Probably the most discussed writings of the Book of Daniel are those in Daniel 8. The ancient documents that comprise the Book of Daniel indicate that in this chapter, he returns to writing in Hebrew while earlier chapters were mostly written in Aramaic. Modern scholars contributing to Daniel 8 commentary believe that beginning with Daniel 8, he is speaking directly to the people of Israel. Daniel, in verse 27, confesses that neither he nor those around him understood the meaning of the vision presented even after Gabriel has been called upon to explain it to him.
Scholars’ interpretations are based on later events. Generally, the traditional interpretation can be condensed as follows:
At the time of Daniel, Persia under Cyrus was rising to power, but Babylonia was still strong under Belshazzar. In Daniel’s vision, he is in Shushan of Elam, which at the time was unimportant but would later become the capital of the Persian empire. Elam’s symbol was the “two-horned ram”. Daniel writes this: “…there stood … a ram which had two horns”.
Daniel 8:1,4: “I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him….” The Persian empire did indeed further it’s influence in these directions, including Babylonia.
Daniel writes that a “he goat” came out of the west and ran through the “ram”. Those who participate in Daniel 8 commentary believe the “he goat” was Alexander the Great who conquered the Persians all the way to Babylon. Daniel writes that when the “great horn” (Alexander’s empire) was strongest, it would be broken by enemies from alll 4 directions. Indeed, while Alexander’s empire was strongest, he died, and his kingdom was quickly conquered. At that point, his Greek Empire was indeed split in 4 directions.
The “little horn” (Daniel 8:1:9) signifies the rise to power of Antiochus Epiphanes of whom the prophecy was meant to warn. The rulers of Daniel’s day had not opposed the Jews’ worship; Antiochus, however, demanded worship of the Greek pantheon. Gabriel, in Daniel’s vision, says that this persecution of the Jews would last for 2,300 days (approximately 7 years)”. Seven years does closely coincide with the period between the rise of Antiochus and the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem. The “end of times” Daniel refers to is the end of an age free of persecution.
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