There is no longer any question among schol ars that all the narratives and visions refer to conditions as they existed in Jerusalem in the days of Antiochus IV. A difference of opinion merely exists on the question whether the book is an organic unity or the work of several au thors pieced together. The trend of opinion is now in the direction of regarding the book as a unit, in view of the uniformity of style and the references in one part to matters referred to in another. In chapters i.-ii. 4 the author writes in Hebrew; beginning in ii. 4, since he introduces 'Chaldeans,' he continues in Aramaic, the current speech of Babylonia (though not the official lan guage) ; but in chapter viii., and thence to the end, he returns to Hebrew. The supposition that the Hebrew portions replace the lost origi nal Aramaic is without sufficient foundation. On the basis of the theory currently adopted, the interpretation of the figures and metaphors in the book is not difficult. Nebuchadnezzar. Bel shazzar, and Darius are disguises for Antiochus 1V. The four metals of which the image is com posed represent the Babylonian, Median, Persian. and Macedonian empires. and the four beasts are
to be similarly interpreted. The little horn is again Antioebus, while the ten horns represent the successors of Alexander the Great. The ram with two horns represents Medo-Persia and the he-goat the Greeks. The kingdoms in the last vision are the four Persian kings, Alexander, and his successors, the detached references being to leagues and conflict with Egypt during their rilgimes and to other occurrences. The tyranny of Antiochus IV., whose aim it was to replace Jewish rites by Greek forms of worship, led to the Maecabwan uprising which marks the tem porary triumph of Jewish patriotism. The struggle in Palestine represents from the broader historical point of view the natural conflict be tween Greek and Jewish ideas brought about through the meeting of Jew and Greek after the conquests of Alexander.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. See the commentaries ofBibliography. See the commentaries of Kamphausen, Bevan, Prince, Hitzig, Ewald (Prophets of the Old Testament), Bruston, Keil, and Meinhold. Of these the latest is that of Prince (New York, 1890). and one of the best that of Meinhold (Leipzig, 1SS9).