And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Ver. 19. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these?] Though the vision be dark and mysterious, yet the prophet despaireth not of a right understanding, neither doth he waywardly reject it with a Quod non vult intelligi, vult negligi; but wanting wisdom, he asketh it of God, as St James also adviseth us to do, James 1:5, and as David practised: "Teach me good judgment and knowledge," saith he, "give me understanding and I shall observe thy law." Thus Daniel prayed, and had an angel sent to inform him not once, but often, in friendly and familiar manner, Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:11; Daniel 11:2,3. So had Joseph, Cornelius, Paul, &c. And although angels are not so ready now, or appear not, at least, so visibly to tell us the mind of God; yet he will not be wanting to his willing servants; but in the use of means they shall be all taught of God; as David was by repairing to the sanctuary, Psalms 73:13, and as the eunuch was by Philip, Acts 8:26,30 .
These are the horns which have scattered] Heb. tossed them up in the air, as furious beasts do with their horns, and sorely bruised them. Nam non modo dispersionem significat quae sit per modum ventilationis, sed etiam quae sit per modum allisionis et contritionis (Lud. de Dieu in Mat 22:44). See Hosea 10:14; Hosea 13:16 .