Daniel 8:7-17

7 Cumque appropinquasset prope arietem, efferatus est in eum, et percussit arietem: et comminuit duo cornua eius, et non poterat aries resistere ei: cumque eum misisset in terram, conculcavit, et nemo quibat liberare arietem de manu eius.
8 Hircus autem caprarum magnus factus est nimis: cumque crevisset, fractum est cornu magnum, et orta sunt quattour cornua subter illud per quattuor ventos caeli.
9 De uno autem ex eis egressum est cornu unum modicum: et factum est grande contra Meridiem, et contra Orientem, et contra fortitudinem.
10 Et magnificatum est usque ad fortitudinem caeli: et deiecit de fortitudine, et de stellis, et conculcavit eas.
11 Et usque ad principem fortitudinis magnificatum est: et ab eo tulit iuge sacrificium, et deiecit locum sanctificationis eius.
12 Robur autem datum est ei contra iuge sacrificium propter peccata: et prosternetur veritas in terra, et faciet, et prosperabitur.
13 Et audivi unum de sanctis loquentem: et dixit unus sanctus alteri nescio cui loquenti: Usquequo visio, et iuge sacrificium, et peccatum desolationis, quae facta est: et sanctuarium, et fortitudo conculcabitur?
14 Et dixit ei: Usque ad vesperam at mane, dies duo millia trecenti: et mundabitur sanctuarium.
15 Factum est autem cum viderem ego Daniel visionem, et quaererem intelligentiam: ecce stetit in conspectu meo quasi species viri.
16 Et audivi vocem viri inter Ulai: et clamavit, et ait: Gabriel fac intelligere istum visionem.
17 Et venit, et stetit iuxta ubi ego stabam: cumque venisset, pavens corrui in faciem meam, et ait ad me: Intellige fili hominis, quoniam in tempore finis complebitur visio.

Daniel 8:7-17 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.

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