberetur in pavimentum, quem sentire pedibus non poterant. Hinc Septuaginta vertunt, κατέσαρον, id est straverunt cinere pavimentum. Ita Complutensia. Obscure ergo legit editio Caraffae, decusserunt templum, q. d. Ex cribro cribrando decusserunt pulverem per totum templum, ita ut cribrum solum pulverem transmitteret; carbones vero, lapillos, et alia crassiora retineret, quod Plinius, lib. XVIII, cap. XI, et Columella lib. V, cap. VI, vocant, cribro incernere, vel succernere, hoc est cribrare. Itaque in hoc cinere nescientes vestigia pedum noctu impresserunt sacerdotes, ex iisque deprehensi sunt, quod scilicet ipsi comederent escas idolo oblatas, non Bel: ideoque rex eos occidit, et idolum Beli per Danielem evertit.
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22. ERAT DRACO. — Ita Romani in peste Romam advexerunt et coluerunt serpentem Epidaurium, quasi urbis Aesculapium, de quo vide Valerium Maximum, lib. I, cap. VIII. Notat S. Augustinus, lib. XI De Genes. ad litt. XXVIII, diabolum uti solere forma serpentum ad decipiendos homines, permittente Deo, «ad primi facti memoriam commendandam, quod sit ei quaedam cum hoc genere familiaritas,» quia scilicet in serpente decepit Adamum et Evam, ibique vidit hanc fraudem sibi bene succedere. Hinc Pherecydes Syrus dixit daemones e coelo a Jove fuisse deturbatos, quorum princeps dictus sit Ophioneus, id est serpentinus. Adde quod draco natura est cum monstrosa et horribili, tum forti et robusta, tum pervigili et acerrima oculorum acie (unde draco dicitur ἀπὸ τοῦ δέρκειν, a videndo); quare quid divinum prae se fert. Ea de causa a priscis draconi assignata est custodia aedium, adytorum, oraculorum, thesaurorum, heroum infantiae, uti de Hercule; imo et de Nerone fabulati sunt Poetae. Hinc etiam draco priscis fuit symbolum prudentiae, sapientiae, imo et vaticinii, uti docet Carolus Paschalius, lib. IX De Coronis, cap. XV, sub finem. Quocirca ab Ovidio, lib. IX Metamorph., draco vocatur «insomnis,» et lib. VII, «insopitus:» et a Valerio lib. II Argonaut. «vigil:» talis enim erat ille Colchicus custodiens vellus aureum, quod tamen rapuerunt Argonautae. Hinc et Cicero Philip. XIII: «An, inquit, is non reddet, qui domini patrocinium circumplexus, quasi thesaurum draco?» Denique dracones aliqui immanes sunt, adeo ut boves glutire soleant, unde et boas vocant; qualis fuit ille qui armenta et pastores tractos ad se vi spiritus absorbebat, quem pyram conscendere jubens exussit S. Hilarion, teste S. Hieronymo, in ejus Vita.
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Maximus Tyrius, et ex eo Pierius, hierogl. 16, tradunt, tempore Alexandri, draconem fuisse quinque jugerum magnitudine. Hinc et draco in somnis visus matri portendit Alexandro Magno, uti et Scipioni, Augusto, Aureliano, Severo, aliisque, imperium amplum et illustre: uti refert Pierius, hierogl. 15. Rursum Plinius asserit, apud Indos et Aethiopes esse dracones viginti cubitorum. Audi eum, lib. VIII, cap. XI: «Elephantes fert Africa, etc., sed maximos India, bellantesque cum iis perpetua discordia dracones tantae magnitudinis, ut et ipsos circumflexu facili ambiant, nexuque nodi perstringant. Commoritur ea dimicatio; victusque corruens, complexum elidit pondere.» Causam pugnae subdit cap. XII: «Elephantis frigidissimum esse sanguinem, ob id aestu torrente praecipue a draconibus expeti. Quamobrem in amnem mersos insidiari bibentibus, arctatisque illigata manu in aurem morsum defigere.» Non mirum ergo, si Gentiles et Babylonii, prae caeteris animalibus draconi inesse Numen putarint. Magis mira sunt quae de draconibus scribit Plinius, lib. XXIX, cap. IV, scilicet: «Draco non habet venena. Caput ejus limini januarum subditum, propitiatis adoratione diis, fortunatam domum facere promittunt. Oculis ejus inveteratis, et cum melle tritis inunctis, non pavescere ad nocturnas imagines etiam pavidos. Cordis pingue in pelle dorcadum nervis cervinis adalligatum in lacerto, conferre judiciorum victoriae. Primum spondylum aditus potestatum mulcere. Dentes ejus illigatos pellibus caprearum cervinis nervis, mites praestare dominos, potestatesque exorabiles.» Verum haec fabulosa videntur, aut magica potius quam physica. Unde mox subdit Plinius: «Sed super omnia est compositio, qua invictos faciunt magorum mendacia,» etc. Hisce de causis diabolus in specie draconis vel serpentis apparere, pingi et coli voluit. Scribit Dio in Adriano, eumdem Imperatorem in templo Jovis Olympii, quod Athenis sumptuosissime erexerat, posuisse pro numine draconem ex India deportatum. Alexandrum impostorem, discipulum Apollonii Tyanaei, serpentem palam adorandum exposuisse, eumque oracula dare finxisse; ideoque ad novum hoc oraculum vocale confluxisse Iones, Galatas, Cilices, quin et Romanos, uti Rutilianum qui praeerat Romano exercitui, narrat Lucianus in Pseudomante. Draco pingitur ad pedes S. Sylvestri, quia ipse, converso Constantino, daemoni, quasi draconi, cultum in idolis ademit, eumque Christi cruce debellavit et calcavit. Quin et in actis S. Sylvestri mira narrantur, de dracone immani ab eo constricto et concluso, cujus memoria exstat Romae ad radices Capitolii, in templo quod vocatur, S. Maria, libera nos de poenis inferni, de quo multa Baronius, tom. III, anno Christi 324, pag. 238. Nec tantum ab ethnicis, sed et ab haereticis voluit daemon coli draconis vel serpentis specie. Ophitae inde nomen acceperunt, quod serpentem alerent et colerent quasi Christum, qui eorum Eucharistiam lambebat, itaque sanctificabat, uti refert Epiphanius, haeres. 37, Theodoretus, lib. I Haeret. Fabul., S. Augustinus, De Haeres., ubi et addit, Ophitas dixisse Christum illum fuisse serpentem, qui decepit Evam. Porro S. Scriptura diabolum vocat et pingit quasi draconem, ob malitiam ejus et saevitiam, Apocal. XII, 3, 9, 13; Isaiae XXVII, 1; Job XL, 20; Psalm. XC, 13; Psal. CIII, 26. Ita refert S. Gregorius, hom. 19 in Evang., in suo monasterio daemonem in forma draconis apparuisse juveni cuidam saeculari morienti qui licentius vixerat, sed precibus monachorum fugatum abiisse. Et lib. IV Dialog. cap. XXXVII, idem recensens, ait juvenem vocatum fuisse Theodorum, qui hac visione totus fuerit ad Deum conversus; eumque post longae aegritudinis purgationem et poenitentiam, hac vita esse defunctum. Denique ob causas jam dictas prisci censebant serpentes esse naturae immortalis et divinae, ait Philo Biblius. Hinc Taautus, Aegyptiorum deus, ait: Hoc «spiritalissimum est omnium animal; et maxime igneum, longaevum praeterea, et senectam cum pelle deponens revirescit, et vix naturali nece conficitur.» Hinc et Lampridius de Heliogabalo ita scribit: «Aegyptios dracunculos Romae habuit, quos illi Agathodaemonas appellant.» Phoenices quoque «serpentem felicem» appellabant, ait Eusebius, lib. I Praep. Evang. VII. Quin et serpentibus tantum cultus tribuit gentilitas, ut draconia templa nominaret, teste Strabone, lib. XIV, quod prima circa serpentes exstiterint idololatriae semina, et quod diabolus hanc speciem haberet in deliciis. Unde Horus Apollo, hierogl. 1: «Aegyptii, inquit, basiliscum ex auro conflatum diis circumponunt.» 23. ECCE NUNC NON POTES DICERE. — Graeca habent: Numquid et hunc dices esse aeneum? vivit ecce et bibit.
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26. DIRUPTUS EST DRACO. — Non quod pix aut pili venenati sint, vimque naturalem dirumpendi habeant; sed quod boli ex ea massa dati haeserint firmiter angustissimae gutturis et ventris viae, eaque penitus obturata, nulloque exitu dato, neque devoratis, neque flatui, diruptus sit draco.
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Pix enim et adeps cum sint glutinosa et emplastica, obturant viam cibi, implicata vero pilis multo tenacius haerent: sic ergo, impedito anhelitu et aspiratione, cibo hoc oppletus draco, crepuit. Ita Valesius lib. De Sacra Philos., cap. LXXXI. Scribit enim Solinus, cap. XLIII, veris draconibus ora esse parva, et ad morsus non dehiscentia, sed arctas fistulas per quas trahunt spiritum et linguam exerunt: facile ergo hac massa picea illae a Daniele oppleri potuerunt, itaque suffocari et crepare draco. Simili modo eversum et combustum est Mamaeum, id est celebre illud Mamae delubrum et idolium anno Domini 401, sub Arcadio imperatore a S. Porphyrio Gazae episcopo jussu Dei, qui per os pueri Syri septennis Graeca lingua, quam nunquam didicerat, loquentis edixit: «Urite templum quod est intus usque ad solum; multa enim gravia in eo facta sunt et maxime hominum sacrificia. Hoc autem modo id adurite: Afferte picem humidam, et sulfur, et sevum suillum, miscete haec tria, et ungite portas aeneas, et ignem eis immittite, et sic templum comburetur: alias enim non potest fieri; et postquam fuerit combustum, expurgato loco statuite illic sanctam ecclesiam. Testificor enim coram Deo, non posse aliter fieri: non enim sum ego qui loquor, sed qui est in me Christus.» Cui Christi edicto obsequens S. Porphyrius, delubrum famosissimum combussit. Ita ex Actis S. Porphyrii, quae conscripsit Marcus Diaconus Gazensis, narrat Baronius anno Christi 401. Allegorice S. Chrysostomus, homil. 38 in I Corinth.: Sicuti, inquit, cibo hoc Danielis gustato, crepuit draco; ita, corpore Christi sorpto, tartarus est diffissus, corpore hoc ventrem ejus rumpente, indeque remeante gloriose cum tot Sanctorum millibus. ECCE QUEM COLEBATIS. — ἴδε τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν: Ecce numina vestra, puta Bel et draco quae colebatis, quam infirma, quam fallacia sunt! 30. MISERUNT EUM IN LACUM LEONUM. — Hinc patet Danielem bis missum fuisse in lacum leonum, scilicet, primo, sub Evilmerodach per sex dies, hic; secundo, sub Dario Medo per unam noctem, eo quod contra ejus praeceptum Deum suum invocasset, uti dictum est cap. VI, 16. Licet nonnulli
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olim, teste S. Hieronymo praefatione in Danielem, putarint alium esse Danielem qui Susannam liberavit, et Bel destruxit, ab eo de quo primis duodecim capitibus actum est: hic enim fuit de tribu Juda, ut patet cap. I, 3; ille vero Belis destructor videtur fuisse de tribu Levi. Hoc enim indicant Septuaginta in quorum versione olim initio capitis XIV, ita legebatur: Vir quidam erat sacerdos nomine Daniel filius Abdae, conviva regis, uti testis est S. Hieronymus praefatione in Danielem. Verum ad hoc respondet primo, Dionysius Carthusianus ex Isidoro, Danielem fuisse ortum ex Levi quoad genus paternum, ex Juda quoad maternum. Secundo, et melius respondet Pererius, corruptam fuisse illam editionem graecam: nam jam id in ea non invenitur. Unde Ecclesia unum tantum agnoscit Danielem, eumque ex semine regum Juda prognatum. Vere Cyprianus, serm. De Lapsis: «Quid gloriosius Daniele? Quid illo ad ficienda martyria in fidei firmitate robustius? in Dei dignatione felicius? qui toties et cum confligeret vicit, et cum vinceret supervixit.» Et Ambrosius, lib. I Offic. cap. XXXV: «Quam, ait, insuperabilis Daniel, qui circa latera sua rugientes non expavit leones! Fremebant bestiae, et ille epulabatur.» Et S. Basilius, hom. De laudibus jejunii: «Daniel, ait, vir desideriorum, cum tres hebdomadas non edisset, nec vinum bibisset, demissus in lacum, etiam leones jejunare docuit. Neque enim leones dentes in illum impingere voluerunt, perinde quasi e lapide aut ferro concretus fuisset. Adeo sicut tinctura ferrum indurescit, ita jejunium viri corpus duraverat, ac leonibus insuperabile reddiderat.» Rursum in Daniele verum fuit illud S. Augustini, Sentent. 249: «Nulla infelicitas frangit, quem nulla felicitas corrumpit.» 31. DUO CORPORA ET DUAE OVES, — duo integra corpora duarum ovium. Est hendyadis; vel et ponitur pro id est. Secundo, simplicius et planius: «duo corpora,» puta vel animalium occisorum vel hominum ad mortem damnatorum, aut alias interemptorum: «et duae oves,» vivae. Praedam enim vivam pro esca ambit leo, ut eam unguibus suis discerpat. Nam duae oves quotidie ad escam non suffecissent septem leonibus, ita feris et voracibus. Praeter binas oves ergo data sunt eis alia duo corpora, vel cadavera. Unde Syrus vertit: Duo corpora in die (quotidie) et duo arietes; et Arabicus Antiochenus: Et erat cibus eorum singulis diebus tauri duo e bobus, et de ovibus, duo arietes. Sic et Arabicus Alexandrinus.
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32. ERAT AUTEM HABACUC PROPHETA IN JUDAEA. — Nota: Licet tempore excidii Hierosolymae per Chaldaeos, multi Judaei abducti fuerint in Babylonem, alii fugerint in Aegyptum, vel in alias regiones; tamen nonnullos remansisse, vel rediisse in Judaeam, inter quos fuit hic Habacuc.
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Quaeres: Fuitne hic idem cum Habacuc uno e duodecim minoribus Prophetis? Affirmare videntur S. Hieronymus, praefatione in Habacuc, Epiphanius et Dorotheus in Synopsi, Pererius et Pintus hic. Verum Torniellus et alii id negant, idque verius videtur. Nam noster hic Habacuc illo fuit posterior. Ille enim fuit ante captivitatem Babylonicam; nam eam praedixit: hic vero post eam vixit sub Evilmerodach, nisi dicas eum ad multam aetatem vixisse. Si enim eum ponas hoc tempore fuisse 75 vel 80 annorum; potuit esse unus idemque, unde tam hic quam ille vocatur Propheta. Hunc Habacuc historiam hanc scripsisse nonnulli autumant, eo quod olim Belis historia juxta Septuaginta hoc titulo praenotaretur: Prophetia Habacuc filii Jesu de tribu Levi, uti testatur S. Hieronymus, prolog. in Danielem. Historiam Habacuc ita narrant Epiphanius et Dorotheus in Vita Danielis: «Cum Nabuchodonosor postremo venit Jerusalem cum exercitu oppugnaturus, Habacuc fugit in terram Ismaelitarum; postea vero reversus est in terram suam. Et cum aliquando messoribus suis pulmentum praeparasset, apud suos prophetavit, dicens: Proficiscor in terram longinquam, ac cito revertar; si autem tardavero, ferte messoribus escam. Cum autem Babylone fuisset, et prandium dedisset Danieli, astitit messoribus vescentibus, nec quidquam dixit eorum quae ipsi contigerant. Sciebat autem brevi reversurum populum Babylone: et biennio priusquam populus reverteretur, mortuus est, ac sepultus in agro suo.» Horum fides sit penes auctores. PULMENTUM, — pultes. IN ALVEOLO, — in cacabo similive cavo vasculo. Arabicus vocat pilam, id est vas concavum ex ligno. 33. DIXITQUE ANGELUS DOMINI AD HABACUC: FER PRANDIUM QUOD HABES, IN BABYLONEM DANIELI. —
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35. Et apprehendit eum angelus, etc., posuitque EUM IN BABYLONE. — Angelus subito, et quasi in ictu oculi potuit transferre Habacuc ex Judaea in Babylonem, et eadem celeritate reducere: quia angelus qui movet solem, facit ut sol qualibet hora tantum spatii conficiat, quantum quis conficeret si una hora quinquagies totum terrae globum circumcurreret. Angelus vero, movens firmamentum, facit ut quaevis stella in aequinoctiali una hora conficiat 42 milliones milliarium, et amplius: hoc est, tantumdem ac si globum terrae circumvolaret bis millies, atque amplius. Vide dicta Genes. I, 14.
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36. TOLLE PRANDIUM QUOD MISIT TIBI DEUS. — Vere S. Cyprianus, tract. De Oratione Dominica: «Cum Dei, ait, sint omnia, habenti Deum nihil deerit, si Deo ipse non desit. Sic Danieli in leonum lacu jussu regis incluso prandium divinitus procuratur, et inter feras esurientes et parcentes homo Dei pascitur.» «Quid ergo, inquit idem tractat. De Opere et Eleemos., metuis ne operanti tibi et Dominum promerenti desit alimentum?»
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rasti. Graeca addunt: Et non est alius praeter te. 37. RECORDATUS ES MEI, DEUS. — Ita Graeca et Romana; male ergo Plantina legunt: Recordatus est enim mei Deus.
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DILIGENTES TE, ἐκζητοῦντάς σε, quaerentes te. 40. MAGNUS ES, DOMINE DEUS DANIELIS, — quem Daniel colit, quique Danielem a leonibus liberasti.
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41. PORRO MALOS. — Talionem eis irrogat, uti fecit et Darius, cap. VI, 24; lex enim talionis justitiae et aequitati naturali maxime est consentanea. Unde eam non soli Judaei, sed et Babylonii, Persae aliique Gentiles usurparunt.
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Prophetas docentes et tonantes audivimus; eos vestigando et explicando pari passu secuti sumus. Ad metam, Deo duce, pervenimus; Isaiam consolantem et exsultantem, Jeremiam querentem et gementem, Ezechielem terrentem et minitantem, Danielem sua symbola et monarchiarum ac regnorum aenigmata proponentem spectavimus, excussimus (quantum Dominus dedit), intelleximus, exposuimus. Patientiam Prophetarum cognovimus, finem Domini vidimus. Prophetias ipsi suas proprio sanguine obsignarunt, et martyres evaserunt. Propheta enim et in vita et in morte martyr, id est testis, imo praeco veritatis usque ad martyrium sit oportet. Hoc est quod asserit princeps Prophetarum Christus Dominus: «Non capit Prophetam perire extra Jerusalem,» Luc. XIII, 33; et: «Vae vobis, Scribae etc., qui aedificatis sepulcra Prophetarum, etc., et dicitis: Si fuissemus in diebus patrum nostrorum, non essemus socii eorum in sanguine Prophetarum, etc., et vos implete mensuram patrum vestrorum,» me scilicet Christum occidite. «Ideo ecce ego mitto ad vos Prophetas, et sapientes, et scribas, et ex illis occidetis, et crucifigetis, etc. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, quae occidis Prophetas, et lapidas eos qui ad te missi sunt,» Matth. XXIII, 29. Idem est ergo Propheta quod Martyr.
14:1
CIRO IL GRANDE (ISCRIZIONI CUNEIFORMI KURUŠ; EBR. KÔREŠ)
… Iud., XI, 1, 1-2). Il profeta Daniele, che era già alla corte di Babilonia al momento dell'occupazione, godette anche il favore di C. (Dan. 1, 21; 6, 28; 10, 1; 14, 1 sgg.); nel suo libro egli descrive più volte, simbolicamente, l'impero persiano: 2, 32.39 (petto e braccia d'argento); 7, 5, 17 (orso con un lato più alto e tre costole in bocca); 8, 3.4.20 …
14:6
… che sparse sull'acqua e ne die' a bere ai figli d'Israele» (ibid. 32, 20). Ciò indica che la qualifica «d'oro» è da intendere nel senso che l'espressione ha in altri casi: di legno con rivestimento metallico (Is. 40, 19, 20; 44, 10-17; cf. Dan. 2, 33; 14, 6).
14:22
ARCHEOLOGIA. - Il draco magnus venerato dai Babilonesi fu fatto scoppiare da Daniele mediante una focaccia (Dan. 14, 22-26). La scena, sconosciuta nella pittura cimiteriale, viene invece rappresentata più volte in sarcofagi cristiani di Roma, d'Italia, delle Gallie e d'Africa. …
14:32
ABACUC (EBR. HÂBAQQÛQ; SETTANTA: ἈΜΒΑΚΟΎΜ CONFONDENDOLO COL PERSONAGGIO DI DAN. 14, 32)
corali del cap. 3 sono probabilmente aggiunte tardive; leggendaria la sua identificazione con l'omonimo di Dan. 14, 32-38, che si deve assegnare ad epoca diversa.
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.