Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 12:8

"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?" — Daniel 12:8 (ASV)

And I heard, but I understood not - He did not understand the full significance of the language employed—a time, and times, and an half. This would make it probable that there was something more intended than merely three years and a half as the period of the continuation of these troubles. Daniel saw, apparently from the manner of the angel, as well as from the terms which he used, that there was something mystical and unusual in those terms, and he says, therefore, that he could not understand their full import.

Then said I, O my Lord - A term of civil address. The language is such as would be used by an inferior when respectfully addressing one of superior rank. It is not a term that is peculiarly appropriate to God, or that implies a Divine nature, but is here given to the angel as an appellation of respect, or as denoting one of superior rank.

What shall be the end of these things? - Indicating great anxiety to know what was to be the termination of these wonders. The end had been often referred to in the communication of the angel, and now he had used an enigmatic expression as referring to it, and Daniel asks, with great emphasis, when the end was to be.