John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Then I lifted up mine eyes , etc.] To see what was to be seen in this place, where he in the vision was brought; he lifted up the eyes of his understanding, being enlightened by the vision of prophecy, and the eyes of his body, to which objects of corporeal things formed in the fancy were represented: and saw, and, behold ; he saw something wonderful in a visionary way, and which struck his mind, and raised his attention: there stood before the river ; the river Ulai, near Shushan, the palace, the seat of the kings of Persia, to the east: a ram, which had two horns ; a symbol of the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, signified by the two horns, ( Daniel 8:20), an emblem of power and dominion, and sometimes used to signify kings and kingdoms; (see Daniel 7:24) and these as united in one monarchy, under one monarch, Cyrus, and continued in his successors unto the times of Alexander; and therefore called “a ram”, or “one ram” f348 , as in the original; and which in sound has some likeness to Elam or Persia: and this kingdom or monarchy may be signified by it, partly because of its strength and power, and partly because of its riches, as some think, as well as because it is a fighting creature; and it may be chiefly because this monarchy was mild, and kind, and gentle to the Jewish nation: and it is very remarkable, that, according to Ammianus Marcellinus f349 , the ram was the royal ensign of the Persians; whose kings used to wear for a diadem something made of gold, in the shape of a ram’s head, set with little stones: and the two horns were high ; grew straight up on high, and so were different from the usual horns of a ram, which are crooked; denoting the great power, authority, wealth, and riches, these two kingdoms rose up unto: but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last ; I think the words might be rendered better, “and the first was higher than the second, but it ascended, or grew up, higher at last” f350 ; the kingdom of the Medes was the first kingdom, and it was at first superior to the kingdom of Persia; but afterwards the kingdom of Persia became greater than that, under Cyrus and his successors: and Sir John Chardin says f351 , that rams’ heads, with horns one higher than another, are still to be seen in the ruins of Persepolis.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Daniel's vision of the ram and the he-goat. (Dan. 8:1-14) The interpretation of it. (Dan. 8:15-27)
Dan. 8:1-14 God gives Daniel a foresight of the destruction of othe kingdoms, which in their day were as powerful as that of Babylon. Coul we foresee the changes that shall be when we are gone, we should be less affected with changes in our own day. The ram with two horns wa the second empire, that of Media and Persia. He saw this ram overcom by a he-goat. This was Alexander the Great. Alexander, when abou thirty-three years of age, and in his full strength, died, and showe the vanity of worldly pomp and power, and that they cannot make a ma happy. While men dispute, as in the case of Alexander, respecting the death of some prosperous warrior, it is plain that the great Firs Cause of all had no more of his plan for him to execute, and therefor cut him off. Instead of that one great horn, there came up four notabl ones, Alexander's four chief captains. A little horn became a grea persecutor of the church and people of God. It seems that the Mohammedan delusion is here pointed out. It prospered, and at one tim nearly destroyed the holy religion God's right hand had planted. It is just with God to deprive those of the privileges of his house wh despise and profane them; and to make those know the worth of ordinances by the want of them, who would not know it by the enjoymen of them. Daniel heard the time of this calamity limited and determined but not the time when it should come. If we would know the mind of God we must apply to Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdo and knowledge; not hid from us, but hid for us. There is muc difficulty as to the precise time here stated, but the end of it cannot be very distant. God will, for his own glory, see to the cleansing of the church in due time. Christ died to cleanse his church; and he wil so cleanse it as to present it blameless to himself.
Dan. 8:15-27 The eternal Son of God stood before the prophet in the appearance of a man, and directed the angel Gabriel to explain the vision. Daniel's fainting and astonishment at the prospect of evils he saw coming on his people and the church, confirm the opinion tha long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision being ended, charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for the present. He kep it to himself, and went on to do the duty of his place. As long as we live in this world we must have something to do in it; and even thos whom God has most honoured, must not think themselves above their business. Nor must the pleasure of communion with God take us from the duties of our callings, but we must in them abide with God. All who ar intrusted with public business must discharge their trust uprightly and, amidst all doubts and discouragements, they may, if tru believers, look forward to a happy issue. Thus should we endeavour to compose our minds for attending to the duties to which each is appointed, in the church and in the world _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ואשׂא5375 עיני5869 ואראה7200 והנה2009 איל352 אחד259 עמד5975 לפני6440 האבל180 ולו קרנים7161 והקרנים7161 גבהות1364 והאחת259 גבהה1364 מן4480 השׁנית8145 והגבהה1364 עלה5927 באחרנה׃314
