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In the first year of Belshazzar. This was 429 B.C. See App-50. Daniel being eighty-four years old. Three years before the events of Dan 6. Compare Dan_5:30, Dan_5:31, and the notes on the other dates (Dan_8:1; Dan_9:1; Dan_10:1; Dan_11:1, &c).
This vision (Dan 7) is still in Chaldee (the Gentile language), because it is the continuation of Dan_2:44, and shows what will take place in "the days of those kings" before the stone strikes the image. It brings us up to the end of Gentile dominion over Israel. Dan 8 is in Hebrew, because it specially concerns Israel.
It is the writing of "Daniel the prophet" (Mat 24). This is directly stated by our Lord, Who, seven times in the Gospel of John, declared that what He spake were not His own words, but the Father's (Joh_7:16; Joh_8:28, Joh_8:40, Joh_8:47; Joh_12:49; Joh_14:10, Joh_14:24; Joh_17:8. Compare Deu_18:18 and Isa_51:16).
This member "B" (Dan_7:1-28; Dan_8:1-27, see chart below) consists of two visions. Each is distinct and complete in itself. (Z1, 7:1-28 ; Z2, 8:1-27).
The dream of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2) was interpreted to him by Daniel; while the dream (or vision) of Daniel was interpreted to him by the Angel. The former referred to the beginning and duration of Gentile dominion over Israel; the latter concerns the end of it. See the Structure below. The second (Dan 8) was given two years later than the first (Compare Dan_7:1 with Dan_8:1), and is subsequent to the first, giving further details concerning "the latter time of their dominion" (i.e. that of the four beasts of the first vision in Dan 7). Further details are given in Dan 9, Dan 11, Dan 12.
The interpretation is given in verses: Dan_7:7, Dan_7:17, Dan_7:18; and shows that these visions (Dan 7and Dan 8) are still future, and are not therefore to be confounded with the dream of Dan 2. See the notes on verses: Dan_7:17, Dan_7:18, below.
The interpretations given to us of these two separate visions need no further interpretation by us. The source of the dream is the source of the interpretation also. They are for us to understand and to believe. We may comment on the interpretations given, but not interpret them.
Dan_7:1-28; Dan_8:1-27. THE DEEAM, AND VISIONS OF DANIEL. THE END OF GENTILE DOMINION. (Division.)
B | Z1 | 7:1-28. The Vision of the Four Beasts. (First year.)
| Z2 | 8:1-27. The Vision of the Two Beasts. (Third year.)
Dan_7:1-28 (Z1, above). THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS. (Repeated Alternations.)
(You may need to widen your viewing window for this chart to display properly)
Z1 | A1 | C1 | 1-8. The Four Beasts. } The
| | D1 | 9-14 The judgment of the Son of Man } Vision.
| B1 | 15, 16 Daniel's perturbation and inquiry.
| A2 | C2 | 17. The Four Beasts. } The
| | D2 | 18. The judgement of the Son of Man. } Interpretation.
B2 | 19-22. Daniel's inquiry.
| A3 | C3 | 23-23. The Fourth Beast } The
| | D3 | 26,27. The judgement of the Son of Man. } Interpretation
| B3 | 28. Daniel's perturbations.
Belshazzar. The last king of Babylon. Until 1854, when Sir H. C. Rawlinson discovered the cuneiform texts, all was speculation. An inscription belonging to the first year of Nabonidus, his father (see notes on Dan_5:2, and Jer_27:7), calls him his "firstborn son" and gives his name Belsarra-uzer = "O Bel defend the king". There are frequent references to him in contracts and similar documents (Encycl. Brit, 11th (Cambridge) ed., vol. iii, p. 711). He was the last king of Babylon (Dan_5:30, Dan_5:31). See note on Dan_5:7.
had = beheld.
a dream. One of twenty recorded dreams. See note on Gen_20:3.
he wrote. This is to be noted, as it was afterward "told" in speech (verses: Dan_7:1, Dan_7:2).
the sum = substance, or the chief of the words.
matters = words.