Книга пророка Даниила, Глава 7, стих 1. Толкования стиха

THE RECORD OF VISIONS PRESERVED FOR POSTERITY. JEROME: In the passages now before us, an account is given of various visions that were beheld on particular occasions and of which only the prophet was aware and which therefore lacked any importance as signs or revelations so far as the barbarian nations were concerned. But they were written down only so a record of the things beheld might be preserved for posterity. COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7.1.

DANIEL’S PROPHECY. THEODORET OF CYR: Up to these words the blessed Daniel has written his prophecy more in the style of a historian. First, remember at the beginning he related what happened to those captured in war, and he adds how God, the author of all, was greatly concerned about these matters. Then he tells how Nebuchadnezzar paid the penalty for his cruelty and arrogance and then how Belshazzar suffered for his disrespectful use of the sacred vessels. Once the latter had been killed by a divine blow and his empire handed over to the Medes, Daniel went on to write those things that happened to himself and to Darius and explained how it was that Darius favored him, what sorts of plots Daniel had to endure at the hands of the generals and satraps, and how he was delivered from their hands by divine aid. Having expounded these things in a historian’s fashion, now Daniel begins to expound those predictions that he had learned through revelations. First he sets forth the revelation of the four beasts, quite similar to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. However, Daniel sees the fourfold content manifested in only one image, while Nebuchadnezzar saw four beasts ascending from the one sea. But lest anyone think that we are forced to say the same things again, let us turn to interpret the individual elements of the prophecy, where this truth will be openly demonstrated. COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7.1.