What does "2,300 evenings and mornings" signify in Daniel 8:14's prophecy? Context of Daniel 8 • Daniel sees a vision (Daniel 8:1-12) of a ram, a goat, and a little horn that “tramples” the sanctuary and stops the regular sacrifice. • The angelic question in v. 13 asks, “How long…?”—a direct concern for the duration of the desecration. Text of Daniel 8:14 “He said to me, ‘It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be restored to its rightful state.’ ” What “2,300 evenings and mornings” Means • The Hebrew pairs “evening-morning” just as in Genesis 1 (“evening and morning were the first day”), naturally suggesting complete days. • Taken literally, 2,300 evening-morning cycles = 2,300 days (about 6 years, 4 months). • Some suggest 1,150 days (counting each sacrifice), yet the repeated creation-day wording favors full days. Historical Fulfillment: Antiochus IV Epiphanes • Daniel’s “little horn” (vv. 9-12, 23-25) aligns with Antiochus IV, Seleucid king (175-164 BC) who outlawed Mosaic worship. • Key events: – 171 BC: High priest Onias III murdered; Antiochus installs corrupt priesthood. – 167 BC (Kislev 15): Altar to Zeus erected; sacrifices to Yahweh cease (Daniel 11:31). – 165 BC (Kislev 25): Judas Maccabeus rededicates the temple (Hanukkah; cf. John 10:22). • Counting roughly late 171 BC to late 165 BC yields about 2,300 days, matching the prophecy. Why the Sanctuary Needed “Cleansing” • Antiochus defiled it with pagan offerings (1 Macc 1:54-59 echoes Daniel 11:31). • The daily burnt offering (“tamid”) commanded in Exodus 29:38-42, Numbers 28:3-4 was halted. • Restoration required ritual purification (cf. Leviticus 8:15; Ezekiel 43:26). Prophetic and Theological Significance • Confirms God’s sovereignty—He sets a precise limit to evil (Job 14:5; Acts 17:26). • Encourages faithfulness under persecution (Hebrews 10:36-39). • Foreshadows the ultimate cleansing accomplished by Christ (Hebrews 9:11-14), whose once-for-all sacrifice replaces the daily offerings. Key Takeaways • “2,300 evenings and mornings” represents 2,300 literal days. • The period spans Antiochus IV’s oppression (c. 171-165 BC) and ends with the temple’s rededication. • The prophecy showcases God’s precise control over history and His commitment to vindicate true worship. |
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