A Watcher

Dissertation 14.

This is the correct rendering of the word עיר, gnir,but it has been conjectured that its meaning is the same as ציר, tzir,being the Chaldee word for “a messenger.” Jeromeingeniously conjectures it to be the same as the Greek word Iris,the messenger of heaven. In , the Hebrew is איר, air,where Origen reads Irinaccording to Archbishop Seeker. Willetreplies to the question “why the angels are called watchmen,” and quotes Calvin’sreason with approbation. Rosenmullerapproves of Jerome’sconjecture, and adduces Hom. Odys., lib. 18:5, in confirmation of it. He takes “the watcher and holy one” as a hendia-dys,reminding us that in , angels are called “holy ones” by the figure autonomasia.The Scholia of the Alexandrine Codex interpret the word eir,as equivalent to angel, and Isidorus Pelusiota,according to Rosenmuller,(,lib. 2,) considers the word to refer to the chief of angels. The Syrians in their hymns join watchers with angels as rejoicing over converted sinners, according to the learned editors of the Chisian Codex, page 127, edit. Rom. See also Critica Sacra,volume 7, edit. Frcof. The view of Oecolampadius is similar to those already expressed, but he takes the word “watcher” in the sense of an exciter or herald of divine punishment. R. Saadiassupposes a terrible destroyer to be intended.

Commentary on Daniel - Volume 1