Daniel 8:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper.

NIV: Because of rebellion, the LORD's people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

NASB: And because of an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful.

CSB: In the rebellion, the army was given up, together with the regular sacrifice. The horn threw truth to the ground and was successful in what it did.

NLT: The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did.

KJV: And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

NKJV: Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

The little horn of Daniel's vision (Daniel 8:8–9) represents an infamous king: Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This tyrant will desecrate the temple, interfere with Jewish worship, and make war on the people of Israel (Daniel 8:10–11, 13–14, 23–25). The reference to a "host" falling to this king may mean that many Jews would ally with Epiphanes to avoid persecution. Or it might refer to the many who died under his cruelty.

Epiphanes outlawed Jewish religious practices and spitefully desecrated the temple. The prophecy also portrays Antiochus as throwing truth to the ground. In his opposition to God and His people, Antiochus despised the law of Moses and forbade the Jews to honor it. He was able to continue his despicable activities and prosper, for a short while.

Some expositors believe Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his horrific actions foreshadow what the false prophet of the tribulation will do. Revelation 13 pictures the false prophet corrupting worship by causing an image of the beast from the sea (the Antichrist) to be made and for everyone to worship the image (Revelation 13:11–15). Speaking to His followers, Jesus refers to "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15), which seems to be a reference to something the Antichrist or false prophet will do in the Jewish temple.

Daniel 8:1–14 changes the written language to Hebrew, after several chapters in Aramaic. This indicates a shift in intended audience: these messages are primarily meant for the benefit of Israel. This section gives the time, place, and contents of another of Daniel's visions. Like the dream and visions of chapter 7, it concerns the time before Christ's birth. While the vision of Daniel 7 provides more detail on the final end times, the vision here includes a prophecy that appears to have dual fulfillment. After the vision, Daniel will record the meaning as given to him by the angel, Gabriel.

Daniel sees a vision, later explained to him by the angel Gabriel. A swift-moving goat overpowers a two-horned ram. This represents the conquest of Greece over Medo-Persia. Then the goat's horn shatters, replaced by four more; this predicts Alexander the Great's death and succession. Later, a ruler arises to brutally persecute God's people. This prophecy refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple and outlawed Jewish religious practices. It also foreshadows the end times when the Antichrist will be tied to similar events. The experience leaves Daniel temporarily bedridden.

The first 6 chapters of Daniel recorded events from his life. The final chapters record his visions of the future. The prior chapter contained a dream involving several animals, depicting powerful nations. The vision explained here also deals with conquering empires, but also touches on events to come in the end times. Daniel's next passage includes his prayer for Israel and further explanation of what will happen in the last days of human history.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.