CHAPTER VIII _This chapter contains Daniel's vision of the ram and he-goat_, 1-14; _referring, as explained by the angel, to the Persian and_ _Grecian monarchies_, 15-26. _The_ little horn _mentioned in the_ ninth _verse, (or_ fierce king, _as interpreted in the_ twenty-third,_) is supposed by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:2. _I SAW IN A VISION_] Daniel was at this time in Shushan, which appears to have been a strong place, where the kings of Persia had their summer residence. It was the capital of the province of Elam or the Elymais; which province was most probably added to the Chaldean territories by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:3. _A RAM WHICH HAD_ TWO _HORNS_] In the former vision there were _four beasts_, pointing out _four empires_; in this we have but _two_, as only _two empires_ are concerned here, viz., the _Grecian_ and the _Persian_. The Babylonish empire is not mentioned; its fate was before decided... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:4. _I SAW THE RAM PUSHING WESTWARD_] The Persians, who are signified by the _ram_, as well as their _founder Cyrus_, pushed their conquests _west, north_ and _south_. The principal theatre of their wars, says _Calmet_, was against the SCYTHIANS, _northward_; against the GREEKS, _westw... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:5. _BEHOLD, A HE-GOAT_] This was _Alexander the Great_; and a _goat_ was a very proper symbol of the Grecian or Macedonian people. Bp. _Newton_ very properly observes that, _two hundred_ years before the time of Daniel, they were called _AEgeadae_, the _goats'_ _people_; the origin o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:6. _AND HE CAME TO THE RAM._] This and the following verse give an account of the overthrow of the Persian empire by Alexander. _AND RAN UNTO HIM IN THE FURY OF HIS POWER_] The conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians were excessively severe. Alexander first vanquished the gene... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:7. _AND BRAKE HIS TWO HORNS_] Subdued Persia and Media; sacked and burnt the royal city of _Persepolis_, the capital of the Persian empire, and, even in its _ruins_, one of the wonders of the world to the present day. This he did because "he was moved with choler" against Darius, who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:8. _THE HE-GOAT WAXED VERY STRONG_] He had subdued nearly the whole of the then known world. _THE GREAT HORN WAS BROKEN_] Alexander died in the height of his conquests, when he was but about _thirty-three_ years of age. His natural brother, Philip Aridaeus, and his two sons, Alexande... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:9. _OUT OF ONE OF THEM CAME FORTH A LITTLE HORN_] Some think that _Antiochus Epiphanes_ is meant; but Bp. _Newton_ contends that it is the _Roman_ government that is intended; and although very _great_ at its _zenith_, yet very _little_ in its _rising_. _WAXED-GREAT TOWARD THE SOUTH_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:10. _THE HOST OF HEAVEN_] The _Jewish hierarchy_. The _stars_, the _priests_ and _Levites_. The _powers_ or _host of heaven_ are probably intended by our Lord, Matthew 24:29, to signify the whole Jewish hierarchy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:11. _EVEN TO THE PRINCE OF THE HOST_] They seemed, in this case, to fight against God himself. _THE DAILY_ SACRIFICE _WAS TAKEN AWAY_] By the destruction of the city and temple; and has never been restored from that day until now.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:12. _AND A HOST WAS GIVEN HIM_] That is, _power_; or perhaps _the host of heaven_ - the _priesthood_ - the whole sacrificial system, by reason of _transgression_. They had filled up the measure of their iniquities, in rejecting the Lord that bought them; and the _daily sacrifice_, bei... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _ONE SAINT SPEAKING, AND ANOTHER SAINT SAID_] One _angel_ asked another how long the sanctuary was to be trodden down?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _UNTO TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED DAYS_] Though literally it be _two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings_. Yet I think the _prophetic day_ should be understood here, as in other parts of this prophet, and must signify so many _years_. If we date these years from the vision of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AS THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN._] Supposed to be the _Messiah_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _AT THE TIME OF THE END_ SHALL BE _THE VISION._] Or, as _Houbigant_, "The vision shall have an end at the proper time.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:20. _THE RAM WHICH THOU SAWEST_] See this explained under the vision itself, Daniel 8:3, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:22. _BUT NOT IN HIS POWER._] The _four kingdoms_ which shall arise out of the Macedonian empire shall not be of Alexander's power or _family_, nor have his strength and dignity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:23. _WHEN THE TRANSGRESSORS ARE COME TO THE FULL_] When the utmost degradation has taken place, by the _buying_ and _selling_ of the _high priesthood_; for _Onias_ was ejected for a sum of money, to make room for wicked _Jason_; and Jason again was supplanted for a greater sum by a wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:24. _BUT NOT BY HIS OWN POWER_] The strength of the other kingdoms consisted in themselves; but the Roman empire, as a _horn_ or _kingdom_ of the _goat_, was _not mighty by its own power_ - was not strong by virtue of the _goat_, but drew its nourishment and strength from Rome and Ita... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:25. _HE SHALL CAUSE CRAFT TO PROSPER_] They subdued as many by their _diplomatic skill_ and _political intrigues_ as they did by the _sword_. _HE SHALL ALSO STAND UP AGAINST THE PRINCE OF PRINCES_] Against _Christ_; for it was by the _Roman_ authority that he was condemned to death a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:26. _THE VISION OF THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WHICH WAS_ _TOLD IS TRUE_] That mentioned in Daniel 8:14. _FOR IT_ SHALL BE _FOR MANY DAYS._] Not less than _two thousand three_ _hundred_ years!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Daniel 8:27. _DANIEL FAINTED_] To foresee the desolations that were coming on the land, the city, the temple, and the people. _DID THE KING'S BUSINESS_] Transacted the affairs of state that belonged to my department, after having been sick for certain days through the effects of this vision.... [ Continue Reading ]