Daniel 8

Daniel 8

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Regarding the figure of a ram, the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge has an interesting note - "The Medo-Persian empire, of which a ram was the ensign; and a ram's head with horns, one higher than the other, is still to be seen on the ruins of Persepolis." The Ram - From Daniel 8:20-note this figure clearly symbolizes Medo-Persia ("the kings of Media and Persia"), the kingdom which followed Babylon (which was still the leading world power at the time Daniel received this prophecy) although it would be inferior to Babylon according to Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Da 2:39-note, cp Da 7:5-note). In a separate prophecy given over 150 years earlier (circa 740-680BC), Isaiah had foretold of the Persian King Cyrus (Cyrus the Great) (see note) conquest of nations (see Isa 44:28, 45:1-7, cp Cyrus' decree to allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple - Ezra 1:1, 2, Ezra 6:3). Vision of the Ram Used by Permission of Ted Larson Horns - Recall that where horn is used figuratively in Scripture, it usually conveys one of three meanings appear - (1) strength in general (Dt 33:17) (2) arrogant pride (Ps 75:4-note, Ps 75:5-note) or (3) political and military power (Da 8:3-4). The figure of a horn is even used in the NT as a description of the powerful ministry of the Messiah (Lk 1:68-69 - Ryrie says "horn of salvation" in essence means "a powerful Savior") Two horns… one longer… coming up last - The accuracy of God's Word is indisputable, not only describing Medo-Persia but the dominance of Persia over Media and the rise of Persia after Media. God's Word is inerrant as substantiated by this historically precise prophetic description. One is reminded of Peter's words that we as New Testament believers… have the prophetic word (referring to the OT Scriptures) made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2Peter 1:19-note) This description of the uneven horns corresponds to the bear in Daniel 7 where we read… And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!' (Daniel 7:5-note) In fact, the truths revealed in Daniel 8 help us to understand the otherwise somewhat enigmatic phrase of "raised up on one side", which most assuredly refers to Persia's subsequent ascendancy to a position of greater power over the more ancient Median counterpart. Daniel 8:4 I SAW THE RAM BUTTING WESTWARD, NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND NO OTHER BEASTS COULD STAND BEFORE HIM NOR WAS THERE ANYONE TO RESCUE FROM HIS POWER, BUT HE DID AS HE PLEASED AND MAGNIFIED HIMSELF: LXE Daniel 8:4 And I saw the ram butting westward, and northward, and southward; and no beast could stand before him, and there was none that could deliver out of his hand; and he did according to his will, and became great. KJV Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. NET Daniel 8:4 I saw that the ram was butting westward, northward, and southward. No animal was able to stand before it, and there was none who could deliver from its power. It did as it pleased and acted arrogantly. CSB Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted and became great. ESV Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. NIV Daniel 8:4 I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. NLT Daniel 8:4 The ram butted everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great. NRS Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. All beasts were powerless to withstand it, and no one could rescue from its power; it did as it pleased and became strong. NJB Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram butting westwards, northwards and southwards. No animal could stand up to it, nothing could escape its power. It did as it pleased and became strong. NAB Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram butting toward the west, north, and south. No beast could withstand it or be rescued from its power; it did what it pleased and became very powerful. YLT Daniel 8:4 I have seen the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, and no living creatures do stand before it, and there is none delivering out of its hand, and it hath done according to its pleasure, and hath exerted itself. Butting: Da 5:30 7:5 11:2 Isa 45:1-5 Jer 50:1-51:64 No other: Da 8:7 Job 10:7 Ps 7:2 50:22 Mic 5:8 But he did: Da 5:19 11:3,16,36 Isa 10:13,14 Daniel 8 Resources - multiple sermons and commentaries THE POWERFUL RAM MAGNIFIES HIMSELF Westward, northward, and southward - With Persia as the starting point for the 3 directions, historically Medo-Persia defeated Babylon (and other countries) toward the west, Armenia and Scythia toward the north and Egypt and Ethiopia toward the South. Once again we see the historical fulfillment testifies to the accuracy and faithfulness of God's Word. Beloved, you can stake your life on His Word of Truth, which is like unto none other! Are you ingesting the Word of Life daily (Php 2:16-note, 1Jn 1:1-note, cp Dt 32:46-47+ the Word which "is your life"? Compare Mt 4:4, 1Pe 2:2-note - no intake of "pure milk" = no spiritual growth!)? If you are not daily reading the Word, then is it any wonder that you feel so "spiritually malnourished?" Let the accurate fulfillment of these OT prophecies spur you on to began a serious, systematic study of God's Word, not words about His Word (devotionals, commentaries, etc, but His living and active Word, which will not pass away) (If you're not sure where to begin here is a suggestion - See notes on the incredible adventure known as inductive Bible study). No other beasts - Similar to the symbolism in Daniel 7, we see God's assessment of the great kingdoms of men - they are "beastly"! This description (could not stand, none to rescue, did as he pleased, magnified himself) clearly accentuates the power of the Medo-Persian Kingdom. NET Note on magnified - In the Hiphil the Hebrew verb גָּדַל (gadal, “to make great; to magnify”) can have either a positive or a negative sense. For the former, used especially of God, see Ps 126:2, 3; Joel 2:21. In this chapter (8:4, 8, 11, 25) the word has a pejorative sense, describing the self-glorification of this king. The sense seems to be that of vainly assuming one’s own superiority through deliberate hubris. Daniel 8:5 WHILE I WAS OBSERVING, BEHOLD, A MALE GOAT WAS COMING FROM THE WEST OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GROUND; AND THE GOAT HAD A CONSPICUOUS HORN BETWEEN HIS EYES: BGT Daniel 8:5 καὶ ἐγὼ διενοούμην καὶ ἰδοὺ τράγος αἰγῶν ἤρχετο ἀπὸ δυσμῶν ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐχ ἥπτετο τῆς γῆς καὶ ἦν τοῦ τράγου κέρας ἓν ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ --- Daniel (TH) 8:5 καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην συνίων καὶ ἰδοὺ τράγος αἰγῶν ἤρχετο ἀπὸ λιβὸς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἁπτόμενος τῆς γῆς καὶ τῷ τράγῳ κέρας θεωρητὸν ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ LXE Daniel 8:5 And I was considering, and, behold, a he-goat came from the south-west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the earth: and the goat had a horn between his eyes. KJV Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. NET Daniel 8:5 While I was contemplating all this, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of all the land without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. CSB Daniel 8:5 As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. ESV Daniel 8:5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. NIV Daniel 8:5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. NLT Daniel 8:5 While I was watching, suddenly a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land so swiftly that he didn't even touch the ground. This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes, NRS Daniel 8:5 As I was watching, a male goat appeared from the west, coming across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground. The goat had a horn between its eyes. NJB Daniel 8:5 This is what I observed: a he-goat from the west, encroaching over the entire surface of the world though never touching the ground, and between its eyes the goat had one majestic horn. NAB Daniel 8:5 As I was reflecting, a he-goat with a prominent horn on its forehead suddenly came from the west across the whole earth without touching the ground. YLT Daniel 8:5 'And I have been considering, and lo, a young he-goat hath come from the west, over the face of the whole earth, whom none is touching in the earth; as to the young he-goat, a conspicuous horn is between its eyes. GWN Daniel 8:5 As I was watching closely, I saw a male goat coming from the west. It crossed the whole earth without touching it. This goat had a prominent horn between its eyes. BBE Daniel 8:5 And while I was giving thought to this, I saw a he-goat coming from the west over the face of all the earth without touching the earth: and the he-goat had a great horn between his eyes. RSV Daniel 8:5 As I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. NKJ Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. ASV Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. DBY Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. BHT Daniel 8:5 wa´ánî häyîºtî mëbîn wühinnË cüpîr-hä|`izzîm Bä´ min-ha|mma`áräb `al-Pünê kol-hä´äºrec wü´ên nôgëª` Bä´äºrec wühaºccäpîºr qeºren Häzût Bên `ênäyw NIRV Daniel 8:5 I was thinking about all of that. Then a goat suddenly came from the west. He had a large horn between his eyes. He raced across the whole earth without even touching the ground. Male goat: Da 8:21 2:32,39 7:6 A conspicuous horn: Da 8:8,21, Da 11:3 = Alexander the Great Daniel 8 Resources - multiple sermons and commentaries Vision of the Goat Used by Permission of Ted Larson Behold (hinneh) - Another attention getter! A male goat (he goat, KJV) - Remember that when we encounter symbolic language in Scripture, we must attempt to discover the literal meaning (and not let our imagination run wild as to the possible meanings, an all too common tactic among interpreters of Bible prophecy). Two ways to achieve our desired end of an accurate (literal) meaning (Symbolic or figurative language is always meant to convey a literal meaning) are (1) examination of the context for "clues" and (2) comparison with related or parallel passages (e.g., passages that use similar symbols but offer a literal interpretation - a good example is comparing the "the sun, and the moon… and… twelve stars in Rev 12:1-note with an almost identical description in Ge 37:9, 10). In the case of the male goat we do not have to guess at the interpretation, for comparison with Da 8:21 explicitly identifies the shaggy goat as the kingdom of Greece. NET Note on male goat - Heb “and behold, a he-goat of the goats.” John