Then I heard one {u} saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of {x} desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the {y} host to be trodden under foot?

(u) Meaning that he heard one of the angels asking this question of Christ, whom he called a certain one, or a secret one, or a marvellous one.

(x) That is, the Jews' sins, which were the cause of its destruction.

(y) That is, which suppresses God's religion and his people.

Wesley's Notes

8:13 One saint - That is, one holy angel. How long - How long shall Antiochus continue his vexations against the people and prevent the worship of God? This is, the treading down of the sanctuary, and the host.

King James Translators' Notes

that...: or, the numberer of secrets, or, the wonderful numberer: Heb. Palmoni

of...: or, making desolate

Scofield Reference Notes

[3] desolation

Seven times in Daniel the "desolation" is spoken of:

(1) Of the sanctuary, Dan 8:13 fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175-170.

(2) Of the sanctuary, Dan 9:17 the condition in Daniel's time, when the Jews were in exile and the sanctuary desolate.

(3) Generally, of the land, Dan 9:18 also referring to Daniel's time.

(4) Of the sanctuary, Dan 9:26 fulfilled A.D. 70, in the destruction of city and temple after the cutting off of Messiah. Lk 21:20.

(5,6,7) Of the sanctuary, by the Beast, Dan 9:27 11:31 12:11 Cf Mt 24:15 Mk 13:14 2Th 2:3,8-12 Rev 13:14,15.

Margin one saint

Or, holy one, idem. Dan 4:13,17.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. that certain saint-Daniel did not know the names of these two holy angels, but saw only that one was speaking to the other.

How long shall be the vision concerning . daily sacrifice-How long shall the daily sacrifice be suspended?

transgression of desolation-literally, "making desolate," that is, Antiochus desolating profanation of the temple (Da 11:31; 12:11). Compare as to Rome and the last Antichrist, Mt 24:15.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:1-14 God gives Daniel a foresight of the destruction of other kingdoms, which in their day were as powerful as that of Babylon. Could we foresee the changes that shall be when we are gone, we should be less affected with changes in our own day. The ram with two horns was the second empire, that of Media and Persia. He saw this ram overcome by a he-goat. This was Alexander the Great. Alexander, when about thirty-three years of age, and in his full strength, died, and showed the vanity of worldly pomp and power, and that they cannot make a man happy. While men dispute, as in the case of Alexander, respecting the death of some prosperous warrior, it is plain that the great First Cause of all had no more of his plan for him to execute, and therefore cut him off. Instead of that one great horn, there came up four notable ones, Alexander's four chief captains. A little horn became a great persecutor of the church and people of God. It seems that the Mohammedan delusion is here pointed out. It prospered, and at one time nearly destroyed the holy religion God's right hand had planted. It is just with God to deprive those of the privileges of his house who despise and profane them; and to make those know the worth of ordinances by the want of them, who would not know it by the enjoyment of them. Daniel heard the time of this calamity limited and determined; but not the time when it should come. If we would know the mind of God, we must apply to Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; not hid from us, but hid for us. There is much difficulty as to the precise time here stated, but the end of it cannot be very distant. God will, for his own glory, see to the cleansing of the church in due time. Christ died to cleanse his church; and he will so cleanse it as to present it blameless to himself.