Daniel 8 KJV

In 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.
1

And 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.
2

Then 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.
3

I 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.

Commentary
8:1-2 Daniel received this vision twelve years before the
fall of Babylon. Since Babylon was about to be overthrown,
the vision of this chapter begins with Medo-Persia. This
chapter is also a repeat of chapter 7 with more emphasis
on the judgment scene.

8:3-4 Verse 20 identifies this ram as Medo-Persia. The

two horns represent the two parts of the empire with the
Persians, the younger of the two nations, becoming
dominant over the Medes. See also noes on Daniel 7:5.

And 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.
5

And 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.
6

And 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
7

8:5-8 Verses 21 and 22 identify the goat as Greece the

notable horn between his eyes was Alexander the Great,
who came from the west and defeated the armies of
Persia. Alexander died without an heir at the height of his
power. His generals fought each other until there were
only four left, represented by the four horns. See also
notes on Daniel 7:6.
The two animals used to represent Medo-Persia and
Greece is not wild animals of prey, but clean animals used
in the sanctuary service. The next power to come into view
is represented by a horn. The focus of this vision is how
this power affects Gods Sanctuary, His people and His
work of saving souls from sin.

ram out of his hand.

Therefore 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.
8

And 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.
9

And 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.
10

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of

the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was
taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was
cast down.
11

8:9-12 We know from Daniel 2 and 7 and from history

that the power which followed Greece was Rome. In
chapters 2 and 7 it was shown in two phases: Pagan Rome
and Divided Rome. We saw in Chapter 7 that the religious
power of Papal Rome rose to dominate the divided empire.
This vision represents power. The physical actions of
Pagan Rome against Gods people are symbolic of Papal
persecution of Gods people and their true worship.

And an host was given him against the daily

sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast
12

down the truth to the ground; and it practised,

and prospered.

Then 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?
13

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and

three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed.
14

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel,

had seen the vision, and sought for the
15

meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as

the appearance of a man.
And I heard a man's voice between the banks
of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make
this man to understand the vision.
16

8:13-14 A day in Bible prophecy equals one literal year,

so the 2300 days allotted for the events in this vision are
2300 years. See Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34. This time
period cannot be 2300 literal daysa little over 6
yearsbecause this vision encompasses the Persian,
Grecian, Roman, and Papal powers, and because verses
17 and 19 state that the vision extends to the end of time.
The angel does not give the starting date in this chapter
but we know that is sometime during the reign of MedoPersia (539-331 BC), which was the first kingdom in this
prophecy. The exact starting date will be given in chapter
9.
8:15-22 The angel Gabriel is given a divine command to
instruct Daniel so he will understand the vision.
However, Daniel faints before Gabriel can give him the
starting date of the 2300 days/years. Daniel later states
that no one understood the vision, vs. 27.

So 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.
17

Now 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.
18

And 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.
19

The ram which thou sawest having two horns

are the kings of Media and Persia.
20

And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and

the great horn that is between his eyes is the
first king.
21

Now that being broken, whereas four stood up

for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the
nation, but not in his power.
22

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.
23

And 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.
24

8:23-25 This power is broken without hand (vs. 25), an

expression alluding to the rock cut out without hand that
destroys the image of Daniel 2.
By a quick comparison of the fourth Beast and its little
horn from chapter seven with the little horn of chapter
eight, we see that they both represent the same power:
Daniel 7:
21 make war with the saints
8 mouth speaking great things

And through his policy also he shall cause craft

to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify
25

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.

19 exceeding dreadful
11 beast was slain given to the burning
Daniel 8:
24 destroy the mighty and the holy people
11 magnified himself
23 king of fierce countenance
25 broken without hand
This power, represented here in Daniel 8 as a blending of
Pagan and Papal Rome, has throughout the course of its
history fulfilled the prophecies in this chapter.

And 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.
26

And 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.
27

8:26-27 The angel explained all parts of the vision except

the 2300 days (evenings and mornings) and the cleansing
of the sanctuary. Where the interpretation for these parts
of the vision would be expected, Daniel instead told to
close up the vision.

Ahead to Daniel 9 with commentary

This commentary is adapted from Amazing Prophecies, 2010 Family Heritage Books.

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