Daniel

Chapter 8

The vision once again has to do with the conquerors of the land of Babylon where the Israelites are held captive. The apocalyptic vision transports Daniel to Suza, the winter capital of the Persian kings.[1]

Daniel sees two animals: 1) A Ram with two horns – referring to the Medo-Persian Empire.[2] The Medes and the Persians overcame the Babylonians. It was the Cyrus, the Persian who returned them to the homeland. 2) A goat with a single horn between its eyes. The goal defeated the ram and grew great. It’s single horn was broken off and four grew in its place. The male goat is Alexander the Great who conquered most of the known world in that area. The single horn gave way to four horns. These were four prominent leaders under Alexander, Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.[3]

The leader most prominent in the life of Israel was Seleucus as the Seleucid Empire dominated Palestine. It was from the Seleucids that Antiochus Epiphanes arose. His intolerance for the religion and practice of the Israelites is what the second part of the dream contained. Gabriel reveals that this leader will be destructive for the people of God and the attack will, in fact, extend with the God Most High. His destruction will extend to the people, the laws, and place of worship.

The Point of this Vision

As is the case with all apocalyptic literature the point of the writing is that life is hard. God knows that their life was hard and that they were under the control of powers that they could not defeat. The message was that, though they were in deep trouble and though the times were painfully difficult, God had not abandoned them, nor has God surrendered any sovereignty in this situation. God remain in charge and will ultimately deliver the people from the trouble. The people are assured that this enemy will be defeated by hands other than human.[4]

Chapter 9

Daniel prayers for Jerusalem – his prayer is one of confession for the his sins and the sins of the people of Israel. The prayer focuses upon God’s righteousness and the people’s guilt in their behavior. One phrase stands out with some interest (v18) “We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies.” This is a phrase that any Lutheran can relate to, as it is the watchword of Luther’s reformation.

Once again Gabriel appears on the scene to let Daniel know that though the city will be held captive, the time will be limited and it will be restored because God heard the prayer of confession.

The message is clear – consequences will proceed. There will be payment for their sins, but their destroyers will not be the overall final answer to their plight. God’s salvation and restoration will be the last word.

The Rev. Dr. Kipp W. Zimmermann

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

[1] Metzger, Bruce M. and Roland E. Murphy, eds, The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, The New Revised Standard Version, New York: Oxford University Press, 1991; Dn 7.4, 1138 (OT).