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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 8:1-14

Here is, I. The date of this vision, Dan. 8:1. It was in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, which proved to be his last year, as many reckon; so that this chapter also should be, in order of time, before the fifth. That Daniel might not be surprised at the destruction of Babylon, now at hand, God gives him a foresight of the destruction of other kingdoms hereafter, which in their day had been as potent as that of Babylon. Could we foresee the changes that shall be hereafter, when we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:11

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince host ,.... Either the high priest Onias, whom he disposed of his office, and put Jason a wicked man into it; or Judas Maccabeus, the prince of the Jewish nation; or rather, as Jacchiades, God himself, the Lord God of Israel, the King, Prince, Governor, and defender of them, whom Antiochus blasphemed; whose worship he puts stop to; and whose temple he profaned, and ill used his people; all which was against God himself, and is a proof of the pride... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 8:11

Verse 11 Daniel announces something still more atrocious here, namely, the exaltation of the little horn against God. Some take “the prince of the army” for the high priest, as princes are sometimes called כוהנים, kuhnim, as well as שרים,serim; but that is too forced. The true sense of the passage imputes such arrogance and folly to Antiochus as to urge him to declare war with the stars of heaven, implying not only his opposition to God’s Church, which is separate from the world, but also his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:1-12

The temporary triumph of violence. The good use of God's revelation leads to the impartation of further and clearer revelation. "To those who have, it shall be given." The former vision had well exercised Daniel's mind; now a more minute vision is vouchsafed. In the improvement of character is piety's reward. I. GOD 'S GOOD GIFTS ARE DESPISED BY THE CARNAL AMBITION OF MEN . Lands, cities, palaces, extensive provinces, all fail to satisfy the man in whose breast... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:1-14

The triumph of evil. I. THE DARK SIDE OF THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL . Evil is sometimes not only powerful, but ascendant and dominant, apparently sweeping all before it. 1 . Evil is destructive. Kingdoms under the sway of evil become mutually destructive. The successive visions of the world-empires represent them with increasingly destructive characteristics. The first brings before us a monstrous image of incongruous elements, but with a certain unity and peaceful relation of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:1-27

EXPOSITION THE RAM AND THE HE - GOAT This chapter marks the change from Aramaic to Hebrew. The character of the chapter is like that which immediately precedes it. It consists, like it, of the account of a vision, and the interpretation of it. The subject of this vision is the overthrow of the Persian monarchy by Alexander the Great, the division of his empire, and the oppression of Israel by Epiphanes. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:2-15

Modes of supersensual vision. "I saw in a vision" ( Daniel 8:2 ); "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint" ( Daniel 8:13 ); "Behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man" ( Daniel 8:15 ). Of the next vision, the time should be noted—two years after the last, Belshazzar still living; and the place , viz. Shushan. Daniel seems not to have been there in reality, but only in vision. So Ezekiel from Babylon was "brought in the visions of God to Jerusalem." This... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:3-22

Two world-empires. "The ram which thou sawest," etc. ( Daniel 8:20 , Daniel 8:21 ). The only way in which the substance of the vision can be legitimately treated seems to us the expository. But be it remembered that the exposition of a chapter like this is really an explication of the gradual unfolding of a part of the history of the kingdom of God antecedent to the Incarnation. We set up here simply directing-posts to mark the way. Note particularly the partial character of this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 8:9-25

The scourge of Israel. "He shall stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand" ( Daniel 8:25 ). As in the previous homily, we give a mere directive outline, for the help of those who may care to make the antichrist of the later Hebrew time the subject of treatment. The sketch given by the prophet undoubtedly applies to Antiochus Epiphanes. The only question has been raised by those who wish to throw discredit on the supernatural in prophecy, and who, struck... read more

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