Page 218 - Daniel

chapters 10–11 reveal the events relating the Persian and Greek Empires
to Israel, with emphasis on the Gentile oppression of Israel. The final
section, 11:36–12:13, deals with the end of the age, the period of the
revived Roman Empire, and the deliverance of Israel. It is fitting that the

last five chapters of Daniel should be written in Hebrew, the language of
Israel.

THE VISION AT SUSA (8:1–2)

8:1–2 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision
appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.

And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the capital,
which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at
the Ulai canal.

Daniel’s second vision occurred in the third year of Belshazzar’s reign,
about two years after the vision of chapter 7. Since both visions occurred
in Belshazzar’s reign, chapters 7 and 8 chronologically occur before

chapter 5, the night of Belshazzar’s feast. Before archeological
discoveries confirmed this king’s historical character, it was common for
critics to conclude that the events of chapter 8 occurred immediately
before chapter 5. Gaebelein states, “It was the year when the feast of
blasphemy was held and Babylon fell. Then God took His faithful servant
aside and revealed to him new things concerning the future.” Edward
2
Young assumes without evidence the same chronology: “[T]his vision

occurred shortly before the events of the fatal night of ch. 5.” 3
On the basis of the Babylonian Chronicle, it is now known that
Nabonidus began his reign in 556 B.C., and apparently Belshazzar became

coregent in 553 B.C. when Nabonidus took residence at Teima, as brought
out in chapter 5. Belshazzar previously had served in other royal
capacities beginning in 560 B.C. Accordingly, if the vision of chapter 7

occurred in 553 B.C., the vision of chapter 8 occurred in 551 B.C., or twelve
years before Belshazzar’s feast in chapter 5.

There is, therefore, no support for placing Daniel 8 near the downfall
of Babylon as was the customary chronology before the Babylonian