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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Daniel in the Den of Lions. (b. c. 537.)
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS. (B. C. 537.) Here is 1. Proof made of Daniel's praying to his God, notwithstanding the late edict to the contrary (Daniel 6:11): These men assembled, then came tumultuously together, so the w…
Daniel's Preservation and Deliverance. (b. c. 537.)
DANIEL'S PRESERVATION AND DELIVERANCE. (B. C. 537.) Here is, I. The melancholy night which the king had, upon Daniel's account, Daniel 6:18. He had said, indeed, that God would deliver him out of the danger, but at the…
The Decree of Darius. (b. c. 537.)
THE DECREE OF DARIUS. (B. C. 537.) Darius here studies to make some amends for the dishonour he had done both to God and Daniel, in casting Daniel into the lions' den, by doing honour to both. I. He gives honour to God…
The Vision of the Four Beasts. (b. c. 555.)
THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS. (B. C. 555.) The date of this chapter places it before Daniel 5:1-31, which was in the last year of Belshazzar, and Daniel 6:1-28, which was in the first of Darius; for Daniel had those vi…
The Vision of the Four Beasts. (b. c. 555.)
THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS. (B. C. 555.) Whether we understand the fourth beast to signify the Syrian empire, or the Roman, or the former as the figure of the latter, it is plain that these verses are intended for th…
The Vision of the Four Beasts. (b. c. 555.)
THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS. (B. C. 555.) Here we have, I. The deep impressions which these visions made upon the prophet. God in them put honour upon him, and gave him satisfaction, yet not without a great allay of p…
The Vision of the Ram and Goat. (b. c. 553.)
THE VISION OF THE RAM AND GOAT. (B. C. 553.) Here is, I. The date of this vision, Daniel 8:1. It was in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, which proved to be his last year, as many reckon; so that this chapter a…
The Vision of the Ram and Goat. (b. c. 553.)
THE VISION OF THE RAM AND GOAT. (B. C. 553.) Here we have, I. Daniel's earnest desire to have this vision explained to him (Daniel 8:15): I sought the meaning. Note, Those that rightly know the things of God cannot but…
Daniel's Confession and Prayer. (b. c. 538.)
DANIEL'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER. (B. C. 538.) We left Daniel, in the close of the foregoing chapter, employed in the king's business; but here we have him employed in better business than any king had for him, speaking t…
Daniel's Confession and Prayer; Daniel's Prayer for His People. (b. c. 538.)
DANIEL'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER; DANIEL'S PRAYER FOR HIS PEOPLE. (B. C. 538.) We have here Daniel's prayer to God as his God, and the confession which he joined with that prayer: I prayed, and made my confession. Note, I…
Daniel's Prayer Answered; The Answer to Daniel's Prayer; The Coming of the Messiah; Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold. (b. c. 538.)
DANIEL'S PRAYER ANSWERED; THE ANSWER TO DANIEL'S PRAYER; THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH; DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM FORETOLD. (B. C. 538.) We have here the answer that was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it is a very…
Vision near the River Hiddekel. (b. c. 534.)
VISION NEAR THE RIVER HIDDEKEL. (B. C. 534.) This vision is dated in the third year of Cyrus, that is, of his reign after the conquest of Babylon, his third year since Daniel became acquainted with him and a subject to…
Daniel Alarmed and Comforted. (b. c. 534.)
DANIEL ALARMED AND COMFORTED. (B. C. 534.) Much ado here is to bring Daniel to be able to bear what Christ has to say to him. Still we have him in a fright, hardly and very slowly recovering himself; but he is still ans…
Ruin of the Persian Monarchy. (b. c. 534.)
RUIN OF THE PERSIAN MONARCHY. (B. C. 534.) Here, 1. The angel Gabriel lets Daniel know the good service he has done to the Jewish nation (Daniel 11:1): "In the first year of Darius the Mede, who destroyed Babylon and re…
The Affairs of Egypt and Syria; The Reign of Antiochus Magnus; The Fall of Antiochus Magnus. (b. c. 534.)
THE AFFAIRS OF EGYPT AND SYRIA; THE REIGN OF ANTIOCHUS MAGNUS; THE FALL OF ANTIOCHUS MAGNUS. (B. C. 534.) Here are foretold, I. The rise and power of two great kingdoms out of the remains of Alexander's conquests, Danie…
The Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes; Cruelty and Impiety of Antiochus; The Death of Antiochus. (b. c. 534.)
THE REIGN OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES; CRUELTY AND IMPIETY OF ANTIOCHUS; THE DEATH OF ANTIOCHUS. (B. C. 534.) All this is a prophecy of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn spoken of before (Daniel 8:9) a sworn…
The Promised Appearance of Michael; The Prophecy Sealed Up. (b. c. 534.)
THE PROMISED APPEARANCE OF MICHAEL; THE PROPHECY SEALED UP. (B. C. 534.) It is usual with the prophets, when they foretel the grievances of the church, to furnish it at the same time with proper antidotes, a remedy for…
Daniel's Solicitude to Know the Times; Period of Prophecy; Daniel Comforted. (b. c. 534.)
DANIEL'S SOLICITUDE TO KNOW THE TIMES; PERIOD OF PROPHECY; DANIEL COMFORTED. (B. C. 534.) Daniel had been made to foresee the amazing revolutions of states and kingdoms, as far as the Israel of God was concerned in them…
The Time of Hosea's Prophecy. (b. c. 768.)
THE TIME OF HOSEA'S PROPHECY. (B. C. 768.) 1. Here is the prophet's name and surname; which he himself, as other prophets, prefixes to his prophecy, for the satisfaction of all that he is ready to attest what he writes…
The Prophet's Marriage; Threatenings against Israel; Intimation of Mercy to Judah. (b. c. 768.)
THE PROPHET'S MARRIAGE; THREATENINGS AGAINST ISRAEL; INTIMATION OF MERCY TO JUDAH. (B. C. 768.) These words, The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea, may refer either, 1. To that glorious set of prophets which wa…
Temporary Rejection of Israel; Promises of Mercy. (b. c. 768.)
TEMPORARY REJECTION OF ISRAEL; PROMISES OF MERCY. (B. C. 768.) We have here a prediction, I. Of the rejection of Israel for a time, which is signified by the name of another child that Hosea had by his adulterous spouse…
The Sinfulness of Israel. (b. c. 764.)
THE SINFULNESS OF ISRAEL. (B. C. 764.) The first words of this chapter some make the close of the foregoing chapter, and add them to the promises which we have here of the great things God would do for them. When they s…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 764.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 764.) God here goes on to threaten what he would do with this treacherous idolatrous people; and he warns that he may not wound, he threatens that he may not strike. If he turn not, he w…
Promises of Mercy. (b. c. 764.)
PROMISES OF MERCY. (B. C. 764.) The state of Israel ruined by their own sin did not look so black and dismal in the former part of the chapter, but that the state of Israel, restrained by the divine grace, looks as brig…