Daniel Chapter 8
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
2 I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns. 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, northward, and southward. No animals could stand before him. There wasn't any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground. The goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power.
7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled on him. There was no one who could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8 The male goat magnified himself exceedingly. When he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns towards the four winds of the sky.
9 Out of one of them came out a little horn, which grew exceedingly great, towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the glorious land.
10 It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and it cast down some of the army and of the stars to the ground, and trampled on them.
11 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience. It cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, "How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?"
14 He said to me, "To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed."
15 When I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. Then behold, there stood before me something like the appearance of a man.
16 I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."
17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end."
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face towards the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.
19 He said, "Behold, I will make you know what will be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end.
20 The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 The rough male goat is the king of Greece. The great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms will stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
23 "In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark sentences, will stand up.
24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy awesomely, and will prosper in what he does. He will destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
25 Through his policy he will cause deceit to prosper in his hand. He will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many in their security. He will also stand up against the prince of princes; but he will be broken without hand.
26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it belongs to many days to come."
27 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick for some days. Then I rose up, and did the king's business. I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.
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Daniel Chapter 8 Guide
Two years later, in the third year of king Belshazzar's reign, another vision came to Daniel. It was of a ram with two horns pushing westward, northward, and southward. As Daniel watched, a he goat attacked the ram, and overcame him, and magnified himself. Four horns appeared, out of one of which came another, which grew until it had broken down the sanctuary. A voice of a holy one inquired how long this would continue, and the answer was given to Daniel.
Again he pondered the vision, and sought to understand it, and an interpretation was given to him. The two- horned ram represented the united power of Media and Persia, the rough he goat was the king of Greece. Against him a fierce one would arise, succeeding through policy, but ultimately being broken without hand.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Daniel Chapter 8 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Daniel's vision of the ram and the he-goat. -- (1-14)
- The interpretation of it. -- (15-27)
Verses 1-14
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.
Verses 15-27
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.