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Daniel 8
La Bible du Semeur

Le bélier et le bouc

Vision du bélier et du bouc

8 La troisième année du règne du roi Balthazar[a], moi, Daniel, j’eus une nouvelle vision après celle que j’avais eue précédemment. 2 Je regardais et je me voyais dans la cité fortifiée de Suse, dans la province d’Elam et, dans ma vision, je me tenais près du fleuve Oulaï[b].

3 Je levai les yeux et je vis un bélier qui se tenait devant le fleuve. Il avait deux très hautes cornes[c] ; l’une d’elles, celle qui avait poussé la dernière, était plus grande que l’autre. 4 Puis je vis le bélier frapper en direction de l’ouest, du nord et du sud, et aucune bête ne pouvait lui résister et personne ne pouvait délivrer de son pouvoir. Il agissait à sa guise et il grandissait.

5 Tandis que je réfléchissais, je vis un bouc[d] arriver de l’occident ; il parcourait toute l’étendue de la terre, sans toucher le sol. Il avait une corne proéminente entre les yeux. 6 Il parvint jusqu’au bélier à deux cornes que j’avais vu devant le fleuve, et se précipita sur lui avec violence. 7 Je le vis arriver à sa hauteur, et s’enrager contre lui. Il le frappa et brisa ses deux cornes ; le bélier n’eut pas la force de lui résister : le bouc le jeta à terre et le piétina. Personne ne vint délivrer le bélier du bouc.

8 Le bouc devint très grand, mais lorsqu’il était encore en pleine vigueur, sa grande corne fut soudain brisée. Quatre cornes proéminentes poussèrent à sa place vers les quatre coins de l’horizon[e]. 9 De l’une d’elles sortit une très petite corne qui grandit démesurément vers le sud, vers l’est et vers le Pays magnifique[f]. 10 Elle grandit jusqu’à s’attaquer à l’armée céleste ; elle fit tomber à terre une partie de cette armée et une partie des étoiles, et elle les piétina[g]. 11 Elle s’exalta au point de défier le Prince de l’armée céleste, elle mit fin au sacrifice perpétuel et bouleversa son sanctuaire jusqu’en ses fondations. 12 A cause de la révolte du peuple contre Dieu[h], l’armée fut livrée au pouvoir de la corne et le sacrifice perpétuel lui fut abandonné. La corne jeta la vérité par terre et réussit dans tout ce qu’elle entreprit[i].

13 J’entendis alors l’un des saints anges parler. Puis un autre saint ange lui demanda : Jusques à quand dureront les événements annoncés par cette vision ? Jusqu’à quand le sacrifice perpétuel sera-t-il supprimé, et la révolte qui cause la dévastation sévira-t-elle ? Pendant combien de temps le sanctuaire et l’armée seront-ils livrés au pouvoir de la corne et foulés aux pieds ?

14 L’autre ange me dit : Pendant 1 150 soirs et 1 150 matins, puis le sanctuaire sera de nouveau consacré au culte.

L’ange Gabriel explique la vision

15 Pendant que moi, Daniel, je contemplais cette vision et que je cherchais à la comprendre, je vis debout, devant moi, un être ayant l’aspect d’un homme. 16 Et j’entendis une voix d’homme venant de l’Oulaï, qui appelait et disait : Gabriel[j], explique-lui la vision.

17 Celui-ci s’avança vers l’endroit où je me tenais. A son approche, je fus pris de frayeur et je tombai face contre terre. Il me dit : Fils d’homme, comprends bien que cette vision concerne le temps de la fin.

18 Pendant qu’il me parlait, je perdis connaissance et tombai face contre terre ; mais il me toucha et me fit tenir debout sur place. 19 Puis il me dit : Je vais te révéler ce qui arrivera à la fin du temps de la colère divine, car un terme lui a été assigné.

20 Le bélier à deux cornes que tu as vu, représente les rois de Médie et de Perse. 21 Le bouc velu, c’est le roi de Grèce, et la grande corne entre ses yeux représente le premier roi de cet empire. 22 Puis elle s’est brisée et quatre cornes ont poussé à sa place : celles-ci représentent quatre royaumes issus de cette nation, qui, cependant, n’auront pas la même puissance.

23 A la fin de leur règne, quand les méchants auront mis le comble à leur révolte contre Dieu, s’élèvera un roi dur et expert en intrigues[k]. 24 Sa puissance ira en croissant, mais non par sa propre force. Il causera d’incroyables ravages et réussira dans ce qu’il entreprendra ; il exterminera de puissants adversaires et décimera les membres du peuple saint. 25 Grâce à son habileté, il réussira à tromper beaucoup de gens, l’orgueil remplira son cœur, il fera périr bien des hommes qui vivaient en paix ; il s’insurgera même contre le Prince des princes, mais il sera brisé sans aucune intervention humaine[l]. 26 Ce qui t’a été annoncé dans la vision des soirs et des matins est parfaitement vrai, mais tiens-en le sens caché, car elle concerne une époque très lointaine.

27 Là-dessus, moi, Daniel, je fus complètement épuisé et malade pendant plusieurs jours. Après cela, je me relevai et je retournai m’occuper des affaires du roi. Je demeurais frappé de stupeur par cette vision que je ne parvenais pas à comprendre.

Footnotes

  1. 8.1 A partir de ce verset, le texte est de nouveau en hébreu. Pour Balthazar, voir notes 5.1 et 7.1. Cette nouvelle vision précise l’identité des deuxième et troisième royaumes des visions des chapitres 2 et 7.
  2. 8.2 Suse: capitale de la province babylonienne d’Elam, située sur le golfe Persique. Le fleuve Oulaï: selon certains, une rivière intermédiaire entre les deux fleuves qui passaient près de la ville, d’où la traduction canal Oulaï.
  3. 8.3 Les deux cornes symbolisent les Mèdes et les Perses (v. 20). C’est Cyrus qui, en 549 av. J.-C., a assuré la prééminence des Perses sur les Mèdes.
  4. 8.5 Le bouc représente le royaume grec d’Alexandre le Grand, la corne proéminente (v. 21).
  5. 8.8 Annonce de la mort subite d’Alexandre le Grand à 33 ans, en 323 av. J.-C., et du partage du royaume entre ses quatre généraux (v. 22 ; voir 7.6).
  6. 8.9 La petite corne: Antiochus Epiphane qui a régné de 175 à 164 av. J.-C. (v. 23-25 et note v. 23). le Pays magnifique: le pays d’Israël (voir 11.16, 41).
  7. 8.10 Voir Ap 12.4.
  8. 8.12 A cause… contre Dieu. Autre traduction : par perversité ou à cause d’une injustice. Ce problème de traduction se pose aussi aux v. 13 et 23.
  9. 8.12 Les v. 11 et 12, difficiles en hébreu, ont donné lieu à des interprétations diverses.
  10. 8.16 Sur Gabriel, voir 9.21 ; Lc 1.19, 26.
  11. 8.23 Durant les dernières années de son règne (168 à 164 av. J.-C.), Antiochus IV Epiphane cherchera à détruire la foi juive. Il fera cesser le sacrifice quotidien et, en 169, pénétrera pour la première fois dans le Temple où il fera introduire sa statue.
  12. 8.25 Antiochus périra en 164 av. J.-C. de maladie ou frappé de folie.
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Daniel 8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 8

The Ram and the He-goat.[a] 1 After this first vision, I, Daniel, had another, in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the fortress of Susa[b] in the province of Elam; I was beside the river Ulai. 3 I looked up and saw standing by the river a ram with two great horns, the one larger and newer than the other. 4 I saw the ram butting toward the west, north, and south. No beast could withstand it or be rescued from its power; it did what it pleased and grew powerful.

5 As I was reflecting, a he-goat with a prominent horn on its forehead suddenly came from the west across the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came to the two-horned ram I had seen standing by the river, and rushed toward it with savage force. 7 I saw it reach the ram; enraged, the he-goat attacked and shattered both its horns. The ram did not have the strength to withstand it; the he-goat threw the ram to the ground and trampled upon it. No one could rescue the ram from its power.

8 The he-goat grew very powerful, but at the height of its strength the great horn was shattered, and in its place came up four others, facing the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came a little horn[c] which grew and grew toward the south, the east, and the glorious land. 10 It grew even to the host of heaven,[d] so that it cast down to earth some of the host and some of the stars and trampled on them. 11 It grew even to the Prince of the host, from whom the daily sacrifice was removed, and whose sanctuary was cast down. 12 The host was given over together with the daily sacrifice in the course of transgression. It cast truth to the ground, and was succeeding in its undertaking.

13 I heard a holy one speaking, and another said to whichever one it was that spoke, “How long shall the events of this vision last concerning the daily sacrifice, the desolating sin,[e] the giving over of the sanctuary and the host for trampling?” 14 He answered him, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be set right.”

15 While I, Daniel, sought the meaning of the vision I had seen, one who looked like a man stood before me, 16 and on the Ulai I heard a human voice that cried out, “Gabriel,[f] explain the vision to this man.” 17 When he came near where I was standing, I fell prostrate in terror. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision refers to the end time.”[g] 18 As he spoke to me, I fell forward unconscious; he touched me and made me stand up. 19 “I will show you,” he said, “what is to happen in the last days of wrath; for it is for the appointed time of the end.

20 “The two-horned ram you saw represents the kings of the Medes and Persians.[h] 21 The he-goat is the king of the Greeks, and the great horn on its forehead is the first king. 22 The four that rose in its place when it was shattered are four kingdoms that will issue from his nation, but without his strength.

23 “At the end of their reign,
    when sinners have reached their measure,
There shall arise a king,
    impudent, and skilled in intrigue.
24 He shall be strong and powerful,
    bring about fearful ruin,
    and succeed in his undertaking.
He shall destroy powerful peoples;
25     his cunning shall be against the holy ones,
    his treacherous conduct shall succeed.
He shall be proud of heart
    and destroy many by stealth.
But when he rises against the Prince of princes,
    he shall be broken without a hand being raised.
26 As for the vision of the evenings and the mornings,
    what was spoken is true.
But you, keep this vision secret:
    it is for the distant future.”

27 I, Daniel, was weak and ill for some days; then I arose and took care of the king’s affairs. But the vision left me desolate, without understanding.

Footnotes

  1. 8:1–27 This vision continues images of the preceding one, and develops it in more detail. As explained in vv. 20–22 the two-horned ram represents the combined kingdom of the Medes and Persians, destroyed by Alexander’s Hellenistic empire originating in the west. Once again the author is interested only in the Seleucid dynasty, which emerged from the dissolution of Alexander’s empire after his death in 323 B.C.
  2. 8:2 The fortress of Susa: the royal palace of the Persian kings in the ancient territory of Elam, east of Babylonia. The river Ulai: a canal along the northern side of Susa. Some scholars argue that the Hebrew word understood as “river” here should instead be translated “gate.”
  3. 8:9 A little horn: as in chap. 7, Antiochus IV. The glorious land: Israel.
  4. 8:10–12 The host of heaven: the angelic host, symbolized by the stars. The Prince of the host: the Most High God, whose worship Antiochus suppressed (1 Mc 1:45).
  5. 8:13 The desolating sin: the Hebrew contains a wordplay (shomem) on the name Baal Shamem (“lord of the heavens,” identified by some as the Greek Zeus Olympios). The reference is to some object with which Antiochus profaned the Temple of Jerusalem (2 Mc 6:2), most probably a pagan altar.
  6. 8:16 The angel Gabriel is mentioned here for the first time in the Bible. There is wordplay in the preceding verse on geber, “manlike figure.”
  7. 8:17 The end time: the time when God sits in judgment on the wicked (v. 19).
  8. 8:20 The Medes and Persians: the Medes had been allies of the Babylonians in destroying the Assyrian empire (late seventh century B.C.), and Cyrus the Persian defeated the Medes en route to conquering the Babylonians. The Book of Daniel, however, treats the Medes and Persians as a dual kingdom; cf. also 5:28; 6:9; and note on 6:1.
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Daniel 8
Expanded Bible

Daniel’s Vision

8 ·During [In] the third year of King Belshazzar’s rule [C perhaps 547 bc], I, Daniel, saw another vision, ·which was like the first one [L after the one that appeared to me in the beginning/previously; 7:1]. 2 In this vision I saw myself in the ·capital city [or fortress city] of Susa, in the ·area [province] of Elam. I was standing by the Ulai ·Canal [or Gate] 3 when I ·looked up and [L lifted my eyes I] saw a ·male sheep [ram] standing beside the ·canal [or gate]. It had two long horns, but one horn was longer and ·newer than the other [L came up second]. 4 I watched the ·sheep [ram] charge to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand before him, and none could ·save [protect] another animal from his ·power [L hand]. He did whatever he ·wanted [pleased] and became very ·powerful [great; strong].

5 While I was ·watching this [or reflecting; pondering], I saw a male goat come from the west. This goat had ·one large horn between his eyes that was easy to see [L a horn of vision; or a conspicuous horn between its eyes]. He crossed over the whole earth without touching the ground [C because of its speed].

6 ·In his anger [or With angry power] the goat ·charged [L came up to] the ·sheep [ram] with the two horns that I had seen standing by the ·canal [or gate]. 7 I watched the angry goat ·attack [approach] the ·sheep [ram] and break the ·sheep’s [ram’s] two horns. The ·sheep [ram] ·was not strong enough to stop him [L did not have the power/strength to stand before him]. The goat ·knocked [threw] the ·sheep [ram] to the ground and then ·walked all over him [trampled him]. No one was able to ·save [protect] the ·sheep [ram] from ·the goat [its power/L hand], 8 so the male goat became very ·great [powerful; strong]. But when he was strong, his ·big [or conspicuous] horn broke off and four horns grew in place of the one big horn. Those four horns ·pointed in four different directions [L were toward the four winds of heaven] and were ·easy to see [conspicuous].

9 Then ·a little horn grew from one of those four horns [L from one of them came out another horn, a little one; 7:8], and it became very ·big [great]. It grew to the south, the east, and toward the beautiful land [C Judah; Ezek. 20:6, 15]. 10 That ·little horn [L it] grew ·until it reached to the sky [L to the hosts of heaven; C the angels and the stars]. It even threw some of the ·army of heaven [L hosts and the stars] to the ground and ·walked on [trampled] them! 11 ·That little horn [L It] set itself up as equal to the prince of ·heaven’s armies [L the hosts; C God]. It ·stopped [abolished] the ·daily [regular] sacrifices [Ex. 29:38–41; Num. 28:3–8] that were offered to him, and the ·Temple, the place where people worshiped him, [L place of the sanctuary] was ·pulled down [overthrown]. 12 Because there was a ·turning away from God [rebellion; transgression], the people stopped the ·daily [regular] sacrifices. Truth was thrown down to the ground, and ·the horn [L it] was successful in everything it did.

13 Then I heard ·a holy angel [L one of the holy ones] speaking. Another ·holy angel [L holy one] asked the first one, “How long will the things in this vision last—the ·daily [regular] sacrifices [8:12], the ·turning away from God [rebellion; transgression] that brings ·destruction [desolation], the ·Temple [sanctuary] being pulled down, and the ·army of heaven [host] being ·walked on [trampled]?”

14 The angel said to me, “This will happen for twenty-three hundred evenings and mornings [C either 2,300 or 1,150 days]. Then the ·holy place [sanctuary] will be ·repaired [restored; made right again].”

15 I, Daniel, saw this vision and ·tried to understand what it meant [L sought understanding]. I saw someone who looked like a man standing near me. 16 And I heard a man’s voice calling from the Ulai ·Canal [or Gate]: “Gabriel [C an angel], explain the vision to this man.”

17 ·Gabriel [L He] came to where I was standing. When he came close to me, I was ·very afraid [terrified; or overwhelmed] and ·bowed facedown on the ground [L fell on my face]. But ·Gabriel [L he] said to me, “·Human being [L Son of man], understand that this vision is about the time of the end.”

18 While ·Gabriel [L he] was speaking, I fell into a ·deep sleep [trance] with my face on the ground. Then he touched me [C strengthening him] and ·lifted me to my feet [L made me stand in my place]. 19 He said, “Now, I will ·explain [make known; reveal] to you what will happen in the time of anger. Your vision was about the ·set [appointed] time of the end.

20 “You saw a ·male sheep [ram] with two horns, which are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The male goat is the king of ·Greece [L Javan], and the big horn between its eyes is the first king [C Alexander the Great, who defeated Persia around 330 bc]. 22 The four horns that grew in the place of the broken horn are four kingdoms [C Alexander died in 323 bc and his four most powerful generals carved up his empire between them]. Those four kingdoms will come from ·the nation of the first king [L his nation], but ·they will not be as strong as the first king [L not with his power/strength].

23 “When the end comes near for those kingdoms, a ·bold and cruel [fierce/stern-faced] king who ·tells lies will come [L understands riddles/enigmas; C Antiochus Epiphanes, who terrorized the Jews in the mid-second century bc]. This will happen when ·many people have turned against God [rebellions/transgressions will reach their height]. 24 ·This king will be very powerful [L His power will be strong], but ·his power will not come from himself [L not his own power]. He will cause ·terrible [fearful] destruction and will be successful in everything he does. He will destroy powerful people and even ·God’s holy people [L the people of the holy ones]. 25 This king will succeed by using ·lies and force [L the deceit in his hand/power]. He will ·think that he is very important [L be great in his heart]. He will destroy many people ·without warning [or with ease]; he will ·try to fight [L stand against] even the Prince of princes! But ·that cruel king [L he] will be ·destroyed [L broken], and not by human ·power [L hand].

26 “The vision that has been shown to you about these evenings and mornings is true. But seal up the vision, because ·those things won’t happen for a long time [L it concerns many days from now].”

27 I, Daniel, became very weak and was sick for ·several days after that vision [L some days]. Then I got up and went back to work for the king, but I was very ·upset [dismayed; perplexed] about the vision. I didn’t understand what it meant.

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Daniel 8
New International Version

Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

8 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s(A) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(B) after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(C) in the province of Elam;(D) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up,(E) and there before me was a ram(F) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.(G) It did as it pleased(H) and became great.

5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,(I) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(J) 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(K) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(L)

9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(M) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(N) 10 It grew until it reached(O) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(P) and trampled(Q) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(R) of the army of the Lord;(S) it took away the daily sacrifice(T) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(U) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(V)

13 Then I heard a holy one(W) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled(X)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot(Y) of the Lord’s people?”

14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”(Z)

The Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(AA) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(AB) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(AC) calling, “Gabriel,(AD) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(AE)

17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.(AF) “Son of man,”[b] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”(AG)

18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.(AH) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.(AI)

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(AJ) because the vision concerns the appointed time(AK) of the end.[c](AL) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(AM) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(AN) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(AO) 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.(AP) 25 He will cause deceit(AQ) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.(AR) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(AS)

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(AT) but seal(AU) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(AV)

27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(AW) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(AX) I was appalled(AY) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 8:12 Or rebellion, the armies
  2. Daniel 8:17 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here because of its possible association with “Son of Man” in the New Testament.
  3. Daniel 8:19 Or because the end will be at the appointed time
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