15 "While I, Daniel, was trying to make sense of what I was seeing, suddenly there was a humanlike figure standing before me. 16 "Then I heard a man's voice from over by the Ulai Canal calling out, 'Gabriel, tell this man what is going on. Explain the vision to him.' 17 He came up to me, but when he got close I became terrified and fell facedown on the ground. 18 As soon as he spoke, I fainted, my face in the dirt. But he picked me up and put me on my feet. 19 "And then he continued, 'I want to tell you what is going to happen as the judgment days of wrath wind down, for there is going to be an end to all this. 20 "'The double-horned ram you saw stands for the two kings of the Medes and Persians. 21 The billy goat stands for the kingdom of the Greeks. The huge horn on its forehead is the first Greek king. 22 The four horns that sprouted after it was broken off are the four kings that come after him, but without his power. 23 "'As their kingdoms cool down and rebellions heat up, A king will show up, hard-faced, a master trickster. 24 His power will swell enormously. He'll talk big, high-handedly, Doing whatever he pleases, knocking off heroes and holy ones left and right. 25 He'll plot and scheme to make crime flourish - and oh, how it will flourish! He'll think he's invincible and get rid of anyone who gets in his way. But when he takes on the Prince of all princes, he'll be smashed to bits - but not by human hands. 26 This vision of the 2,300 sacrifices, evening and morning, is accurate but confidential. Keep it to yourself. It refers to the far future.' 27 "I, Daniel, walked around in a daze, unwell for days. Then I got a grip on myself and went back to work taking care of the king's affairs. But I continued to be upset by the vision. I couldn't make sense of it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 8:15-27
Commentary on Daniel 8:15-27
(Read Daniel 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 that long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision being ended, a charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for the present. He kept 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 those 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 are intrusted with public business must discharge their trust uprightly; and, amidst all doubts and discouragements, they may, if true 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.