Daniel 8:1

Daniel Has a Vision of a Goat and a Ram

8:1 ¹ In the third year ²  of King Belshazzar’s reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me previously. ³ 

Daniel 9:17

9:17 “So now, our God, accept ⁴  the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to ⁵  your devastated sanctuary for your own sake. ⁶ 

[8:1]  ¹ sn Dan 8:1 marks the switch from Aramaic (= 2:4b-7:28) back to Hebrew as the language in which the book is written in its present form. The remainder of the book from this point on (8:1-12:13) is in Hebrew. The bilingual nature of the book has been variously explained, but it most likely has to do with the book’s transmission history.

[8:1]  ² sn The third year of King Belshazzar’s reign would have been ca. 551 B.C. Daniel would have been approximately 69 years old at the time of this vision.

[8:1]  ³ tn Heb “in the beginning.” This refers to the vision described in chapter seven.

[9:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “hear.” Here the verb refers to hearing favorably, accepting the prayer and responding positively.

[9:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “let your face shine.” This idiom pictures God smiling in favor. See Pss 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19.

[9:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “for the sake of my Lord.” Theodotion has “for your sake.” Cf. v. 19.