In the third year of—king Belshazzar— This vision was about five hundred and fifty-three years before Christ. From chap. Daniel 2:4 to this chapter, the prophesies are written in Chaldee. As they greatly concerned the Chaldeans, so they were published in that language. But the remaining prophesies are written in Hebrew, because they treat altogether of affairs subsequent to the time of the Chaldeans, and no ways relate to them, but principally to the church and people of God. See Bishop Newton's Dissertation, vol. 2: p. 1, &c.
Related Commentaries of Daniel 8:1
Daniel 8:1
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.