Daniel 11:38
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces,.... Or god Mahuzzim {q}; departed saints and their images, whom the Papists make their protectors, defenders, and guardians: the word signifies towers, strong holds, fortresses; and by these titles the martyrs, saints departed, are called by the ancient fathers, who first introduced the worship of them: So Basil {r}, speaking of the forty martyrs, says,
"these are they, who obtaining our country, like certain towers, afford us a refuge against the incursion of enemies:''
and a little after thus addresses them,
"O ye common keepers of mankind, the best companions of our cares, the suffragans of our prayers and wishes, "most powerful" ambassadors with God, &c.:''
and elsewhere {s} he prays,
"that God would keep the church unmoved, and fortified with the great towers of the martyrs;''
so Chrysostom {t} calls them patrons and protectors. Or, "with God he shall honour" {u}; these along with him, or besides him; these shall be the objects of religious worship and honour, as they are: and that "in his estate"; or in his room and stead, that is, of the true God, our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man; and yet angels and departed saints are set up as mediators in his stead:
and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour; the host, the wafer, the breaden god, made a god by the words of a muttering priest; this is such a god as the apostles, and Peter particularly, from whom the popes of Rome pretend to, derive their succession, never knew, nor once dreamed of; and yet this is received as a god, bowed unto, and worshipped, and honoured:
with gold, silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things; with rich and costly ornaments, with which the pyxis or box, in which it is carried in procession, is adorned.
{q} Myzem hwhlalw "deum Mahuzim", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.
{r} Homil. in 40. Martyr. p. 151.
{s} Homil. de Martyr. Mamant. p. 167.
{t} Sermo in Berenice, Homil. l. in 1 Thess. See Mede's Works, B. 3. p. 673, 674.
{u} "Ad, vel juxta deum Mahuzzimos in sede ejus honorabit", Medus, p. 667, 671.