THE VISION OF THE RAM AND THE HE-GOAT
In the third year of Belshazzar Daniel has a vision in which he seems
to stand by the river Ulai, near Susa (Daniel 8:1). He sees a
two-homed ram which behaves aggressively for a time (Daniel 8:3), but
is attacked and overthrown by a he-goat which comes rapidly... [ Continue Reading ]
A VISION] RV 'the vision.' SHUSHAN.. THE PALACE] Susa, the capital of
the Persian kings (Nehemiah 1:1; href='190 1:2'>Est 1:2). Elam] a
region NW. of Persia proper, frequently mentioned in OT. (Genesis
10:22; Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 49:34, etc.). Ulai] the Eulæus, a large
canal in the vicinity of Sus... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT] RV 'instead of it.'... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pleasant_ (RV 'glorious') _land_] Palestine.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOST OF HEAVEN] the stars, symbolising in Daniel the righteous
Israelites (Daniel 12:3), some of whom were slain by Antiochus: see
Daniel 8:24; Daniel 1Ma 1:24, 1Ma 1:30, 1Ma 1:57, 1Ma 1:63).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCE OF THE HOST] God. And by him, etc.] RV 'And it took away
from him' (God) 'the continual burnt offering': see Daniel 11:31;
Daniel 1Ma 1:45, 1Ma 1:59. The place of his sanctuary was cast down]
see 1Ma 1:21-23, 1Ma 1:39; 1Ma 3:45; 1Ma 4:38.
12. The rendering of this v. is uncertain. RV 'An... [ Continue Reading ]
SAINT] RV 'holy one,' angel: see Daniel 4:13. TRANSGRESSION OF
DESOLATION] see Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11; Daniel 1Ma
1:54, 1Ma 1:59.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAYS] RV 'evenings and mornings,' 1,150 days. The period between 1Ma
1:54 and 1Ma 4:52-53, when the Temple was cleansed, was 3 years and 10
days. The 1,150 days may be reckoned from a slightly earlier
starting-point in the profane career of Antiochus.... [ Continue Reading ]
GABRIEL] the first mention in Scripture of an angelic name.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE TIME OF THE END, ETC.] RV 'The vision belongeth to the time of
the end.' This defines the limit of Daniel's outlook upon the future.
The termination of this vision is therefore that of all the visions in
the book.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS IN] RV 'fell into': see Ezekiel 2:1; Ezekiel 2:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST END] RV 'latter time.' INDIGNATION] the troubles of Israel are
tokens of God's displeasure: see Daniel 11:36; Daniel 1Ma 1:64. At the
time appointed, etc.] RV 'It belongeth to the appointed time of the
end.'... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA] The Medo-Persian empire is symbolised here
by one animal, but its two portions are distinguished, and the Persian
rule is regarded as succeeding the Median, since the higher of the two
horns comes up last (Daniel 8:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF GRECIA(RV 'Greece')] 'King' is evidently used loosely for
'kingdom' (as in Daniel 7:17), since the kings are particularised as
horns in what follows. THE FIRST KING] Alexander the Great.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR KINGDOMS] those of Alexander's four generals—Macedonia, Thrace,
Egypt, and Syria: see Intro. IN HIS POWER] RV 'with his power.' These
kingdoms were severally inferior to Alexander's empire.... [ Continue Reading ]
A KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE] Antiochus Epiphanes. UNDERSTANDING DARK
SENTENCES] skilled in deceitful intrigues.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BY HIS OWN POWER] This rendering may mean 'by God's permission,'
or, 'by craft rather than force.' But RM has, 'not with his'
(Alexander's) 'power,' as in Daniel 8:22. MIGHTY] RV 'mighty ones.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BY PEACE] RV 'in their security.' Some of the worst outrages of
Antiochus upon the Jews had this treacherous character: see Daniel
11:21; Daniel 11:24; Daniel 1Ma 1:29, 1Ma 1:30. The PRINCE OF PRINCES]
God. Broken without hand] destroyed by God's power: cp. Daniel 2:34;
Daniel 2:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVENING.. MORNING] RV 'evenings.. mornings.'. The reference is to
Daniel 8:14.
WHEREFORE] RV 'but.' _Shall he_ for many days] RV 'belongeth to many
days to come,' to a future remote from Daniel's time.... [ Continue Reading ]