ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Daniel 8

Dan. 8:1–27 In this next vision, Daniel sees what is to come of the Medo-Persian Empire, Alexander the Great’s empire, and the Hellenistic empires that succeed it. The upheavals to come will mean terrible times for God’s people, but they must endure, knowing that God rules over all.

Dan. 8:3 In this vision, Daniel saw an all-powerful ram with two horns, one of which was longer than the other. The ram represents the Medo-Persian Empire, with the higher horn representing the stronger, Persian part.

Dan. 8:5 a male goat came from the west. Alexander the Great came from Greece, which was to the “west” of both Babylon and Persia. without touching the ground. Alexander conquered the mighty Persian Empire with amazing speed.

Dan. 8:7 he was enraged. Alexander’s father was king of Macedonia and brought all of Greece under his control by 336 b.c. Alexander was only 20 when his father was murdered, but he consolidated his hold on Greece and unified the Greeks.

Dan. 8:8 the goat became exceedingly great. Alexander the Great’s kingdom extended all the way to India, exceeding any kingdom before it in size. there came up four conspicuous horns. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 b.c., four of his generals divided his kingdom into four parts.

Dan. 8:9–10 A little horn grows out of one of the four horns and expands his realm. Most scholars identify this little horn as Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ruled 175–164 b.c.). Antiochus IV tried to unify his kingdom by forcing his subjects to adopt Greek cultural and religious practices. He banned circumcision, ended sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem, and deliberately defiled the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and placing a pagan religious object in the Most Holy Place. This horn grew great, even to the host of heaven, and some of the stars it threw down to the ground. This probably refers to the faithful who were killed during Antiochus IV’s reign.

Dan. 8:11 The Prince of the host probably refers to God, because of the similar expression “Prince of princes” in v. 25. the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. When the Jews refused to adopt Antiochus IV’s pagan religion, he punished them severely.

Dan. 8:12–14 Because of renewed transgression on the part of God’s people, the saints and the temple sacrifices were handed over to Antiochus IV, but only for a limited period: 2,300 evenings and mornings, or a little over six years. In the end, the little horn will be judged and the sanctuary restored to its rightful state. Unlike the less precise “time, times, and half a time” of 7:25, this period is measured in days, suggesting that God has a precise calendar for the times of his people’s suffering.

Dan. 8:15–26 The angel Gabriel explains to Daniel that the vision concerns the future of the region, which God rules for his purposes. The vision is given to prepare God’s people for the coming events, even the severe persecutions under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Dan. 8:20–22 Unlike the vision of ch. 7, the vision of 8:3–14 is precisely interpreted by the angel. The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia, of whom Cyrus, king of Persia, became the dominant partner. The goat was the king of Greece, Alexander the Great. See note on v. 8.

Dan. 8:23 The “little horn” of v. 9 corresponds to a king of bold face, who was completely wicked. This describes Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175–164 b.c.). See note on vv. 9–10.

Dan. 8:25 he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes. This title refers to God. Antiochus IV rebels against even God’s legitimate sovereignty, as he shows by desecrating the temple (see note on 11:31–32).

Dan. 8:27 Even though Daniel did not fully understand the vision, he was nonetheless overcome and appalled, for he recognized the severity of the suffering coming on his own people. Like the other prophets, he sympathized with his people when they faced the judgment of God. Yet in spite of his deep concern for the future, he went about the king’s business.