Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat
This vision expands the vision of ch 7,...
This vision expands the vision of ch 7, developing additional symbolism regarding the second and third beasts (7:5–6). Its report about a small horn that arises from the goat has similarities with the “little horn” of 7:8, 20–25; the “ruler” of 9:26–27; and the “despicable man” of 11:21–45.
1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier. 2And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.
Two long horns implies that there were two...
- Two long horns implies that there were two major nations in this kingdom represented by a ram (see 8:20–21).
- God allowed the nation to do as it pleased; God was still in control (cp. Isa 45:1–4).
3Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later. 4I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
The symbolism is explained in 8:21–25.
The symbolism is explained in 8:21–25.
5As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. 6He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. 7I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power.
8Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.
9From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.
God is the Commander of heaven’s army (cp....
- God is the Commander of heaven’s army (cp. Josh 5:13–15; 1 Sam 4:4; 1 Kgs 22:19) to whom the daily sacrifices were offered in his Temple, where God’s name resided and Israel worshiped its King (Isa 18:7; Ezek 43:6–7).
- destroying (literally casting down): The religious function of the Temple was disabled.
- God restrained the heavenly army for reasons known only to him.
- The truth of God’s law, embodied in true worship, was also overthrown (literally cast down).
11It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. 12And in the rebellion,† the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.
How long: God’s people were called to endure...
How long: God’s people were called to endure this difficult time until it ended.
about the 2,300 evenings and mornings: This could either mean a period of 1,150 days (1,150 evenings and 1,150 mornings, about three and a half years) or 2,300 days (about seven years). These times match important events in history:
In 171 BC, Antiochus IV removed Onias III from his position as high priest.
In December 167 BC, he treated the temple with disrespect and offered unclean sacrifices.
In December 164 BC, the temple and the altar were cleansed and used again for proper worship. This was seven years after Onias lost his position, and just over three years after the temple was made unclean (see 1 Maccabees 1:54; 4:52–53; 2 Maccabees 10:5).
The temple would then be made right for its proper religious use. It would not be rebuilt physically (see 8:11–12; study note on 8:26).
How long: God’s people were called to endure this difficult time until it ended.
about the 2,300 evenings and mornings: This could either mean a period of 1,150 days (1,150 evenings and 1,150 mornings, about three and a half years) or 2,300 days (about seven years). These times match important events in history:
In 171 BC, Antiochus IV removed Onias III from his position as high priest.
In December 167 BC, he treated the temple with disrespect and offered unclean sacrifices.
In December 164 BC, the temple and the altar were cleansed and used again for proper worship. This was seven years after Onias lost his position, and just over three years after the temple was made unclean (see 1 Maccabees 1:54; 4:52–53; 2 Maccabees 10:5).
The temple would then be made right for its proper religious use. It would not be rebuilt physically (see 8:11–12; study note on 8:26).
13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”
14He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”
Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision
The name Gabriel means “man of God”; he...
The name Gabriel means “man of God”; he appeared like a man to Daniel (see also 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26).
15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”
17As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
18While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
Then he touched me, helped me to my feet,
These verses provide the interpretation of the vision...
These verses provide the interpretation of the vision of 8:3–14.
19and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end.
20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece,† and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation but will not have the same power.
The small horn (8:9) was a fierce king....
The small horn (8:9) was a fierce king. The description matches Antiochus IV (175–163 BC), one of the Seleucids (cp. 11:21–45). He bore the name “Epiphanes” (“The Manifest Presence [of God]”), but many, including Jews, mockingly called him “Epimanes” (“Mad Man”). By desecrating the Temple and Jewish worship (8:11–12), Antiochus tried to destroy Judaism and unify his kingdom under the cult of Hellenistic culture. Some Jews were swept up in the program of Hellenism and adopted Greek ways.
23In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. 24His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. 25Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.
26The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
27I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.