Daniel 8:13-27

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 8:15-27

Here we have, I. Daniel's earnest desire to have this vision explained to him (Dan. 8:15): I sought the meaning. Note, Those that rightly know the things of God cannot but desire to know more and more of them, and to be led further into the mystery of them; and those that would find the meaning of what they have seen or heard from God must seek it, and seek it diligently. Seek and you shall find. Daniel considered the thing, compared it with the former discoveries, to try if he could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:13

Then I heard one saint speaking ,.... An angel, either a created angel, pure and holy in his nature, as Gabriel; or the uncreated Angel Jesus Christ, the Word of God; what he was speaking of is not said; perhaps Daniel did not hear what he said, though he heard him speaking, or perceived that he spake; yet did not understand what he said, or what was the subject of his discourse; very probably it was something relative to the vision now seen: and another saint said unto that certain saint... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:14

And he said unto me ,.... That is, "Palmoni", the wonderful person, to whom the angel put the above question, gave the answer to it; not unto the angel that asked it, but unto Daniel that stood by; knowing that it was for his and his people's sake the question was asked, and therefore gave the answer to him, as follows: unto two thousand and three hundred days ; or so many "mornings" and "evenings" F8 ערב בוקר "vespero matutina", Castalio; "vespertina matutinaque tempora", Junius... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:15

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision ,.... The whole of the preceding vision, concerning the ram, he goat, and little horn, and what were done by them; the prophet not only affirms he saw this vision, but repeats the affirmation, expressing his own name, partly for the sake of emphasis, and partly for the greater confirmation of his words; wherefore it was a most impudent thing Porphyry to say, that the true Daniel never saw this vision; but what is here related... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:16

And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai ,.... Near to which Daniel was, Daniel 8:2 and it seemed to him as if the appearance of the man was in the midst of the river, between the banks of it, from whence the voice came; or between the arms of it, it bending and winding about; or rather between Shushan and the river; or between the prophet and that: this voice was the voice of the person that appeared as a man in the preceding verse: which called, and said, Gabriel ; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:17

So he came near where I stood ,.... The angel immediately obeyed the divine Person in human form, and came near the prophet, in order to instruct him, and carry on a familiar conversation with him: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face ; not being able to bear the glory that attended him; and especially when he considered him as the messenger of a divine Person sent to instruct him, and being conscious of his own frailty and weakness: but he said unto me, understand, O... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:18

Now as he was speaking with me ,.... Addressing him in the above manner: I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground ; through fear he fell prostrate to the ground, and swooned away, which issued in a deep sleep; and so was unfit to attend to the explanation of the vision the angel was sent to give him; and which was not through indifference to it, or neglect of it; but through human weakness, his nature not being able to bear up under such circumstances, which struck him with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:19

And he said, behold, I will make thee know ,.... Or, "make known unto thee" F14 מודיעך "ego notum faciam tibi", Piscator; "indicaturus tibi sum", Michaelis. ; what he knew not, even things future: particularly what shall be in the last end of the indignation ; the indignation of God against the people of Israel, in the sore affliction and persecution of them by Antiochus, which he suffered to be; here the angel suggests that that should not remain always, but should have an end;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 8:20

The ram which thou sawest having two horns ,.... Here begins the particular explanation of the above vision, and of the first thing which the prophet saw in it, a ram with two horns: which two horns, he says, are the kings of Media and Persia ; Darius the first king was a Mede, and Cyrus, that succeeded him, or rather reigned with him, was a Persian: or rather the ram with two horns signifies the two kingdoms of the Medes and Persians united in one monarchy, of which the ram was an... read more

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