This Daniel 8 Bible study outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Daniel 8 Bible Study Commentary And Questions
Daniel 8 Bible Study Video
Daniel 8 Podcast
Outline
I. The vision of the ram and the goat (1-8)
II. The little horn that took away the burnt offering (9-14)
III. The interpretation of the vision (15-27)
I. The vision of the ram and the goat (1-8)
Discussion Questions
- When did this happen?
- Where was Daniel when he saw this vision?
- What did Daniel see in the vision?
- What are your observations about his vision?
- What were the special features of the ram?
- What were the special features of the goat?
- Why do you think God gave this vision to Daniel?
- What does this vision and its fulfillment show us about God?
Cross-References
Psalm 103:19 – The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
Psalm 135:6 – Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Introduction – Daniel chapters 2-7 were written in Aramaic. Chapters 8-12 are written in Hebrew. Daniel’s message in these chapters is written primarily to the Jews. He deals with four major Gentile nations. He does not write about everything each nation will do, but focuses in general on how the age of the Gentiles effects the Jews and specifically on how they will dominate Jerusalem and the temple.
1. In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar – The dream came to Daniel after the dream in chapter 7 which occurred in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign. At the time Babylon was in power. Persia was starting to emerge as a power to contend with, but Greece was not yet any type of threat.
2. I was in Susa the citadel – Susa was an important city in the region, a capital of Elam. Later, it would become the capital of the Medo-Persian empire. The backdrop of Esther and parts of Nehemiah take place in Susa.
3. I saw a ram – As Gabriel will explain later in the chapter, the ram represents the kingdom of the Medes and Persians. The ram has long been a symbol of the Persian empire. Persian kings often wore helmets with ram horns in battle. Many aspects of the ram depicted point to specific characters of the Achaemenid Empire.
A. It had two horns – The empire was forged by an alliance between the Medes and the Persians. Thus, the ram had two horns. Both of these horns were high. Each part of the alliance was strong. However, one was stronger than the other. The higher horn came last. This fits with the fact that the Persian people, who were the stronger part of the alliance, rose to prominence after the Medes.
B. I saw the ram charge westward, northward, and southward – No major conquests were taken by the empire to the east. However, much territory was seized and key battles fought in the three other directions.
C. He did as pleased and became great – For a while, the Persian Empire could not be matched militarily. Victories came in all directions. Babylon and Egypt, with all of their history and might, were easily dispatched with.
4. A male goat came from the West – In verse 21, Gabriel identifies the goat as representing Greece. Even without this clear statement, with the benefit of history the goat’s identity is clear.
A. Came from the west – Greece started in the west (relative to Israel) and came east.
B. Across the face of the whole earth – This is likely a reference to the vast swath of territories Greece conquered.
Without touching the ground – The Greek expansion was all about speed. Alexander the Great and his armies moved with lightning speed. He didn’t stop for long before moving to his next conquest. It was that speed that enabled him to rule such a vast empire by the young age of 31.
C. The goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes – Most likely this is a reference to Alexander the Great. His military prowess is legendary. The Greek Empire was established largely because of his genius.
D. The goat struck the ram and broke his horns – The text says that the goat ran at the ram with “powerful wrath.” Alexander decisively defeated the Persians in a string of three improbable victories. In each one the invading Macedonians went against far larger armies. But their superior training, and more importantly Alexander’s tactics, were enough to drive the Persian armies into chaos. The final major battle between the two powers was the Battle of Guagamela in 331 BC. It was the nail in the coffin for the Achaemenid Empire. Soon after, Darius was killed. Alexander declared himself King of All Asia.
E. The great horn was broken and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven – Alexander died suddenly at the age of thirty-one. Because he had not named any successors, his generals divided up the kingdom among themselves with our separate kingdoms emerging.
II. The little horn that took away the burnt offering (9-14)
Discussion Questions
- What does a horn often symbolize in the Bible?
- Which part of the split Greek empire might this little horn come from?
- What does it mean that some of the host and stars of heaven were thrown down?
- Who is this vision describing?
- What does it mean that it became great even as great as the prince of host?
- What will this person do?
- What is he like?
- Did these things happen already or are they still future?
- What do we learn in this passage about persecution?
- What do we learn in this passage about god’s sovereignty?
Cross-References
Psalm 75:10 – All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
Proverbs 16:5 – Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 21:4 – Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. A little horn – Daniel is still describing the third beast, which represents Greece. The large horn represented Alexander the Great and the four horns after it were symbols for the four rulers who split the kingdom. In similar manner, this “little horn” also represents another ruler within one of these four regions of the split Greek empire.
In chapter 7, there was another “little horn.” He made war against the saints and boasted great things. However, that ruler was part of the fourth beast while the “little horn” in Daniel 8 is part of the third beast. Therefore, although they are very similar in some respects, they are two unique individuals who rule over different kingdoms in different ages.
These two rulers have many similarities. Both hate God and His people. Both desolate the temple. Both trample the Jews. Both are called “little horns.” The use of similar imagery is a way God calls our attention to the fact that these two brash rulers are very similar. While ruling over different kingdoms in different eras, they are kindred spirits. Both have the spirit of the antichrist that John talks about in 1 John 4. The first is an antichrist who foreshadows the final most powerful and evil antichrist in the end-times.
2. The identity of the little horn – Who is this ruler who will trample God’s people?
History reveals to us a ruler who fits the description remarkably well. In fact, he fits it so well that Bible critics refuse to accept that Daniel 8 can be prophecy and instead try to revise the date of the book.
This historical king is Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was a Greek Hellenistic king who ruled the Saleucid Empire, one of the four branches of the split Greek empire, from 175 BC to 164 BC.
Antio