Daniel 8:12-22

12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression,[a] and it will throw truth to the ground, and 1it will act and prosper.
13 Then I heard 2a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, 3"For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, 4the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?"
14 And he said to me,[b]"For 2,300 5evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state."

The Interpretation of the Vision

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I 6sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having 7the appearance of a man.
16 8And I heard a man's voice 9between the banks of the 10Ulai, and it called, 11"Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."
17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, 12I was frightened 13and fell on my face. But he said to me, "Understand, 14O son of man, that the vision is for 15the time of the end."
18 And when he had spoken to me, 16I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But 17he touched me and made me stand up.
19 He said, "Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of 18the indignation, for it refers to 19the appointed time of the end.
20 As for 20the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of 21Media and Persia.
21 And 22the goat[c] is the king of Greece. And 23the great horn between his eyes is 24the first king.
22 25As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his[d] nation, 26but not with his power.

Daniel 8:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 8

This chapter contains the vision of a ram and he goat, and the interpretation of it. It begins with observing the time and place of the vision, Da 8:1,2, then describes the ram seen; by the place of his situation; by his two horns; and by his pushing several ways with so much force and fury, that none could stand before him, or deliver: out of his hands, Da 8:3,4 next the he goat appears, and is described by the part from whence he came; the swiftness of his motion; the notable horn between his eyes; and his running to ram in great fury, smiting him between his horns, casting him to the ground, and trampling upon him, and none to deliver, Da 8:5-7 but, after waxing great and powerful, its horn was broken, and four more rose up in its stead, and out of one of them a little horn, Da 8:8,9 which little horn is described by its power and prevalence to the south and to the east, towards the pleasant land, the host of heaven, and the Prince of the host; and by it the stars were cast down and trampled upon, the daily sacrifice made to cease; the place of the sanctuary cast down, and truth itself, Da 8:9-12, and upon inquiry it appeared that these sacred things were to continue in this desolate condition unto 2300 days, Da 8:13,14. Daniel being desirous of knowing the meaning of this vision, the Angel Gabriel is ordered by Christ to give him an understanding of it; who drew near to him, and awaked him out of his sleep, and gave him the interpretation of it; Da 8:15-19, which is as follows; the ram; with two horns, signifies the kings of Media and Persia; the rough goat, the king of Greece; and the great horn the first king, Alexander the great; and the four horns, four kingdoms which rose up out of the Grecian empire upon his death, Da 8:20-22, and the little horn a king of fierce countenance, Antiochus Epiphanes; who is, described by his craft, and cunning, by his power and might, and by the destruction he should make; Da 8:23-25, this vision the angel assures the prophet was true, and bids him shut it up, since it was for many days, Da 8:26, upon which Daniel fainted, and was sick for a time; but afterwards recovered, so as to be able to do the king's business; but astonished at the vision himself, and which was not understood by others, Da 8:27.

Cross References 26

  • 1. ver. 24; Daniel 11:28, 30
  • 2. See Daniel 4:13
  • 3. Daniel 12:6; [Revelation 6:10]; See Daniel 9:21-27
  • 4. See Daniel 11:31
  • 5. [ver. 26]
  • 6. [1 Peter 1:10, 11]
  • 7. Daniel 7:13; Daniel 10:16, 18; Ezekiel 1:26; Revelation 1:13
  • 8. See Daniel 12:5-7
  • 9. See Daniel 12:5-7
  • 10. ver. 2
  • 11. Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26
  • 12. [Luke 1:12]
  • 13. Ezekiel 1:28
  • 14. See Ezekiel 2:1
  • 15. [ver. 19; Daniel 11:27, 35, 40; Daniel 12:4, 9]
  • 16. Daniel 10:9; [Luke 9:32]
  • 17. Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:10, 18
  • 18. Daniel 11:36
  • 19. [Psalms 102:13]; See ver. 17
  • 20. [ver. 3]
  • 21. [Daniel 6:8]
  • 22. [ver. 5]
  • 23. [ver. 5]
  • 24. Daniel 10:20; Daniel 11:3
  • 25. ver. 8
  • 26. ver. 24

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or in an act of rebellion
  • [b]. Hebrew; Septuagint, Theodotion, Vulgate to him
  • [c]. Or the shaggy goat
  • [d]. Theodotion, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew the
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