Major Prophets · Chapter 8 of 12

Daniel 8

Daniel sees a two-horned ram overpowered by a swift goat with a great horn. The horn breaks into four, and from one grows a little horn that magnifies itself, halts the daily sacrifice, and defiles the sanctuary for a set time. Gabriel explains the ram as Media and Persia, the goat as Greece, and the arrogant king who will stand against the Prince of princes but be broken without hand.

What happens in Daniel 8

In Belshazzar's third year Daniel sees himself at Shushan by the river Ulai. A two-horned ram charges west, north, and south, unstoppable, one horn higher than the other. Then a goat races from the west so swiftly it seems not to touch the ground, a notable horn between its eyes. It strikes the ram, breaks both horns, and tramples it. Grown strong, the goat's great horn breaks, and four horns rise toward the winds. From one comes a little horn that grows toward the pleasant land, magnifies itself against the host of heaven, takes away the daily sacrifice, and casts down the sanctuary and truth until, after two thousand three hundred days, it is cleansed.

Gabriel explains: the ram is Media and Persia, the goat is Greece, the four horns are successor kingdoms, and a fierce, cunning king will arise, destroy the holy people, stand against the Prince of princes, and be broken without hand. Daniel is left sick.

Daniel 8 in context

Chapter 8 returns to Hebrew after the Aramaic section and narrows the earlier visions' focus. Gabriel names the empires openly: the Medo-Persian ram and the Greek goat, whose great horn is Alexander and whose four successors divide his realm.

The little horn is widely understood as Antiochus IV, who desecrated the temple in the second century before Christ. The vision consoles exiles that even the fiercest persecutor has a limit and an end appointed by God.

Main themes of Daniel 8

Daniel 8 (KJV)

1In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. 9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Verses to carry from Daniel 8

“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”Daniel 8:14

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.”Daniel 8:23

“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”Daniel 8:25

Reflection

When what is sacred is trampled and truth seems cast to the ground, Daniel 8 gives a limit and an end. The fiercest opponent of worship is broken without hand. Ask where you have despaired over evil that looks unstoppable, and let the appointed end reframe your patience.

A prayer from Daniel 8