Daniel 8:14
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Original Language Analysis
עַ֚ד
H5704
עַ֚ד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
3 of 10
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בֹּ֔קֶר
H1242
אַלְפַּ֖יִם
unto me Unto two thousand
H505
אַלְפַּ֖יִם
unto me Unto two thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
6 of 10
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ
and three
H7969
וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ
and three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
7 of 10
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
Cross References
Daniel 12:7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.Daniel 7:25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.Isaiah 45:25In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.Daniel 12:11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.Revelation 12:14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.Isaiah 1:27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.Daniel 8:26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Historical Context
Antiochus desecrated the temple on 15 Kislev, 167 BC (1 Maccabees 1:54). After three years of brutal persecution and guerrilla warfare by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, Jewish forces recaptured Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and rededicated it on 25 Kislev, 164 BC—exactly three years later, approximately 1,150 days. The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah, meaning "dedication") commemorates this cleansing. Jesus later celebrated this feast (John 10:22), implicitly validating the Maccabean period's significance in redemptive history.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's specific timetable for ending persecution demonstrate His sovereignty and should increase our trust during trials?
- What does the sanctuary's vindication teach us about God's commitment to His own glory—that He won't allow His name to be permanently profaned?
- In what ways does Christ's blood providing ultimate cleansing surpass even the Maccabean temple rededication?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The answer "Unto two thousand and three hundred days" (Hebrew: ad erev boqer, עַד־עֶרֶב בֹקֶר, literally "unto evening morning two thousand three hundred") has been variously interpreted. Most conservative scholars understand this as 2,300 evening and morning sacrifices—1,150 actual days, matching the approximately three years from Antiochus's desecration (December 167 BC) to the temple's cleansing by Judas Maccabeus (December 164 BC), commemorated in Hanukkah (John 10:22).
"Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" (Hebrew: venitsdaq qodesh, וְנִצְדַּק קֹדֶשׁ) literally means "the sanctuary shall be justified" or "vindicated." This isn't merely physical cleaning but spiritual vindication—God's holiness, profaned by Antiochus, will be restored and publicly justified. The temple's cleansing demonstrates that God doesn't permanently allow His name to be blasphemed; He acts to vindicate His glory and restore His people's worship.
Prophetically, this principle applies beyond Antiochus. Throughout history, God permits temporary profaning of His name to test and purify His people, but He always acts to vindicate His holiness. Ultimately, Christ's atonement provides the final cleansing—His blood sanctifies believers as living temples (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The ultimate sanctuary vindication occurs when Christ returns, establishing His eternal kingdom where God's glory is forever uncontested.