Daniel 7:8

I considered the horns, and I was contemplating the horns, when, &c. The force of the verb is apparent from its use in the Targ. of Onk., as Exodus 3:6, -he feared to gaze uponthe glory of Jehovah," and Numbers 21:9, -when he looked attentively at(or contemplated) the serpent of brass."

another little horn, &c. R.V. (avoiding a possible ambiguity in the English) another horn, a little one, before which, &c. With -little" cf. Daniel 8:9. No doubt the meaning is, little in its beginning, but soon increasing in power, till -three of the first horns were rooted up from before it." If the fourth beast symbolizes the empire of Alexander, the -little horn" will be Antiochus Epiphanes, whose persecution of the Jews (b.c. 168 165) forms certainly the subject of Daniel 8:10-14; Daniel 8:24-25, and Daniel 11:31-33, and who, in Daniel 8:9 (see Daniel 8:23), is also represented by a -little horn." The descriptions at the end of the present verse, and in Daniel 7:21; Daniel 7:25, also suit Antiochus Epiphanes. For further particulars respecting the events of his reign, see the notes on Daniel 11:21 ff., Daniel 11:30-36 ff., and p. 194 f.

and behold, in this horn, &c. Another marvel: the horn had the eyes and mouth of a man. The eyes like the eyes of a manimply the faculty of keen observation and insight, and so indirectly the possession of intellectual shrewdness.

and a month speaking greatthings] i.e. proud, presumptuous things, especially against God, or His people. Cf. Psalms 12:3, -the tongue that speaketh great things," Obadiah 1:12, lit. -neither make thy mouth great," Revelation 13:5, where the beast with ten horns is given - a mouth speaking great thingsand blasphemies." Comp. Daniel 11:36, where it is said of Antiochus Epiphanes that he will -speak marvellous things against the God of gods"; and 1Ma 1:24, where it is stated that, after despoiling the Temple (b.c. 170), he went away, and -spake great presumptuousness" (ἐλάλησεν ὑπερηφανίαν μεγάλην).