The Ram and the Goat, 8:1-8

Transcription

1 The Ram and the Goat, 8:1-8 I. Daniel 8:1-2 In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, 2 after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. A. The third year of King Belshazzar's reign would be about two years after the vision of 7:1 1. Belshazzar reigned B.C. 2. So this vision would be about 550/549 BC B. Susa in the province of Elam was one of the great cities of Persia, Neh 1:1 C. The Ulai Canal was an artificial canal which passed Susa on the northwestern side. D. Daniel's visions of 7 and 8 occur about 11 years before the rise of Persia st nd E. So he is beginning to see things during a transition time between the 1 and 2 empires. II. Daniel 8:3-4 I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the river.it had two horns. Both horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one 4 came up second. 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. A. Only 2 animals appear in this vision, suggesting a narrowing of focus in the visions since those in chapters 2 and 7 B. The ram with two horns = the "kings of Media and Persia," cf. v The longer horn = Persia which eclipsed Media 2. These longer/shorter horns = the bear of 7:5, "raised up on one of its sides" C. This ram gored every beast that stood in its way westward and northward and southward 1

2 1. These directions correspond to the "three ribs" the bear had in its mouth in 7:5 2. Persia's eastward expansion is not mentioned because it was not vital to Persia's status as a world power. 3. However, verse 4 summarizes the 200 years of Persia's dominance. 4. Daniel describes its success it did as it pleased and became strong III. 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. A. This goat is identified as Greece in v. 21 B. st The prominent horn between his eyes is identified in v. 21 as Greece's 1 king C. This would be Alexander the Great D. This goat crossed the whole earth without touching the ground 1. Indicates the speed with which it moved easterward 2. It parallels the "winged leopard of 7:6 IV. Daniel 8:6-8 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the 7 canal and charged at him in great rage. I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none 8 could rescue the ram from his power. The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. A. Coming from the west (Macedonia and Greece), Alexander (in 334 BC) invaded Persia, and within 3 years had routed the Persian forces striking the ram and shattering his two horns B. Alexander moved on until in a short 12 years, in India, his army refused to go further The goat became very great C. However, Alexander died in Babylon in 323, aged 33 at the height of his power his large horn was broken off 2

3 D. Alexander's 4 generals divide his empire in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven The 4-headed beast of 7:6 is a parallel to these prominent horns Figure 1: The Empires of Daniel's Visions: The Ptolemies and the Seleucids (Early) c BC. The two most powerful successors to Alexander, Ptolemy and Seleucus, continued to expand their domains into territory claimed by other generals of Alexander, and they repeatedly clashed with each other over land along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, including the land later called Palestine. The Little Horn, 8:9-14 V. Excursus: 1 Maccabees Chapters 1-4 Furnish Background for This Chapter A. 1 Maccabees Chapter 1: (Cited March 1, 2010) B. 1 Maccabees Chapter 2: (Cited March 1, 2010) C. 1 Maccabees Chapter 3: (Cited March 1, 2010) D. 1 Maccabees Chapter 4: (Cited March 1, 2010) VI. Daniel 8:9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. A. Josephus Antiquities 12:1:1 (1) Now when Alexander, king of Macedon, had put an end to the dominion of the Persians, and had settled the affairs of Judea after the forementioned manner, he ended his life; (2) and as his government fell 3

4 among many, Antigonus obtained Asia; Seleucus Babylon; and of the other nations which were there, Lysimachus governed the Hellespont, and Cassander possessed Macedonia; as did Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, seize upon Egypt: (3) and while these princes ambitiously strove one against another, every one for his own principality, it came to pass that there were continual wars, and those lasting wars too; and the cities were sufferers, and lost a great many of their inhabitants in these times of distress, insomuch that all Syria, by the means of Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, underwent the reverse of that denomination, of Savior, which he then had. B. The conflict between Alexander and Persia is but a prelude to this horn, which is Antiochus IV Epiphanes ("Antiochus IV the Illustrious") renamed by the Jews "Epimanes ("Antiochus IV the Madman") 1. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, born 215 BC, and ruled BC 2. Was the son of Antiochus III (the Great) 3. He attempted to Hellenize Palestine 4. This led to a cessation of the temple sacrifices 5. The Maccabean revolt to the re-consecration of the temple VII. Daniel 8:10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. A. Daniel sees this little horn grow until it reached the hosts of the heavens where it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them 1. Verse 24 says this starry host is "the mighty men, the holy people," that is God's people the The description shows Antiochus' insolence 2. The coinage of his later years he designates him "Theou Epiphanes," or "God Manifest," or "the Visible God." 4 Figure 2: See the inscription QEOU EPIFANOU, theou Epiphanou, "God Manifest."

5 VIII. Daniel 8:11 It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. A. Antiochus forbade the permanent practices of worship and desecrated the sanctuary, which fulfilled 1 Maccabees 1:45 B. 1 Maccabees 1:45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings 46 in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and festivals, to defile the sanctuary and the priests, IX. Daniel 8:12 Because of rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. A. Antiochus attacked both God's people (the host) the entire temple ritual (daily ritual), throwing truth...to the ground B. 1 Maccabees 1:56-57 The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces 57 and burned with fire. Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to death by decree of the king. X. Daniel 8:13-14 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, "For how long is this vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary 14 and host to be trampled?" And he answered him, "For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state." A. There are two views of interpretation for the 2300 days 1. The approximate length of Antiochus' reign of terror = 6.3 years 2. The total number of sacrifices = 1,150 morning + 1,150 evening sacrifices B. The first approach seems doubtful Antiochus was not in Palestine continuously during this period C. An overview history of the fulfillment of this period is helpful 1. Continual sacrifice had been going on at least from the days of 5

6 Ezra/Nehemiah 2. Antiochus had been in Judaea for some 6 years, but not continuously st 3. On his 1 trip he granted the Hellenizing Jews permission to build a glymnasium nd 1 4. His 2 trip came about after a failed attempt to annex Egypt a. He had longed wanted to merge Egypt and Syria b. He invaded Egypt on four different occassions c. th On his 4 invasion the Roman officials denied him Egypt d. Antiochus replied, "I will consider the matter." e. The envoys drew a circle around him saying, "Take all the time you want, but make up your mind before you step outside the circle." f. He returned in a rage to Israel, determined to hellenize it. (1) He took possession of Jerusalem (2) He vandalized the temple and left it bare (3) He forbade the Jews to offer daily sacrifices (4) He burnt down the finest buildings (5) He built an idol on God's altar (6) He sacrificed a swine on the altar (7) He forced Jews to forsake the worship (8) He forced Jews to erect idol altars in all its cities/villages (9) He forced the Jews to offer a swine every day (10) He forbade parents to circumcise their sons (11) He strangled uncircumcised sons and forced their mothers to wear the carcase around their necks (12) He burned the books of the law 5. All of the above took place over a 3 year period or "For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings 1 Cf. Turner, Daniel,

7 a. 1 Macc 1:41-64: Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all 42 should be one people, and that all should give up their 43 particular customs. All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they 44 sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he 45 directed them to follow customs strange to the land, to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, 46 to profane sabbaths and festivals, to defile the sanctuary and the 47 priests, to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for 48 idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean animals, and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves 49 abominable by everything unclean and profane, so that they 50 1 would forget the law and change all the ordinances. He added, "And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die." 51 In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the towns of Judah 52 to offer sacrifice, town by town. Many of the people, everyone who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land; they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had. Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth 1 year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah, 55 and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 56 The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces and 57 burned with fire. Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to 58 death by decree of the king. They kept using violence against Israel, against those who were found month after month in the 59 towns. On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar that was on top of the altar of burnt offering. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had 61 their children circumcised, and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' 62 necks. But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their 63 hearts not to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did 64 die. Very great wrath came upon Israel. 7

8 2 b. Josephus (Antiquities, 12:7:6) corroborates: "So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apelleus, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shewbread], and offered burnt offerings upon the new altar [of burnt offering]. (320) Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. (321) This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Apelleus, and on the hundred and fifty-third olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the month Apelleus, in the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty-fourth olympiad. (322) And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time]. The Interpretation, 8:15-27 XI. Daniel 8:15-16 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. 16 Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man, and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, "Gabriel, help this man understand the vision." A. Gabriel is told to help Daniel understand the vision B. Daniel is the only OT book that names angels, 10:13; Luke 1:19, 26; Jude 9 XII. Daniel 8:17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end." A. The vision refers to the time of the end. B. The term end here must refer to the question in verse 13, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled?" 2 Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. The works of Josephus (Hendrickson, 1996, c1987). 8

9 XIII. Daniel 8:18-22 As he was speaking to me, I fell into a trance, face to the ground; 19 then he touched me and set me on my feet. He said, "Listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath; for it refers to the appointed time 20 of the end. As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of 21 Media and Persia. The male goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn 22 between its eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. A. The phrase in the period of wrath refers to a time appointed for the end of Antiochus' rebellion and the reopening of the sanctuary. B. The male goat is the king of Greece Alexander the Great C. The four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power 1. Cassander Macedonia and Greece 2. Lysimachus Thrace and Asia Minor 3. Seleucus Syria and eastern lands 4. Ptolemy Egypt XIV. Daniel 8:23-25 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become 24 completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy 25 people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. A. Additional details are provided regarding Antiochus' 1. A stern-faced king determined and unyielding 2. A master of intrigue and He will cause deceit to prosper cunning 3. He will consider himself superior arrogant 4. He will destroy many violent 5. He will destroy the mighty men powerful, political enemies 6. He will destroy... the holy people the Jews 7. His rebellion was against the Prince of princes God 9

10 B. 1 Maccabees 1:29-30 Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force. 30 Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel. C. Yet, in spite of his success he will be destroyed but not by human power D. The account of his death is gruesome: 2 Maccabees 9:5-9 But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and invisible blow. As soon as he stopped speaking he was seized with a pain in his bowels, for which there 6 was no relief, and with sharp internal tortures -- and that very justly, for he had 7 tortured the bowels of others with many and strange inflictions. Yet he did not in any way stop his insolence, but was even more filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, and giving orders to drive even faster. And so it came about that he fell out of his chariot as it was rushing along, and the fall was 8 so hard as to torture every limb of his body. Thus he who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman arrogance that he could command the waves of the sea, and had imagined that he could weigh the high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and carried in a litter, making the power of 9 God manifest to all. And so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and because of the stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay. XV. Daniel 8:26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." A. The vision was not to be soon fulfilled B. In fact, more than 3 centuries would pass before it was fulfilled. XVI. Daniel 8:27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. A. Ill for several days Daniel recuperated then went about the king's business B. Yet he still brooded, i.e., was appalled by the vision because C. It was beyond understanding had difficulty understanding how God could allow such 10

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