Daniel 8:9-19

9 Et de l'une d'elles surgit une petite corne qui s'agrandit beaucoup vers le midi, et vers l'orient, et vers le pays de gloire.
10 Et elle grandit jusqu'à l'armée des cieux, et elle fit tomber à terre une partie de l'armée des étoiles, et les foula aux pieds.
11 Elle s'éleva même jusqu'au chef de l'armée, lui enleva le sacrifice continuel et abattit la demeure de son sanctuaire.
12 Et l'armée fut livrée avec le sacrifice continuel, à cause du péché, et la corne jeta la vérité par terre, et elle agit et prospéra.
13 Et j'entendis parler un saint, et un autre saint dit à celui qui parlait: Jusqu'à quand durera la vision du sacrifice continuel et du péché qui cause la désolation, qui livre le sanctuaire et l'armée pour être foulés aux pieds?
14 Et il me dit: Jusqu'à deux mille trois cents soirs et matins; puis le sanctuaire sera purifié.
15 Pendant que moi, Daniel, je regardais la vision et que je cherchais à la comprendre, voici, quelqu'un qui avait l'apparence d'un homme se tint devant moi.
16 Et j'entendis la voix d'un homme au milieu du fleuve Ulaï; il cria et dit: Gabriel, explique-lui la vision.
17 Et il vint près du lieu où je me tenais, et, à sa venue, je fus épouvanté et je tombai sur ma face, et il me dit: Comprends, fils de l'homme, car la vision est pour le temps de la fin.
18 Et comme il me parlait, je m'assoupis la face contre terre; mais il me toucha et me fit tenir debout à la place où j'étais.
19 Et il dit: Voici, je vais t'apprendre ce qui arrivera au dernier temps de la colère, car il y a un temps marqué pour la fin.

Daniel 8:9-19 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.

The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.