Next, Daniel receives a vision of a “ram” and a “goat.” The ram represents the kingdom of the “Medes and Persians,” and the goat the kingdom of Greece, beginning with its first great king who overthrew the “ram.” The vision is followed by an interpretation provided by an angelic figure.
The focus of
the vision is on the figure represented by the “little horn,” a king who
rules one of the four lesser kingdoms that appear after the death of the “great
king” of Greece.
The
visions in chapters 7 and 8 are related - There are multiple structural, verbal,
and conceptual parallels. The imagery of chapter 7 is “apocalyptic” and cosmic,
and therefore, ambiguous. In chapter 8, both the vision and its interpretation include
clear historical references.
Two of the
four “kingdoms” or “beasts from the sea” described in chapter 7
are named in chapter 8 – The “Medes and Persians” and “Greece.” Both
visions are received by Daniel during the reign of Belshazzar, both are
interpreted by an angel, and both end with Daniel “troubled” by what he sees.
A common theme
is an assault against the “people of the saints” by the same malevolent
figure - The “little horn.”
IN SUSA
Daniel
received the vision of the “ram and goat” in 550 B.C., approximately the
same time that Cyrus the Great annexed the kingdom of the “Medes” to his
growing Persian empire; thus, his realm became the “kingdom of the Medes and
Persians” - (Daniel 8:1-3).
Daniel was
in “Shushan” or “Susa”
when he received the vision. It was the ancient capital of the Median province
of Elam located between Babylon and Persia. He was along
the river “Ulai,” the waterway along which the city was built. Susa
became a prominent royal city in the Persian Empire - (Nehemiah 1:1, Esther
1:1-2).
He received the vision “after that which appeared to me at the first,” a reference to the preceding vision described in chapter 7. Thus, the two visions are connected.
Alongside
the river, the prophet saw a “ram with two horns.” One horn came up
after the first, then grew higher than the first one. This feature corresponds
to the “bear” from the previous vision that has one side elevated higher
than the other.
RAM vs GOAT
- (Daniel 8:4-8) - “I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will and magnified himself. And as I was considering, behold, a goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground: and the goat had a prominent horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him to the ground and trampled upon him, and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. And the goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.”
The “ram”
was pushing “westward, northward, and southward.” No nation could resist
its expansion. In the interpretation, it is identified as the “kingdom of
the Medes and the Persians,” which, historically, expanded rapidly in all
directions, but especially to the south, west, and north.
To the
south Persia conquered Babylonia, Egypt, and Libya; to the west, Lydia, and
most of Asia Minor; and to the north, Armenia and the Scythians.
Next, a “goat”
charged out from the west so rapidly that its feet “touched not the ground.”
It had a prominent horn between its eyes and rushed headlong into the “ram,”
casting it to the ground and breaking both horns.
The goat’s
“prominent horn” represents the first and great “king of Greece.”
This can be none other than Alexander the Great, the Macedonian warlord who
conquered the Persian Empire in only three years. But at the height of his
strength, this “prominent horn” was broken and replaced by four lesser
but “notable horns” aligned with the “four winds of heaven.”
There are several
conceptual links to the third “beast,” the leopard. Its two pairs of “wings”
symbolizes swiftness in conquest. Likewise, the “goat” conquers so
swiftly that its feet do not touch the ground. The leopard has “four heads,”
just as the “prominent horn of the goat” is broken and replaced by four lesser
horns.
- (Daniel 8:9-14) - “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great toward the south and the east, and toward the glorious land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars, it cast down to the ground and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the daily burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was given over to it together with the daily burnt-offering through transgression, and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily burnt-offering, and the transgression that desolates to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
THE LITTLE HORN
The “little
horn” emerged from one of the four lesser horns. It “waxed great” in
three directions. This is the same figure as the “little horn” from the
“fourth beast” in
chapter 7.
The term “beauty” may mean “beautiful
land,” although the word for “land” is not present in the Hebrew text. It may
refer to Mount Zion where the “sanctuary” was situated.
The “little
horn” waxed great against “the host of heaven” and “removed the
daily burnt-offering and cast down the sanctuary.” This appears to describe
an assault against the Temple and its sacrificial rituals - (Psalm 48:1-2, 50:2,
Daniel 11:16, 11:41).
The overthrow of the sanctuary and the assault on the saints are described in mythological terms. The “little horn” waxes great, even to the “host of heaven” - it casts down stars and “tramples them underfoot,” further links to the “little horn” from the preceding vision - (Daniel 7:21-25).
The “little
horn” exalts itself over the “Prince of the Host.” Elsewhere, Yahweh
is described as the “Lord of hosts,” and the reference here probably
refers to Him. Thus, the “little horn” attempts to trespass on things
that are the prerogative of God.
An angelic
being then asked, “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
burnt-offering and the desolating transgression, to give both the sanctuary and
the host to be trodden underfoot?” This introduces a key term that links
this vision with the remaining visions of Daniel - The “transgression”
or “abomination that desolates.”
The Hebrew term rendered “desolates” translates a participle form of the
verb shamem, meaning “desolate, make desolate, devastate” - (Daniel
8:13, 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).
DESOLATION
The angel’s
question highlights the concern of the vision - The removal of the daily burnt offerings, and their
restoration. In other words, the disruption of the sacrificial system and the
desecration of the Temple.
The “little
horn” is a malevolent figure that acts wickedly, but it does not do so of
its own accord. Note the first question: “How long is the vision…for both sanctuary
and host to be given over to be trampled?” This implies divine purpose. The
sanctuary is given to the “little horn” to be “trampled
underfoot” until the end of the appointed time - (Daniel 7:20-22).
Another angel
responds - “For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings, then will
the sanctuary be cleansed.” This is the goal - to cleanse the sanctuary. The
preposition rendered “until” confirms this profanation is according to a
divine decree that will end at the predetermined time.
The “sanctuary”
will be vindicated and restored, not destroyed. The purpose is purgation and
restoration, not destruction. In the end, the “little horn” will
be “broken without hand.” In contrast, the “sanctuary” will be restored
- (Daniel 8:25).
The
expression “evening-morning” has no conjunction between the two nouns -
they form a single unit of measure - “Evening-morning.” The phrase refers
to the daily burnt offerings made each morning and evening.
In the “law
of the burnt offering,” sacrifices were laid on the altar “from evening
until morning.” Thus, the 2,300 “evenings-mornings” equates to one
thousand eleven hundred and fifty days (1,150) - (Leviticus 6:8-18).
The vision
is interpreted by an angel in the last half of the chapter. Its central figure is
the “little horn” and its assault against the “sanctuary.” This
is the passage that first introduces the reality that is known as the “abomination
that desolates.”