Daniel 8:8-12

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 8:8

Therefore the he goat waxed very great ,.... The Grecian monarchy, under Alexander, became very powerful, and was very extensive; he not only conquered the Persian empire, but also the Indies, yea, the whole world, as he imagined; and indeed he did bring into subjection to him the greatest part of the then known world; and he was very great in his own esteem, at least reckoned himself lord of the world, called himself the son of Jupiter Ammon, and affected to be worshipped as a god: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:9

And out of one of them came forth a little horn ,.... Meaning not the kingdom of Titus Vespasian, as Jarchi; nor the kingdom of the Turks, as Saadiah; but the kingdom of Antiochia, as Aben Ezra and Jacchiades; or rather Antiochus Epiphanes, who sprung from the kingdom of the Seleucidae in Syria, or from Seleucus king of Syria, one of the four horns before mentioned: this is that sinful root said to come out from thence, in the Apocrypha: "And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:10

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven ,.... The people of the Jews, the army of the living God, the church militant, among whom were many of the citizens of heaven, whose names are written there; such was the insolence of this king, as to molest and disturb them: and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped them ; some of the common people he persecuted and destroyed, or prevailed upon them, either by threats or flatteries, to relinquish their... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:12

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression ,.... Which some interpret of a garrison of soldiers placed by Antiochus, through his sin and wickedness, to hinder the oblation of the daily sacrifice, as Grotius: others, of a host of apostates among the Jews, who advised Antiochus against the daily sacrifice, and to kill swine, and offer them on the altar, as Jacchiades; or rather it may be rendered, "and the host was given over", or "delivered", i.e. to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 8:8

The he-goat waxed very strong - He had subdued nearly the whole of the then known world. The great horn was broken - Alexander died in the height of his conquests, when he was but about thirty-three years of age. His natural brother, Philip Aridaeus, and his two sons, Alexander Aegus and Hercules, kept up the show and name of the Macedonian kingdom for a time; but they were all murdered within fifteen years; and thus the great horn, the Macedonian kingdom, was broken, Alexander's family... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 8:9

Out of one of them came forth a little horn - Some think that Antiochus Epiphanes is meant; but Bp. Newton contends that it is the Roman government that is intended; and although very great at its zenith, yet very little in its rising. Waxed - great toward the south - The Romans made Egypt a province of their empire, and it continued such for some centuries. Toward the east - They conquered Syria, and made it a province. Toward the pleasant land - Judea, so called Psalm 106:24 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 8:10

The host of heaven - The Jewish hierarchy. The stars, the priests and Levites. The powers or host of heaven are probably intended by our Lord, Matthew 24:29 , to signify the whole Jewish hierarchy. 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

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