Welcome back to another episode of Nach Daily with Doniel, chapter 8. Its primary topic is Doniel’s 2nd vision, containing the actual date when Mashiach will come.

[May this segment be a merit for the aliyas neshamos of Raizel bas

Moshe and Avraham Aharon ben Yisroel Yitzchok]

The Malbim notes that while Doniel’s other vision about the 4 kingdoms was also made known to Yechezkel HaNavi, the one contained in this chapter was meant exclusively for Doniel.

Doniel had this vision in the 3rd year of King Belshatzar’s reign and took place in the capitol city of Shushan while he was on the Ulia river.

Doniel saw a ram standing by itself in front of the river. It had 2 huge horns, one higher than the other. The ram was butting towards the west, north and south. None of the other beasts were able to withstand the ram, which grew great and strong.

Doniel saw a he-goat approach from the west. It was moving rapidly without ever touching the ground, as if it were hovering. The he-goat had a clearly visible horn emanating from its forehead. It charged the ram with great force and broke off its horns, making it powerless. He trampled and killed the ram.

The he-goat began to grow very big. At its peak, the great horn broke, and 4 interesting looking horns began to grow in its place. From one the horns a small horn began to grow towards the heavens. It grew towards the southeast and Eretz Yisrael.

This horn grew so great that it began to overtake the stars and planets, throwing them down to the ground. Then it challenged God Himself! The horn was successful in stopping the daily offerings in the Beis Hamikdash. Truth was cast to the ground while it prospered.

The different animals and horns again refer to the different kingdoms and generals that will dominate the world.

Doniel describes hearing a conversation between two “holy beings.” One asked the other how long the vision will last and the daily offerings be suspended while God is being “trampled” on.

In verse 14 it says that the other answered, “Until the evening of the morning two thousand three hundred. Then the Holy will be set right.”

All the Meforshim explain this as a direct reference to when Mashiach will come, although as you can imagine there’s much debate as to what this means. Rashi and Metsudos explain that it will be two thousand and three hundred years until Mashiach will come, but no one knows from when the counting begins.

Regardless of the exact interpretation, it should be clear that Mashiach will come! Hashem promised us through his great prophets and His holy Torah that there will be a final redemption.

During this vision, Doniel asked to understand its meaning. He heard a human voice from some being who looked like a man saying, “Gavriel, tell him the interpretation.”

Gavriel told Doniel that his vision has to do with the end of days and the final redemption. As he spoke, Doniel, awed, fell to the ground. Gavriel picked him up, stood him on his feet, and proceeded to tell him the meaning.

The Ram with the two horns represents the kings of Pras and Madai. The he-goat is the king of Greece. The horn on the forehead is the 1st king, while the four horns which broke through are four smaller, weaker kingdoms which will emerge from Greece.

When the time comes for the end of their kingdoms, all the sinners will have been killed. A new king will arise who is both brazen and clever. He will become a superpower but not through strength. He will wreak havoc and punish Hashem’s holy ones, the Jewish nation. He will be deceitful, cunning and grow haughty. He will kill many innocent people and defy God.

However, in the end, without even a single hand being laid on him, he will be broken.

Gavriel continued to tell Doniel that everything he saw regarding the final redemption is true, but he must conceal it, as it will take place in a faraway time.

At the end of the vision, Doniel was completely shocked, becoming ill for several days. Despite the fact that he was devastated from his vision, he continued helping the king and no one knew of it.

Stay tuned to the next episode of Nach Daily and Doniel’s amazing

tefilah.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.