And in the vision I saw myself
This phrase indicates that Daniel is experiencing a prophetic vision, a common method through which God communicated with His prophets. Visions often contain symbolic imagery and require interpretation. Daniel's role as a prophet is affirmed by his ability to receive and understand these divine messages, as seen throughout the book of Daniel.

in the citadel of Susa
Susa was an ancient city located in what is now southwestern Iran. It served as a capital of the Elamite, Persian, and Parthian empires. The mention of Susa is significant because it was a major center of power and administration in the Persian Empire. This setting foreshadows the vision's connection to future events involving the Persian Empire, which plays a crucial role in biblical prophecy.

in the province of Elam
Elam was an ancient civilization located east of Babylon, in present-day Iran. It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in relation to its interactions with Israel and other nations. The inclusion of Elam highlights the geographical and political context of the vision, emphasizing the reach and influence of the empires that would arise in this region.

I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal
The Ulai Canal, also known as the Eulaeus River, was a significant waterway near Susa. Its mention provides a specific geographical marker, grounding the vision in a real-world location. This detail underscores the historical accuracy and authenticity of the vision. The canal's proximity to Susa, a center of power, suggests the importance of the events Daniel is about to witness, which pertain to the rise and fall of empires, as further detailed in the subsequent verses of Daniel 8.

1. Daniel
The prophet and author of the book, who receives a vision from God. He is a key figure in the Old Testament, known for his faithfulness and wisdom.

2. Citadel of Susa
An ancient city located in modern-day Iran, which was a significant administrative center of the Persian Empire. It is notable for its historical and biblical significance.

3. Province of Elam
A region in the ancient Near East, corresponding to the southwestern part of modern Iran. Elam is frequently mentioned in the Bible and was an important cultural and political area.

4. Ulai Canal
A waterway near Susa, which plays a role in Daniel's vision. It is a geographical marker that situates the vision in a real-world context.

5. Vision
A divine revelation given to Daniel, which is a common method through which God communicated with His prophets in the Old Testament.God's Sovereignty in History
The vision situates Daniel in a specific historical and geographical context, reminding us that God is sovereign over all nations and events.

Faithfulness in Exile
Daniel's experience in a foreign land (Susa) encourages believers to remain faithful to God, even when they are in environments that are not conducive to their faith.

Understanding Prophetic Visions
Studying Daniel's visions helps us understand the nature of biblical prophecy and its fulfillment, encouraging us to seek wisdom and discernment.

The Importance of Context
Recognizing the historical and geographical context of biblical events enhances our understanding of Scripture and its application to our lives.

God's Communication with His People
The vision demonstrates that God communicates with His people in various ways, urging us to be attentive to His voice in our lives.(2) At Shushan--i.e., Susa. At this time (see Records of the Past, vol. 1, p. 71, &c.) Susa was, as Daniel describes it, in the province of Elam; at a later period it became the capital of the Persian empire. Daniel was at Susa only in vision, he was not bodily transported thither. The Ulai is the river Eulaeus, and is mentioned in connection with Susa in the inscription cited above.

Verse 2 - And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. The LXX. presents several slight differences, "And I saw in the vision of my dream, when I was in the city Susa, which is in the province Elymais, and I seemed in my vision to be at the gate Ailam." Theodotion renders more briefly, "And I was in Susa the palace (Σούσοις τῇ Βάρει), in the province Ailam, and I was on the Ubal." The Syriac is in close agreement with the Massoretic. even to the transcription of the doubtful word Ubal. The transcription is carried so far that medeenatha, "a city," is used to translate m'deena, "a province." Jerome renders mdeena, cicitas, and uval, portam, and beera, castrum. The word אוּבַל ('oobal) is nearly a hapax legomenon, absolutely so if we do not admit joobal, in Jeremiah 17:8, to be the same word. There is, as will have been seen above, great differences among the versions. The LXX. and Jerome seem to have read אולם (oolam), "porch" or "gate," instead of oobal. Ewald would make the word mean "river-basin," Stromgebeit - a view supported also by Zockler. In many respects "marsh" might be a more suitable rendering. To the south-west of the present ruins of Susa there is an extensive marsh, which may have been of old date. The preposition liphnee, which occurs in ver. 3, is all but meaningless applied to a river, if we use it in its ordinary meaning, "before." If we take it as meaning "eastward," the ram would be "westward" from Shushan, ie. between Shushan and the river; but as Daniel was in Shushan, he would naturally state the position of the "ram" in relation to it rather than to the river. The preposition עַל ('al) is nearly as meaningless with regard to a river, unless a bridge or a boat is intended. We are inclined to read oolam as "porch." At the same time, we know that there was the river Ulai (Eulaeus) near Shushan. It is mentioned in one of the inscriptions of Asshurbanipal in connection with Shushan (Smith's 'Asshurbanipal,' p. 130). The palace. B.C.era really seems to mean "fortress." It occurs ten times in Esther, and always as the appellation of Shushan. In Nehemiah it is once used with this connotation, but twice in regard to some building in Jerusalem, probably the temple; in Chronicles it is used for the temple. In Ezra 6:2 it is used of Achmetha, equivalent to Ecbatana. From the fact that the LXX. translates πόλις, it might be reasoned that the translator had עיר before him, but the translation probably was due to ignorance of the precise meaning of the word. In Esther this word is rendered πόλις. In Nehemiah it is once rendered πόλις, once it is rendered ἄβιρα, and once βίρα. The derivation of the word seems to be from the Assyrian birtu. It really means "citadel" or "fortress," and thus may be compared with the Carthaginian byrsa. Jerome's translation, castrum, suits this. It is not necessary to maintain that at this time Daniel was in Shushan. All that is implied is that in his dream he was there. Shushan is first referred to in the inscriptions of Asshur-bani-pal as the capital of Elam. In the history of that monarch there is an inscription of his given in which he says, "Shushan, the great city, the seat of their gods, the place of their oracle, I captured." Then follows a description of the plunder he took from it. We do not know when it recovered from that overthrow. The name is said to be derived from the number of lilies growing in the neighbourhood; but shushan, "a lily," is a Shemitie word, and the Elamites are usually regarded as an Aryan people. The association of Babylon with Elam and Media must have been intimate, if any credit is to be placed on the Greek accounts of the marriage of Nebuchadnezzar. Hence, even if Elam was not, at the date specified, a province of the Babylonian Empire, perhaps never was, yet the Babylonian. court might well have envoys visiting the court of Elam. We find from the well-known inscription of Nabunahid, that he regarded Cyrus at first as a friend and deliverer from the formidable Astyages, King of Umman-Manda. Daniel may have been sent to Elam, although there is no necessity for maintaining that this was the case. It was not until he had conquered Astyages that Cyrus held possession of Shushan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


And in the vision
בֶּחָזוֹן֒ (be·ḥā·zō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

I saw
וָֽאֶרְאֶה֮ (wā·’er·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

myself
וַאֲנִי֙ (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

in the citadel
הַבִּירָ֔ה (hab·bî·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1002: A castle, palace

of Susa,
בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן (bə·šū·šan)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7800: Susa -- residence of person kings

in the province
הַמְּדִינָ֑ה (ham·mə·ḏî·nāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region

of Elam.
בְּעֵילָ֣ם (bə·‘ê·lām)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5867: Elam -- a son of Shem, also his descendants and their country

I saw
וָאֶרְאֶה֙ (wā·’er·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

in the vision
בֶּֽחָז֔וֹן (be·ḥā·zō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

that I
וַאֲנִ֥י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was
וַיְהִי֙ (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

beside
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Ulai
אוּלָֽי׃ (’ū·lāy)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 195: Ulai -- a river of Elam

Canal.
אוּבַ֥ל (’ū·ḇal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 180: A stream, river


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OT Prophets: Daniel 8:2 I saw in the vision (Dan. Da Dn)