Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Daniel 8

Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

the third year of the reign

About B.C. 530.

vision

The eighth chapter gives details concerning the second and third world-kingdoms: the silver and brass kingdoms of Dan 2; the bear and leopard kingdoms of Dan 7, viz., the Medo-Persian and Macedonian kingdoms of history. At the time of this vision (Dan 8:1) the first monarchy was nearing its end. Belshazzar was the last king of that monarchy.

Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

great horn was broken

Dan 8:21.

four notable ones

Dan 8:22.

Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

out of one of them

Anticohus Epiphanes came out of Syria, one of the "four notable" kingdoms into which Alexander's empire was divided.

little horn

The "little horn" here is a prophecy fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175, who profaned the temple and terribly persecuted the Jews. He is not to be confounded with the "little horn" of Dan 7 who is yet to come, and who will dominate the earth during the great tribulation. See "The Beast," Scofield Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20, notes, and "The great tribulation," Scofield Psa 2:5; Rev 7:14, note. But Antiochus is a remarkable type of the Beast, the terrible "little horn" of the last days. Dan 8:24, 25 go beyond Antiochus and evidently refer to the "little horn" of Dan 7. Both Antiochus and the Beast, but the Beast pre-eminently, are in view in Dan 8:24, 25. That the "little horn" of Dan 7 cannot be the little horn of Dan 8:9-13, 23, is evident. The former comes up among the ten horns into which the fourth empire (Roman) is to be divided; the little horn of Dan 8 comes out of one of the four kingdoms into which the third (Grecian) empire was divided (Dan 8:23), and in "the latter time" of the four kingdoms (Dan 8:22, 23). This was historically true of Antiochus Epiphanes. They are alike in hatred of the Jews and of God, and in profaning the temple. Cf. Dan 7:25 (the Beast) with Dan 8:10-12 (Antiochus).

Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

it waxed great

This passage (Dan 8:10-14) is confessedly the most difficult in prophecy, a difficulty increased by the present state of the text. Historically this was fulfilled in and by Antiochus Epiphanes, but in a more intense and final sense Antiochus but adumbrates the awful blasphemy of the "little horn" of Dan 7:8, 24, 25; 9:27; 11:36-45; 12:11. In Dan 8:10-14 the actions of both "little horns" blend.

Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

daily sacrifice

Cf. Dan 9:27, where the Beast comes into view.

Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

one saint

Or, holy one, idem. Daniel 4:13, 17.

desolation

Seven times in Daniel the "desolation" is spoken of:

1. Of the sanctuary, Dan 8:13, fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175-170.
2. Of the sanctuary, Dan 9:17, the condition in Daniel's time, when the Jews were in exile and the sanctuary desolate.
3. Generally, of the land, Dan 9:18, also referring to Daniel's time.
4. Of the sanctuary, Dan 9:26, fulfilled A.D. 70, in the destruction of city and temple after the cutting off of Messiah (Luke 21:20).
5. 6. and 7. Of the sanctuary, by the Beast, Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 (Cf. Mat 24:15; Mar 13:14; 2Th 2:3, 8-12; Rev 13:14, 15).

Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

appearance of a man

The theophanies. Dan 10:18. (Gen 12:7; Rev 1:10.)

Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Gabriel

Dan 9:21; Luk 1:19, 26.

Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

And he said

Dan 8:20.

end

Two "ends" are in view here:

1. historically, the end of the third, or Grecian empire of Alexander out of one of the divisions of which the little horn of Dan 8:9 (Antiochus) arose;
2. prophetically, the end of the times of the Gentiles (Luk 21:24; Rev 16:14), when the "little horn" of Dan 7:8, 24-26, the Beast, will arise—Daniel's final time of the end. (Scofield Daniel 12:4, note).

Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

ram [See also Dan 8:3.]

Dan 8:3, 4. The "higher" horn which "came up last" is Cyrus, the other "Darius the Mede."

Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

first king [See also Dan 8:5.]

i.e. Alexander the Great.

Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

four kingdoms

The four empires into which Alexander's empire was divided about B.C. 300; Greece, Asia Minor, including Syria, Egypt, the East.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

king of fierce countenance

i.e. Antiochus Epiphanes who arose out of Syria, one of the "four kingdoms," B.C. 170.

Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand

The Beast. Dan 8:24, 25; Dan 9:26, 27. (Dan 7:8; Rev 19:20.)

stand up against the Prince of princes

Rev 19:19, 20.