[487] Except in the heading of chap. x.
[488] In the opinion of Lagarde and others this chapter—which is not noticed by Josephus, and which Meinhold thinks cannot have been written by the author of chap. ii., since it says nothing of the sufferings or deliverance of Israel—did not belong to the original form of the Book. Lagarde thinks that it was written a.d. 69, after the persecution of the Christians by Nero.
[489] St. Ephræm Syrus says, "The sea is the world." Isa. xvii. 12, xxvii. 1, xxxii. 2. But compare Dan. vii. 17; Ezek. xxix. 3; Rev. xiii. 1, xvii. 1-8, xxi. 1.
[490] In the vision of the colossus in ii. 41-43 stress is laid on the division of the fourth empire into stronger and weaker elements (iron and clay). That point is here passed over.
[491] A.V., "the thrones were cast down."
[492] In ii. 35, 44, the four empires are represented as finally destroyed.
[493] A.V. marg., "high ones"—i.e., things or places.
[494] Not kingdoms, as in viii. 8.
[495] Comp. Rev. xii. 14; Luke iv. 25; James v. 17.
[496] Isa. xxvii. 1, li. 9; Ezek. xxix. 3, xxxii. 2.