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DANIEL-
I. DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM, HE-
A. Daniel receives vision – 3rd. year of Babylonian King Belshazzar (v. 1-
1. In vision, Daniel taken to Shushan the palace – one of the principal residences of Persian kings (cf. Neh. 1:1).
a. Province of Elam (cf. Ezra 4:9)
b. By River Ulai – Eulaus – possibly Karun River in modern Iran
B. Daniel beholds Ram with two horns.
1. Two high horns – strong in power
a. One horn higher than other, and higher one came lasts – Medo-
2. Ram pushes westward, northward, southward.
a. Comes from East
3. Glories in own power
a. No beasts could stand before him.
b. None to deliver out of his hand
c. Did according to his own will
C. Daniel sees he goat with notable horn between eyes (v. 5-
1. Comes from the West
2. Does not touch the ground – swift in conquering (cf. 7:6)
3. Notable horn – Alexander the Great
4. With fury of power and anger, moves to conquer ram with two horns.
a. Ram cast down, trampled and no one to deliver
5. Magnified self exceedingly
6. When strong horn is broken, four horns proceed in all directions.
a. Alexander the Great died when only 33 years old (323 B.C.)
b. Four rulers emerge: (LYSIMACHUS – Thrace; (2) ANTIPATER –
Macedonia and Greece; (3) PTOLEMY – Egypt; (4) SELECUS – Syria and Babylon.
D. Little horn emerges from Seleucid Empire (v. 9-
1. Became great even toward “glorious land” – Palestine, Jerusalem
2. Because of transgression in God’s people, temple desecrated by this ruler-
a. Antiochus IV erected gymnasiums, honored Zeus with sacrifices,
forbade Jews to carry out daily activities under God’s law and killed thousands of Jews.
b. A king of fierce countenance (cf. 23a
c. Shrewd and devious – destroys God’s holy people (cf. 23b-
d. Will be broken without hand – no humans would bring him dow (cf. v. 25b)
e. length of desecration in actual time: 167-
f. Temple cleansed again through revolt of Judas Maccabee
g. The modern Jewish festival of HANUKKAH (Hebrew:
“dedication”) remembers the dedication of the temple after being cleansed.
3. Holy ones (angels) ask “How long?” – 2300 days and evenings.
a. “Days and evenings” – points to suspension of daily worship.
b. Indicates a number less than complete number of 7 years – trouble and tragedy put under limits by God
c. Sanctuary cleanses – accomplished in 164 B.C.
E. Gabriel announces interpretation (v. 15-
1. Vision is for the time of the end (v. 17), latter times (v. 19a), appointed time of the end (v. 19b), many days to come (v. 26) – end of Grecian rule (cf. v. 23)
F. Vision troubles Daniel (v. 27)
1. Faints
2. Becomes sick for certain days
3. Afterwards, rises to do king’s business
4. Wonders at vision – no understanding
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is this vision centered in Shushan the palace instead of downtown Babylon?
2. What modern River is the Ulai?
3. Approximately how long has Daniel been in captivity when he received this vision?
4. Who is the ram with two horns?
5 What similarity does the ram have with the bear of chapter 7?
6. What stood in the way of the ram when he pushed westward?
7. Identify the rough he-
8. Explain the meaning of “touched not the ground?”
9. Who is the notable horn?
10. How do verses 4 and 7 illustrate the theme of the Book of Daniel?
11. What happens when the horn is strong? How does this fit with history?
12. Identify the four horns which come up:
13. Is the little horn of 8:9 the same as the little horn of 7:8? Explain.
14. Who in history fits the characteristics of the little horn?
15. What does the little horn take away and do?
16. Why does God allow it?
17. How long does the little horn prosper before the cleansing of the sanctuary?
18. What is the significance of “2300 evenings and mornings?”
19. The little horn was to be broken ________________ ____________________.
20. When was the fulfillment of the vision scheduled to occur?
21. After the vision, what four things does Daniel do?