8:1
The previous vision gave a very broad brush picture of the whole of human history. The following visions are much more specific, referring in particular to Greece in this one. The broad brush approach indicates the overall direction of history, and what is happening in the world. The more specific visions still have useful general lessons, but also demonstrate the veracity of the general visions. The “third year of Belshazzar’s reign” is 550/549 BC and is the year when Cyrus established and took total control of the joint Persian and Mede kingdom. Daniel refers back to the first vision, indicating that this one was related to it in some way.
8:2-4
Susa was to become a very important city in Persia, and is the place where the book of Esther played out. Daniel sees a ram with two horns, the two horns representing strength. Then one of the horns became more powerful. The ram charged up and down in all directions. It conquered all and no one could stand against it. The period of history was one where first Assyria, then Babylon and now Persia and Mede were dominant over the whole region.
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