Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 8:4
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
4. pushing ] i.e. butting: cf. Exo 21:28 (‘gore’); and applied figuratively to peoples, Deu 33:17; Psa 44:5 (‘push down,’ properly ‘butt’).
stand before him ] so Dan 8:7. For the expression cf. 2Ki 10:4.
did according to his will ] did exactly what he pleased; cf. Dan 11:3; Dan 11:16; Dan 11:36, Neh 9:24, Est 1:8; Est 9:5 (the Heb. in all being the same).
and became great ] and did greatly, or (R.V.) magnified himself. The verb (in the conjug. here used) means to shew greatness, to do greatly, usually in a bad sense; e.g. Psa 55:12; Jer 48:26; Jer 48:42; Lam 1:9. So Dan 8:8 ; Dan 8:11 ; Dan 8:25. The verse describes the irresistible advances of the Persian arms, especially in the direction of Palestine, Asia Minor, and Egypt, with particular allusion to the conquests of Cyrus and Cambyses.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward – Denoting the conquests of the united kingdom. The east is not mentioned, for none of the conquests of the Medo-Persian empire extended in that direction: Yet nothing could better express the conquests actually made by the Medo-Persian empire than this representation. On the west the conquests embraced Babylonia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Asia Minor; on the north, Colchis, Armenia, Iberia, and the regions around the Caspian Sea; and on the south, Palestine, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Lybia. – Lengerke. This Medo-Persian power is represented as coming from the east. Isa 41:2 : who raised up the righteous man from the east, etc. Isa 46:11 : calling a ravenous bird from the east, etc.
He did according to his will, and became great – This expresses well also the character of the Medo-Persian empire. It extended over a great part of the known world, subduing to itself a large portion of the earth. In its early conquests it met with no successful opposition, nor was it stayed until it was subdued by Greece – as at Leuctra and Marathon, and then as it was finally overthrown by Alexander the Great.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. I saw the ram pushing westward] The Persians, who are signified by the ram, as well as their founder Cyrus, pushed their conquests west, north and south. The principal theatre of their wars, says Calmet, was against the SCYTHIANS, northward; against the GREEKS, westward; and against the EGYPTIANS, southward.
He did according to his will] There was no other nation at that time that could stay the progress of the Persian arms.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Westward, i.e. towards Babylon, Syria, Cappadocia. Asia the Less, and Greece, all westward from Media and Persia; for the Persians under Darius and Xerxes made war against Greece.
Northward, i.e. against the Armenians, Iberians, Lydians, Colchi, Cusptans.
Southward, i.e. against Ethiopia, Arabia, Egypt, which Cambyses invaded.
No beasts might stand before him; they prospered and conquered all, as did Cyrus.
He did according to his will, and became great; he prevailed against all that opposed, and did what he would without control, and became the greatest king of the earth then.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. ram pushing westwardPersiaconquered westward Babylon, Mesopotamia, Syria, Asia Minor.
northwardColchis,Armenia, Iberia, and the dwellers on the Caspian Sea.
southwardJudea, Egypt,Ethiopia, Libya; also India, under Darius. He does not say eastward,for the Persians themselves came from the east (Isa46:11).
did according to his will(Dan 11:3; Dan 11:16;compare Da 5:19).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward,…. That is, with his horns, as rams do; these kingdoms using all their power and strength, wealth and riches, in fighting with and subduing nations, and pushing on their conquests in all parts here mentioned; to the west, Babylon, Syria, Asia, and part of Greece; to the north, Iberia, Albania, Armenia, Scythia, Colchis, and the inhabitants of the Caspian sea; and to the south, Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and India; all which places were conquered by Cyrus and his successors. No mention is made of the east, because this ram stood in the east, facing the west; and at the right and left were the north and south; and so Cyrus is said to come from the east, Isa 46:11.
So that no beast might stand before him: no, not the first beast, the Babylonian monarchy, which; fell into the hands of Cyrus; nor any other king or kingdom he and his successors fought against:
neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; or power; Croesus, the rich king of Lydia, and other allies of the king of Babylon, assisted him against Cyrus, and endeavoured to prevent his falling into his hands, but all in vain:
but he did according to his will, and became great; none being able to oppose him, he carried his arms where he pleased, and imposed what tribute he thought fit, and obliged them to do whatever was his will; and so became great in power and dignity, in riches and wealth: this monarchy was very large and extensive, and very rich and wealthy, in the times of Cyrus and his successors; and especially in the times of Darius, the last monarch of it, conquered by Alexander, who is described as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet, now shortly sketches the great success which should attend this double kingdom. He says, The ram struck all the nations towards the west, and north, and south. The Persian and Median territory lay to the east of Babylon and Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, and Greece. This, without doubt, is extended to all the successors of Cyrus, who are recorded as having convulsed the whole world. Cyrus himself was shortly afterwards cruelly and basely slain, according to many historians, although Xenophon affirms that he died in his bed. But I have before warned you not to put your trust in that writer, although most excellent, since, under the image of that king, he wished to set before us an example of perfect manliness; and hence he brings him forward as discoursing on his deathbed, and exhorting his sons to kingly virtues. Whichever is the true account, Cyrus was clearly overtaken in the midst of his career. In this way God wished to chastise his insatiable cupidity, a vice in which he resembled Alexander. As to his successors, they excited such commotion in the whole world as to stir up heaven and earth. Xerxes alone said he could bind the sea with fetters! and we know the greatness of the army which he commanded; and this passage treats not only of one king, but of all those of Persia. As they obtained a dominion so far and wide, their ambition and pride always inflamed them, and there was no end to their warfare till they had subdued the distant boundaries of the world. We are acquainted too with their numerous attempts to destroy the liberty of Greece. All this the Prophet embraces in but few words. God also wished to give his Prophet a short glance into futurity, as far as such knowledge could be useful. I saw, then, says he, a ram, namely, a beast which possessed a double horn, representing the Medes and Persians united in the same sovereignty.
He struck the west, and the north, and the south, so that no beasts could stand before him. As the Persian kingdom is here depicted under the, image of a ram, all kings and people are called “beasts.” Thus, no beast stood before him, and no one could deliver out of his hand It is well known, indeed, how Xerxes and others failed in their attacks, and how many wars the Monarchs of Persia attempted in which they were conquered by the Greeks; but still their conquerors were in no better condition, as they were compelled to seek peace like suppliants. So great became the power of the Persians, that they inspired all nations with fear. For this reason the Prophet says, he did according to his pleasure, not implying the complete success of these Monarchs according to their utmost wishes, for their desires were often frustrated, as we have already narrated on the testimony of historical evidence. Still they were always formidable, not only to their neighbors who submitted to their yoke, but to the most distant nations, as they crossed the sea and descended from Asia upon Greece. In the last word, he expresses this fact, — the ram became mighty. For the Persian king became the greatest of all Monarchs in the world, and it is sufficiently notorious that no one could add to his dignity and strength. It follows: —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) I saw the ram pushing.The ram pushes in three different directions. This corresponds to the three ribs in the mouth of the bear. The animal does not push towards the east, as it is presumed that he has already made conquests in those quarters.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. This Medo-Persian beast became great (rather, “magnified himself,” R.V.) as he pushed his conquests through Syria and Mesopotamia toward the Mediterranean on the west, Armenia and Scythia on the north, Libya, Egypt, and Arabia on the south. It has been supposed that conquests in the East are not mentioned because such victories had no vital interest to the Jews, or because they were comparatively unimportant in the development of the Medo-Persian empire, or perhaps because this threefold conquest bears some analogy to the “three ribs” in the mouth of the bear (Dan 7:5). The Greek version, however, adds “eastward.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, and no beasts could stand before him, nor was there any who could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will and magnified himself.’
The vision was of a successful empire builder, conquering in all directions, all-powerful and undefeatable, one who attained great power and authority. ‘Pushing’, that is, with his horns. ‘Magnified himself’ (as with Nebuchadnezzar – Dan 4:30) is probably intended in a bad sense explaining why God brought his empire crashing down. The Persian empire was however always favourable to Israel, for its policy was to foster local religions.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 8:4. Pushing westward, and northward, and southward Westward, that is, subduing Babylonia, Syria, and Asia Minor, under the reign of Cyrus, and extending to part of Greece under that of his successors, Darius the son of Hystaspes, and Xerxes. Northward; the same Darius, according to Herodotus and Justin, carried his arms into the territories of the Scythians, beyond the Caspian Sea; and the Lydians, Armenians, Cappadocians, Iberians, &c. were subject to Persia. Southward; the Persians extended their conquests over Arabia, India, Egypt, and Ethiopia, which last was entered by Cambyses the son and successor of Cyrus; and the Persian empire was very much enlarged and extended under the victorious arms of its first monarchs.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Ver. 4. And I saw the ram pushing westward, &c. ] Hereby are set forth the Persian wars, and especially those waged by Cyrus, who subdued many nations and grew very great, as did also his successors, but especially Darius Hystaspes.
Neither was there any.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
pushing = butting: always hostile.
westward = to the west. Not the same word as in Dan 8:5.
became great = acted proudly.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 8:4
Dan 8:4 I sawH7200 (H853) the ramH352 pushingH5055 westward,H3220 and northward,H6828 and southward;H5045 so that noH3808 H3605 beastsH2416 might standH5975 beforeH6440 him, neitherH369 was there any that could deliverH5337 out of his hand;H4480 H3027 but he didH6213 according to his will,H7522 and became great.H1431
Dan 8:4
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
The ram pushing in three different directions, westward, northward, and southward corresponds with The bear’s having three ribs in his mouth as seen in Dan 7:5. The directions which the Medo-Persian Empire advanced are:
Westward conquering Babylon, Mesopotamia, Syria and Asia Minor including Lydia.
Northward conquering Colchis, Armenia, Iberia and the dwellers on the Caspian sea.
Southward conquering Judea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and also India, under Darius.
The vision did not show any eastward advancement of the Medo-Persian Empire and well it wouldn’t. They themselves came from the east. In Isa 46:11, referencing the Medo-Persians, they are portrayed as “a ravenous bird from the east”.
And this world empire did indeed become great in that they were quite powerful, amassing vast territory and wealth. The Medo-Persian Empire extended from the Indus River to the east to Thrace on the Northwest bordering Macedonia. It encompassed all the territory bordered by and between the Caspian Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian sea, the Persian Gulf, The Mediterranean and the Black Sea. In sheer land mass it was far bigger than the Babylonian Empire, encompassing all of it as well as Egypt and Lydia (Asia Minor).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
pushing: Dan 5:30, Dan 7:5, Dan 11:2, Isa 45:1-5, Jer 50:1 – Jer 51:64
neither: Dan 8:7, Job 10:7, Psa 7:2, Psa 50:22, Mic 5:8
but: Dan 5:19, Dan 11:3, Dan 11:16, Dan 11:36, Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14
Reciprocal: Deu 9:2 – Who can stand Psa 44:5 – push Jer 51:28 – the kings Dan 2:32 – breast Dan 2:39 – another kingdom Dan 5:28 – Thy Dan 8:12 – and it practiced
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 8:4. The three directions mentioned are significant. A glance at the map will show the original headquarters of the Medes and Persians were in the eastcentral portion of the then civilized world. If the empire was to expand it would have to do so in these directions. It continued to do so until it grew into the proportions of a world empire. This was the second one of the four kingdoms that had been predicted by both Ezekiel and Daniel. And both of these prophets predicted that it. would he subdued and replaced by another, which brings the story up to the next event of the vision seen by Daniel.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 8:4. I saw the ram pushing westward, &c. Under Cyrus himself the Persians pushed their conquests westward, as far as the gean sea, subduing Babylonia, Syria, and Asia Minor; and extended them to part of Greece under his successors, Darius the son of Hystaspes, and Xerxes: northward they subdued the Lydians, Iberians, Albanians, Armenians, Cappadocians, and the adjacent countries: southward they conquered Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, if not under Cyrus, as Xenophon affirms, yet most certainly under Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus. Under Darius they subdued India; but in the prophecy no mention is made of their conquests in the East, because those countries lay very remote from the Jews, and were of little concern or consequence to them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no {e} beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
(e) That is, no kings or nations.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Historically, the Medo-Persian Empire pushed its borders primarily in three directions. It went westward (into Lydia, Ionia, Thrace, and Macedonia), northward (toward the Caspian Mountains, the Oxus Valley, and Scythia), and southward (toward Babylonia, Palestine, and Egypt). Compare the three ribs in the mouth of the bear (Dan 7:5). These advances happened mainly under the leadership of Cyrus and Cambyses. [Note: Driver, p. 113.] Indeed, Medo-Persia had its own way for many years, and glorified itself.
"There is nothing inherently wrong about ’doing great things" . . .; but the expression is only used in an unequivocally good sense of God (1Sa 12:24; Psa 126:2-3); of human beings it tends to suggest arrogance (Jer 48:26; Joe 2:20; Zep 2:10; Psa 35:26; Psa 55:13 [12]), or at least achievement at someone else’s expense (Zep 2:8; Lam 1:9)-here achievement that presages calamity. The expression has the foreboding ambiguity of the mouth speaking great things in Dan 7:8; Dan 7:20." [Note: Goldingay, p. 209.]