Daniel 8:1

“In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, etc.] Which some sayf307 was the last year of his reign; but, according to Ptolemy’s canon, he reigned seventeen years; and so says Josephusf308; however, this, as well as the preceding vision, were seen before what happened recorded in the “fifth” and “sixth” chapters. The following vision was seen by Daniel, according to Bishop Usherf309 and Dean Prideauxf310 in the year of the world 3451 A.M., and 553 B.C. Mr. Bedfordf311 places it in 552 B.C.; and Mr. Whistonf312, very wrongly, in 537 B.C., two years after the death of Belshazzar. The prophet having, in the preceding chapters, related what concerned the Chaldeans, he wrote in the Chaldee…”

“VISION OF THE RAM AND HE-GOAT: THE TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED DAYS OF THE SANCTUARY BEING TRODDEN DOWN. (Dan. 8:1-27) vision--a higher kind of revelation than a dream. after that . . . at the first--that in Dan 7:1.”

“In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar - In regard to Belshazzar, see Intro. to Daniel 5:0 Section II. A vision appeared unto me - This vision appears to have occurred to him when awake, or in an ecstasy; the former one occurred when he was asleep, Daniel 7:1. Compare Daniel 8:17-18, where the prophet represents himself as overpowered, and as falling down to the earth on account of the vision. The representation would seem to have been made to pass before his mind in open day, and when he was fully awake. Compare the case of Balaam, Numbers 24:4 : “Which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.” After what appeared unto me at the first -…”

“After that - In the other vision he speaks o\ all the four monarchies; here only of the three first; this vision being a comment upon the first.\ [Daniel 8:2\ dan 8:2\ The river of Ulai - Which ran round the city.\ Daniel 8:3\ dan 8:3\ Two horns - The kingdom of Media and Persia. And the higher - The kingdom of Persia which rose last, in Cyrus, became more eminent than that of the Medes.\ Daniel 8:4\ dan 8:4\ West - ward - Toward Babylon, Syria, Cappadocia, Asia the less, and Greece, all westward from Media and Persia. North - ward - Against the Armenians, Iberians, Lydians, Colchi Caspians. South - ward - Against Ethiopia, Arabia, Egypt.\ Daniel 8:5\ dan 8:5\ An he - goat - The Grecian…”

“8:1-27 This vision expands the vision of ch 7, developing additional symbolism regarding the second and third beasts (7:5-6). Its report about a small horn that arises from the goat has similarities with the “little horn” of 7:8, 20-25; the “ruler” of 9:26-27; and the “despicable man” of 11:21-45. 8:1 The author probably changes back to Hebrew because he now focuses again (as with 1:1–2:4a) on the holy people, Israel, for the remainder of the book. • The third year of King Belshazzar’s reign was around 554~551 BC. It was about two years after the vision of ch 7 and over a decade before the fall of Babylon in 539 BC (5:31).”

“Cir, am 3451, bc 553 the third: Dan 7:1 me Daniel: Dan 8:15, Dan 7:15, Dan 7:28, Dan 9:2, Dan 10:2, Dan 10:7, Dan 11:4 Daniel 8:2”

“The Vision Dan 8:1, Dan 8:2 contain the historical introduction to this new revelation. This was given to Daniel in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, and thus two years after the vision of the four world-kingdoms ( Dan 7:1), but not in a dream as that was, but while he was awake. The words, I, Daniel, are neither a pleonasm (Hv.) nor a sign that the writer wished specially to give himself out for Daniel (Ewald), but expressly denote that Daniel continues to speak of himself in the first person (Kliefoth). The article in הנראה (that which appeared) takes place of the relative אשׁר, and the expression is concise for נראה אשׁר החזון (the vision which appeared); cf. Ewald's Lehr. 335a.…”