Daniel8
King James Version · Public Domain
1In 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.
2And 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.
3Then 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.
4I 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.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And 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.
8Therefore 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.
9And 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.
10And 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.
11Yea, 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.
12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
13Then 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?
14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
15And 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.
16And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17So 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.
18Now 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.
19And 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.
20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
23And 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.
24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25And 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.
26And 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.
27And 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Daniel's vision of the ram and the he-goat. (1-14). The interpretation of it. (15-27).
vv1-14
God gives Daniel a foresight of the destruction of other kingdoms, which in their day were as powerful as that of Babylon. Could we foresee the changes that shall be when we are gone, we should be less affected with changes in our own day. The ram with two horns was the second empire, that of Media and Persia. He saw this ram overcome by a he-goat. This was Alexander the Great. Alexander, when about thirty-three years of age, and in his full strength, died, and showed the vanity of worldly pomp and power, and that they cannot make a man happy. While men dispute, as in the case of Alexander, respecting the death of some prosperous warrior, it is plain that the great First Cause of all had no more of his plan for him to execute, and therefore cut him off. Instead of that one great horn, there came up four notable ones, Alexander's four chief captains. A little horn became a great persecutor of the church and people of God. It seems that the Mohammedan delusion is here pointed out. It prospered, and at one time nearly destroyed the holy religion God's right hand had planted. It is just with God to deprive those of the privileges of his house who despise and profane them; and to make those know the worth of ordinances by the want of them, who would not know it by the enjoyment of them. Daniel heard the time of this calamity limited and determined; but not the time when it should come. If we would know the mind of God, we must apply to Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; not hid from us, but hid for us. There is much difficulty as to the precise time here stated, but the end of it cannot be very distant. God will, for his own glory, see to the cleansing of the church in due time. Christ died to cleanse his church; and he will so cleanse it as to present it blameless to himself.
vv15-27
The eternal Son of God stood before the prophet in the appearance of a man, and directed the angel Gabriel to explain the vision. Daniel's fainting and astonishment at the prospect of evils he saw coming on his people and the church, confirm the opinion that long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision being ended, a charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for the present. He kept it to himself, and went on to do the duty of his place. As long as we live in this world we must have something to do in it; and even those whom God has most honoured, must not think themselves above their business. Nor must the pleasure of communion with God take us from the duties of our callings, but we must in them abide with God. All who are intrusted with public business must discharge their trust uprightly; and, amidst all doubts and discouragements, they may, if true believers, look forward to a happy issue. Thus should we endeavour to compose our minds for attending to the duties to which each is appointed, in the church and in the world.
Key Words
שָׁלוֹשׁ: three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר: Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king
חָזוֹן: a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֲנִי: I
דָנִיֵּאל: Daniel or Danijel, the name of two Israelites
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
Cross References
Daniel 8Direct angelic interpretation: the two-horned ram explicitly represents the kings of Media and Persia.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The angelic interpreter explicitly identifies the rough he-goat as the king/kingdom of Grecia.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Angelic explanation of the four horns that stand up in place of the broken great horn.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Medo-Persian ram with one horn higher than the other parallel to the lopsided bear.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The description of a mighty king doing according to his will parallels the he-goat's conquests.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The swift Grecian he-goat matches the four-winged leopard of the previous vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Distinguishes the 'little horn' arising from Greece here from the Roman 'little horn' in chapter 7.
Supported by JFB
Further detail on the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up the desolation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Subsequent reference to the taking away of the daily sacrifice and the abomination of desolation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Messianic prophecy relating to the temporary cessation of sacrifice and the overspreading of abominations.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Self-referential question concerning the duration of the sanctuary's desecration and daily sacrifice removal.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the angel Gabriel who is commanded here to make Daniel understand the vision.
Supported by JFB
Gabriel's subsequent appearance to Daniel to provide skill and understanding concerning prophecies.
Supported by JFB
Ezekiel's visionary location by a river parallels Daniel's vision by the river Ulai.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mentions Shushan (Susa) the palace, the historical setting of Daniel's vision.
Supported by JFB
The original law establishing the continuous 'daily sacrifice' that the little horn takes away.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that the vision is appointed for an end-time fulfillment and will speak.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels Daniel falling into a deep sleep on his face upon hearing the voice.
Supported by JFB
The use of the title 'son of man' addressed to the prophet during heavenly encounters.
Supported by JFB
The stone cut out 'without hands' parallels the king being broken 'without hand.'
Supported by JFB