The Book of Daniel: Chapter 8

Chapter 8:1-2
{1} In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. {2} And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

The historical setting was in the third year of Belshazzar. This is the same king mentioned in Daniel chapter five. This indicates that the details of the book are not given in chronological order, since chapter five tells about the death of Belshazzar and here we find Belshazzar still reigning as king. In the book we notice some what of a grouping of visions. The visions that came to the pagan monarchs are found in the first half of the book and the visions that came to Daniel are found in the last half. Daniel was in the palace at Shushan, which was the capitol of the Babylonian empire. He was by the river Ulai. This river flowed by the city of Shushan.

Chapter 8:3-14
{3} Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. {4} I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. {5} And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. {6} And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. {7} And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. {8} Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. {9} And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. {10} And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. {11} Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. {12} And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. {13} Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? {14} And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

"A ram which had two horns." This speaks of the Medo-Persian empire. One horn was higher than the other. This refers to the greater power of the Persians. This was illustrated also in the figure of the bear raised up on one side. Compare Daniel 7:5. The highest horn came up last. Cyrus and the Persian monarchs followed Darius and the Median rulers. The ram pushed northward, westward, and southward. This would correspond to the three ribs seen in the bear’s mouth in Daniel 7:5. The Medo-Persian empire expanded greatly and no one could restrain them at first. "An he goat came from the west." This he goat represents the Grecian empire. The speed of the conquest by the Greeks is seen in the statement "And touched not the ground." "And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes." This refers to Alexander the great who is the first king to extend the Greek empire. Compare Daniel 8:21. The victory of the he goat over the ram represents the victory of the Greek empire over the Medo-Persian empire. "When he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones." This speaks of the death of Alexander the great and the division of his kingdom into four divisions. These were Greece, Egypt, Persia, and western Asia. This would refer to the ruler that took over these areas also. Out of one of these four horns a little horn came forth. It became great. He concentrated on conquering the south (Egypt), the east (western Asia), and the pleasant land (Palestine). "The host of heaven". This refers to the children of God in the land of Palestine. This can be seen from the fact that a man cannot attack God except through attacking his servants here upon earth. This undoubtedly refers to Antiochus Epiphanes and his desecration of the temple. He attacked the followers of Jehovah. He offered a pig upon the altar of the temple. The prince of the host, referred to here, might be the high priest or God. It is not clear from the context and either would seem to fit the context. "Unto two thousand and three hundred days." This has been interpreted in two different ways. Those, who try to establish this as three and one half years, say that the 2300 days should be 1150 days since it mentions evening and morning and this refers to the sacrifices. They feel that the evening and morning sacrifices were added together. The others say that it means 2300 days. This is supposed to refer to the period when the sacrifices were discontinued as seen in verse eleven. The word for days is literally "evening morning." History tells us that the temple was used for three and one half years for heather sacrifices. Those who feel that it means 2300 days apply it to the period of abominations by Antiochus in general. However, the number of days is given to Daniel in answer to the question about the daily sacrifice. This would seem to force one to the conclusion that it refers to the three and one half years when the temple was desecrated.

Chapter 8:15-26
{15} And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. {16} And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. {17} So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. {18} Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. {19} And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. {20} The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. {21} And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. {22} Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. {23} And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. {24} And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. {25} And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. {26} And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

The appearance of a man undoubtedly refers to Gabriel who appeared to Daniel. A voice spoke which seemed to come from the river itself. The voice told Gabariel to make Daniel to understand the vision. "I was in a deep sleep." Daniel was in a swoon. Notice in verse seventeen it states he was afraid and fell upon his face. Gabriel revived Daniel. "In the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be." This refers to the end of God’s indignation against Israel because of their sin. Notice Isaiah 13:5 where invading armies are called the weapons of God’s indignation. There was a partial fulfillment to the end of God’s indignation when Israel returned to Jerusalem in the time of Daniel; however, this refers to the last end of the indignation. The end of the indignation will come with the coming of Christ to set up His kingdom. The ram is identified as the Medo-Persian empire. The he goat is identified as the Grecian empire, "A king of fierce countenance." This refers to Antiochus Epiphanes; however, due to the resemblance of character between this man and the beast of Revelation 13 it is suggested that this individual is a type of the beast of Rev. 13. This does not mean that the individual mentioned in this portion is not a real person. It does not mean that all of the details given concerning Antiochus can be applied to the beast. There are certain resemblance’s, and the terminology of the prophecy is not fully met in the person of Antiochus.

Chapter 8:27
{27} And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Daniel fainted and was sick for some days after this vision. Daniel was astonished at the vision. When he told it to others, they did not understand it.

Introductory Comments

Bibliography