Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 8:8
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
8. Therefore, &c.] And the he goat did very greatly ( Dan 8:4) i.e. performed great exploits.
and when he was strong, the great horn the ‘ conspicuous horn’ of Dan 8:5 was broken ] Alexander was struck down by his fatal malady, just when he had risen to the summit of his power.
and instead of it came up four notable ones ] lit. a sight of four, which is explained to mean ‘four conspicuous ones’ (cf. Dan 8:5, though the expression there is not quite the same). But the explanation is forced: and from Dan 8:22, end, it would seem also that these four horns were by no means so ‘conspicuous,’ or ‘notable,’ as the original horn; so that very probably LXX and Theod. are right in reading, with a slight change ( for ), four other ones.
toward the four winds of heaven ] cf. Jer 49:36; Eze 42:20; 1Ch 9:24; and esp. (in the same connexion) ch. Dan 11:4. See also Dan 7:2.
Alexander left no legitimate heir (though his widow, Roxana, gave birth to a son shortly after his death); and hence his empire became the prey of rivalries and disputes between his generals. A division of the provinces was agreed upon at a military council held the day after his death; but the only permanent elements in this were the allotment of Egypt to Ptolemy Lagi, and Thrace to Lysimachus. After the death of Perdikkas (who had acted as regent) in 321, a fresh distribution took place at a meeting of generals held at Triparadisus in Syria; and another one, after a four years’ war, undertaken for the purpose of checking the ambitious designs of Alexander’s veteran general Antigonus, in 311. The final settlement was brought about by the battle of Ipsus (in Phrygia), in 301, in which Antigonus was defeated and slain by Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Lysimachus, who had coalesced against him. The result of this victory was that Cassander obtained Macedonia and Greece, Lysimachus Thrace and Bithynia, Seleucus Syria, Babylonia, and other Eastern countries as far as the Indus, while Ptolemy remained in possession of Egypt. These are the four kingdoms (cf. Dan 8:22) denoted here by the four ‘horns.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Therefore the he-goat waxed very great – The Macedonian power, especially under the reign of Alexander.
And when he was strong, the great horn was broken – In the time, or at the period of its greatest strength. Then an event occurred which broke the horn in which was concentrated its power. It is easy to see the application of this to the Macedonian power. At no time was the empire so strong as at the death of Alexander. Its power did not pine away; it was not enfeebled, as monarchies are often, by age, and luxury, and corruption; it was most flourishing and prosperous just at the period when broken by the death of Alexander. Never afterward did it recover its vigour; never was it consolidated again. From that time this mighty empire, broken into separate kingdoms, lost its influence in the world.
And for it came up four notable ones – In the place of this one horn in which all the power was concentrated, there sprang up four others that were distinguished and remarkable. On the word notable, see the notes at Dan 8:5. This representation would lead us to suppose that the power which had thus been concentrated in one monarchy would be divided and distributed into four, and that instead of that one power there would be four kingdoms that would fill up about the same space in the world, occupy about the same territory, and have about the same characteristics – so that they might be regarded as the succession to the one dynasty. The same representation we have of this one power in Dan 7:6 : The beast had also four heads. See also Dan 11:4 : His kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven. This accords with the accounts in history of the effect of Alexanders death, for though the kingdom was not by him divided into four parts, yet, from the confusion and conflicts that arose, the power was ultimately concentrated into four dynasties.
At his death, his brother Aridaeus was declared king in his stead, and Perdiccas regent. But the unity of the Macedonian power was gone, and disorder and confusion, and a struggle for empire, immediately succeeded. The author of the books of Maccabees (1 Macc. 1:7-9) says: So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died. And his servants bare rule every one in his place. And after his death, they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years; and evils were multiplied in the earth. Alexander died 323 b.c.; Antipater succeeded Perdiccas, 321 b.c.; Ptolemy Lagus the same year took possession of Egypt; Cassander assumed the government of Macedon, 317 b.c.; Seleucus Nicator took possession of Syria, 311 b.c.; in 305 b.c. the successors of Alexander took the title of kings, and in 301 b.c. there occurred the battle of Ipsus, in which Antigonus, who reigned in Asia Minor, was killed, and then followed in that year a formal division of Alexanders empire between the four victorious princes, Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus. This great battle of Ipsus, a city of Phrygia, was fought between Antigonus and his son Demetrius on the one side, and the combined forces of these princes on the other.
Antigonus had aimed at universal sovereignty; he had taken and plundered the island of Cyprus; had destroyed the fieet of Ptolemy Lagus, and had assumed the crown. Against him and his usurpations, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus, combined their forces, and the result was his complete overthrow at the battle of Ipsus. – Lengerke, in loc. In this battle, Antigonus lost all his conquests and his life. In the division of the empire, Seleucus Nicator obtained Syria, Babylonia, Media, and Susiana, Armenia, a part of Cappadocia, Cilicia, and his kingdom, in name at least, extended from the Hellespont to the Indies. The kingdom of Lysimachus extended over a part of Thrace, Asia Minor, part of Cappadocia, and the countries within the limits of Mount Taurus. Cassander possessed Macedonia, Thessaly, and a part of Greece. Ptolemy obtained Egypt, Cyprus, and Cyrene, and ultimately Ccelo-Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, and a part of Asia Minor and Thrace – Lengerke, in loc.
Toward the four winds of heaven – Toward the four quarters of the world. Thus the dominions of Seleucus were in the east; these of Cassander in the west; those of Ptolemy in the south, and those of Lysimachus in the north.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. The he-goat waxed very strong] He had subdued nearly the whole of the then known world.
The great horn was broken] Alexander died in the height of his conquests, when he was but about thirty-three years of age. His natural brother, Philip Aridaeus, and his two sons, Alexander AEgus and Hercules, kept up the show and name of the Macedonian kingdom for a time; but they were all murdered within fifteen years; and thus the great horn, the Macedonian kingdom, was broken, Alexander’s family being now cut off.
And for it came up four notable ones] The regal family being all dead, the governors of provinces usurped the title of kings; and Antigonus, one of them, being slain at the battle of Ipsus, they were reduced to four, as we have already seen.
1. SELEUCUS, who had Syria and Babylon, from whom came the Seleucidae, famous in history.
2. LYSIMACHUS, who had Asia Minor.
3. PTOLEMY, son of Lagus, who had Egypt, from whom sprang the Lagidae. And,
4. CASSANDER, who had Greece and the neighbouring countries. These held dominion towards the four winds of heaven.
Cassander had the western parts, Lysimachus had the northern regions, Ptolemy possessed the southern countries, and Seleucus had the eastern provinces.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The he-goat waxed very great, by conquering all the Eastern empire and power, even to India.
The great horn was broken: this was the mighty power of the Lord of hosts, who is higher than the highest, and stronger than the strongest, though they seem invincible. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah. When Alexander the Great was greatest, in his youth, not thirtythree years old; when he called himself the son of Jupiter; when he was swoln with victories and successes; then was he broken, and that to pieces, for he, his mother, son, brother, and all his kindred were destroyed. So weak are the greatest to bear prosperity long! for this wonder of men, by pride, luxury, and passion, prepared himself for ruin; he that wept because he had not another world to conquer, and wanted breathing room in this, how soon was he tumbled into a grave of six feet!
For it came up four notable ones:
1. Antipater got Greece.
2. Asia was possessed by Antigonus.
3. Ptolemy got Egypt.
4. Seleucus had Babylon and Syria. All these were variously situated: to the east, Babylon and Syria; to the south, Egypt; to the north, Asia the Less; to the west, Greece.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. when he was strong . . . greathorn was brokenThe empire was in full strength at Alexander’sdeath by fever at Babylon, and seemed then least likely to fall. Yetit was then “broken.” His natural brother, PhilipAridoeligus, and his two sons, Alexander gus and Hercules, infifteen months were murdered.
four . . . toward . . . fourwindsSeleucus, in the east, obtained Syria, Babylonia, Media,c. Cassander, in the west, Macedon Thessaly, Greece; Ptolemy, in thesouth, Egypt, Cyprus, c. Lysimachus, in the north, Thrace,Cappadocia, and the north parts of Asia Minor.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore the he goat waxed very great,…. The Grecian monarchy, under Alexander, became very powerful, and was very extensive; he not only conquered the Persian empire, but also the Indies, yea, the whole world, as he imagined; and indeed he did bring into subjection to him the greatest part of the then known world; and he was very great in his own esteem, at least reckoned himself lord of the world, called himself the son of Jupiter Ammon, and affected to be worshipped as a god:
and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; when the Grecian monarchy was established, and became very powerful, and reached to the greatest part of the earth, then Alexander the first king of it, a great horn, and powerful monarch, died, or was broken; not as the two horns of the ram, by the power of the enemy; not by violence, but by intemperance, in a drunken fit, or, as was suspected, by poison; and that when he was in the height of his glory, swelled with his victories; and that in the prime of his days, when in his full strength, being in the “thirty third” year of his age:
and for it, or in the room and stead of it z,
came up four notable ones; or, “four horns of vision” a; very famous and conspicuous, like that in Da 8:5, which were the four kingdoms into which the empire was divided some time after Alexander’s death, and the four kings that were over them: the kingdoms were those of Egypt, Greece, Asia, and Syria. Ptolemy was king of Egypt, to which belonged Lybia, Palestine, Arabia, and Caelesyria. Cassander was king of Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus was king of Asia, to which belonged Thrace, Bithynia, and other places; and Seleucus was king of Syria, and of the eastern countries: these are the four heads of the leopard, or third beast, which signifies the Grecian monarchy, Da 7:6 and these were
toward the four winds of heaven; east, west, north, and south: Egypt, with its appendages, lay to the south; Asia, and what belonged to that, to the north; Macedonia and Greece to the west; and Syria to the east: and thus was the Grecian empire divided into four kingdoms, among the successors of Alexander: there were some partitions of it before this into provinces among governors, under the brother and son of Alexander; but after the battle of Ipsus, in which Antigonus, one of Alexander’s captains, and a very principal, active, and ambitious man, was slain, and his army routed; the four confederate princes against him, above named, divided by consent the empire between them into separate kingdoms, and became really, and not in title only, kings of them b; which is what is here prophesied of.
z “loco ejus, [vel] illius”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis. a “quatuor [cornua] conspicua”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator “cornua aspectus quatuor”, Michaelis. b See Prideaux’s Connexion, part 1. B. 8. p. 558, 559.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The transformation of the Javanic kingdom. – By the kingdom of the ram the he-goat became very great, powerful ( as in Dan 8:4). But the great horn was broken at the height of his strength, and four similar horns grew up in its stead, toward the four regions of heaven. is here used adverbially, conspicuously: there came forth conspicuously four in its place. This statement does not contradict Dan 8:22 and Dan 11:4, according to which the four kingdom shave not the power of the one great horn; for the thought is only this: they represent in themselves a considerable power, without, however, gaining the power of the one undivided kingdom. The breaking of the great horn indicates the breaking up of the monarchy of Alexander by his death. The four horns which grow up in the place of the one great horn are, according to Dan 8:22, four kingdoms. These are the dynasties of the Diadochs, of whom there were indeed five: Antigonus, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus laid claim to the title of king; but for the first time after the overthrow of Antigonus at the battle of Ipsus, 301 b.c., and thus twenty-two years after the death of Alexander (323 b.c.), they became in reality four kings, and so divided the kingdom among themselves, that Lysimachus had Thrace and Bithynia, – Cassander, Macedonia and Greece, – Seleucus, Syria, Babylonia, and the Eastern countries as far as India, – and Ptolemy, Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia Petrea. But from the fact that this first happened after all the descendants of the royal family had been extirpated, we are not to conclude, with Hvernick, that the breaking of the great horn did not denote the death of Alexander, but the extinction of his race or house; a conclusion which derives no valid support from these words of Justin: “All of them abstained from the use of the insignia of this (royal) dignity while the sons of their king survived. So great was their veneration, that although they had royal wealth and resources, they cared not for the name of kings so long as there existed a legitimate heir to Alexander” ( Hist. xv. 2. 13). If the breaking of the horn is placed at the point of time when the horn was powerful, here as well as at Dan 11:4, the reference of the words to the sudden death of Alexander in the prime of his days, and when in the very height of his victorious career, cannot be disputed; and by the breaking of the horn we can only understand Alexander’s death, and the breaking up of the kingdom founded by him, although it was still held together in a considerable degree for two decenniums by his generals, till the most imperious and the most powerful amongst them usurped the rank of kings, and then, after the conquest of Antigonus, a formal division of the kingdom into the four considerable kingdoms here named raised them to royal dignity.
The prophetic representation is not a prediction of historical details, but it gives only the fundamental traces of the development of the world-kingdoms, and that not in the form of a historiographical prophecy, but only so that it sketches the ground-thoughts of the divinely ordained unfolding of these world-kingdoms. This ideal fundamental thought of the prophecy has so wrought itself out in actual history, that from the one great kingdom, after the death of the founder, in the course of time four considerable kingdoms arise. The number four in the prophetic contemplation comes into view only according to its symbolical idea as the number of the world in its extension toward the four regions of heaven, so that thereby only the thought is declared, that a kingdom embracing the world will fall to ruins in a plurality of kingdoms toward all the regions of heaven (Kliefoth). This has been so historically realized, that out of the wars of the Diadochs for the supremacy four kingdoms arose toward the four regions of the earth into longer duration, – that of Cassander (Macedonia) toward the west, that of Seleucus (Babylonia, etc.) toward the east, that of Lysimachus (Thracia and Bithynia) toward the north, and finally that of Ptolemy (Egypt) toward the south.
(Note: When, on the other hand, Hitzig seeks to explain the prophetic representation, here as well as at Dan 11:4, that with or immediately after the death of Alexander his kingdom was divided, by reference to 1 Macc. 1:6, according to which Alexander himself, shortly before his death, divided the kingdom among his generals, he thereby not only misapprehends the ideal character of the prophecy, but does not in the least degree clear up the matter itself. For the passage in 1 Macc. 1:6, which not only Arabic and Persian authors repeat, but also Moses v. Chroene, and even later Greek and Latin historiographers, as Ammian Marcell., has been explained by Curtius (x. 10. 5) as a fama vana , and is proved by Wernsdorf ( de Fide Librr. Macc. p. 40 f) and Droysen ( das Test. Alex. 3te Beilage, zu Gesch. des Hellen. i.) to be without foundation (cf. Grimm, K. ex. Hdb. zu 1 Macc. 1:6). This may have been originally put into circulation by the partisans of the Hellenic kings, in order to legitimatize their sovereignty in the eyes of the people, as Grimm conjectures; yet the confirmation which the book of Daniel appears to give to it contributed to its wide diffusion by Oriental and Byzantine authors, and the author of the first book of the Maccabees had without doubt the book of Daniel before his eyes in the representation he gives.)
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
This prophecy relates to the death of Alexander. We have explained how, under the image of a he-goat, the Macedonian empire is set before us, having its beginning in the person of Alexander, but by no means ending there, as the monarchy was divided into four parts. The angel said, or at least Daniel records his words, — that he-goat increased to an immense magnitude, because he wandered as it were in sport through almost the whole east, and at the same time subdued it; but when it was in its strength, says he, its great horn was broken By the great horn, he means the monarchy which was solely m Alexander’s power during his life, as he, was the first and last monarch of his race. And in consequence of his generals, who had obtained dominion in the four quarters of the world, becoming kings, as we shall soon see, the word “he-goat” is not restricted to his person, but is extended to his successors. He Himself is called “the great horn.” Hence, when the he-goat was in his strength, the great horn was broken For Alexander had arrived at the height of prosperity when he died. Whether he perished by disease or by poison is unknown, since historians report; a great suspicion of foul-play. The angel does not notice his age, which was thirty-three years at his death, while he seemed to have been born for subduing the whole world, although he was so suddenly snatched away. But the angel regards those continued successes, since Alexander almost by a look subdued the whole land, as we have stated before, and hurried on rashly from place to place. Hence he perpetually gained fresh victories, though at the constant hazard of his life, as he had far more audacity than skill. When he was in his strength, says he; meaning, after having subjugated the whole east. He had returned from India, and had determined to re-cross the sea, and to reduce Greece under his power; for the States had rebelled against him, and the Athenians had already collected a great army; but all the eastern States of Asia had been rendered subservient to Alexander when he died. The angel refers to this by the breaking of the great horn.
He afterwards adds, In his place four conspicuous horns sprang up For he uses the noun חזות chezeveth, notable,” as in yesterday’s Lecture. (51) There were, therefore, four kingdoms which excelled, and each of them was celebrated and placed aloft. Nor is this superfluous, since we know how many became kings, who had enlisted in the service of Alexander with reputation and dignity. Perdiccas was the first, and all thought him to have been favored with special honor by Alexander When asked whom he wished for a successor, he replied, according to the greatness or pride of his spirit, “The person whom he considered most worthy of empire.” He had a son by Roxana the daughter of Darius, as well as another son; then Aridmus his brother approached; yet he deemed no one worthy of the honor of being his successor, as if the world contained no equal to himself. His answer, then, was a proof of his pride. But when he was unable to speak, he took a ring from his hand and gave it to Perdieeas. Hence all conjectured that he had the preference in Alexander’s judgment, and he obtained the supreme authority. After this, Eumenes was slain, who had served under him. Although he was an ally, he was judged as an enemy, and betrayed by his men; Lysimachus being slain on the other side. Fifteen generals were put to death. And as so many succeeded to the place of Alexander and exercised the royal authority, the angel correctly expresses how four conspicuous horns sprang up in the place of one great one For after various conflicts and many fluctuations for fifteen years or thereabouts, Alexander’s monarchy was at length divided into four parts. Cassander, the son of Antipater, obtained the kingdom of Macedon, after slaying Olympias, the mother of Alexander, his sister, his sons, and his wife Rexaria. This was a horrible slaughter, and if ever God offered a visible spectacle to the world, whereby he openly denounced the shedding of human blood, surely a memorable proof of this existed in the whole of Alexander’s race! Not a single one survived for twenty years after his death. Though his mother had grown old, she was not permitted to descend naturally to the grave, but was murdered. His wife, and son, and brother, and all his relations, shared her fate. And that slaughter was even yet more cruel, as no single leader spared the life of his companions, but each either openly attacked or craftily assailed his friend and confederate! But omitting details, four kingdoms were at last left after such remarkable devastation’s. For Cassander, the son of Antipater, obtained Macedon and some part of Thrace, together with the cities of Greece. Seleucus became master in Syria; Antigonus in Asia Minor, joining Phrygia, Paphlagonia, and all other Asiatic regions, after five or six generals were slain. Ptolemy became prefect of Egypt. This makes four horns, which the angel calls “conspicuous,” for on the testimony of history, all the other principalities vanished away. Alexander’s generals had divided among themselves many large and fertile provinces, but at length they were summed up in these four heads. He says, by the four winds of heaven, that is, of the atmosphere. Now the kingdom of Macedon was very far distant from Syria; Asia was in the midst, and Egypt lay to the south. Thus, the he-goat, as we saw before, reigned throughout the four quarters of the globe; since Egypt, as we have said, was situated towards the south; but the kingdom of Persia, which was possessed by Seleucus, was towards the east and united with Syria; the kingdom of Asia was to the north, and that of Macedon to the west, as we formerly saw the he-goat setting out from the west. It now follows, —
(51) This noun is connected with חזון chezeven, “vision,” and is translated in our version variously. In Isa 28:18, it is rendered by “agreement,” and in Dan 8:5, by “notable,” and in the margin correctly by “of sight.” Calvin’s Latin “ illustre,” is very suitable. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Was broken.This points to the sudden and unexpected end of Alexander, B.C. 323. The four horns, which take the place of the notable horn, may mean either that this empire was dispersed to the four winds of heaven on the death of its founder (comp. Dan. 7:2; Dan. 11:4; Jer. 49:36; Zec. 2:6), or it may hint at the ultimate division of the empire into four parts, Thrace, Macedonia, Syria, Egypt, under Symmachus, Cassander, Seleucus, and Ptolemy respectively.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. While still in his youth and at the height of his power Alexander died (323 B.C.), and after a confused conflict, which reached a crisis with the battle of Ipsus (301 B.C.), his great empire was divided into four parts: Thracia on the north, Macedonia on the west, Syria on the east, and Egypt on the south. Ptolemy I took Egypt; Seleucus, Syria; Cassander, Macedonia and Greece; and Lysimachus, Thracia, to which he added later a large part of Asia Minor. As, however, the number “four” is often used symbolically this passage may possibly only mean that the entire empire was split into pieces in all directions. (Compare Dan 11:4.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly, and when he was strong the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up conspicuously four towards the four winds of heaven.’
Following the death of Alexander his empire eventually divided into four. But the reason for his death is emphasised. He magnified himself exceedingly, taking godlike status. Thus at the height of his strength he was smitten down, resulting finally in the four empires.
‘Towards the four winds of heaven.’ The four winds of heaven always indicate the activity of God. For He is the king of heaven and acts from heaven (Dan 7:2; Dan 4:37 compare Dan 4:13; Dan 4:26; Dan 4:31). For these ‘four winds of heaven’ compare Jer 49:36, where they represent God’s fierce activity against Elam resulting in their scattering to all parts of the earth. They are winds with ‘worldwide’ effects, although we must remember that it means the known world of that day. Israel too had been spread in all directions around the known world by the four winds of heaven (Zec 2:6). Thus the idea of the four winds of heaven is of the activity of God stirring up ‘the world’ with mighty effects (compare Dan 7:2 and contrast Eze 37:9 where the four winds are life giving for the people of God). The idea here is that, just as Alexander had magnified himself, so they also defied God to His face.
Some see it simply as meaning in all four directions, but that is the four winds, not the four winds of heaven.
On the death of Alexander the Great his empire was in fact split between his four generals, two of whom were prominent in the Mediterranean world north and south of Palestine. Most who hold this view think that they were Lysimachus (who ruled over Thrace and Bithynia), Cassander (Macedonia and Greece), Seleucus (Syria, Babylonia, and the eastern territories), and Ptolemy (Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia Petrea). However, the exact identification of the rulers is debatable because it took about 20 years for the kingdom to be successfully divided. But there is no question about the fact that Greece split into four major parts.
Antiochus Epiphanes – The Persecutor of the Jews and Despoiler of the Temple.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 8:8. The he-goat waxed very great, &c. This the angel interprets, Dan 8:22. The empire of the goat was in its full strength when Alexander died. He was succeeded by his natural brother Philip Aridaeus, and by his two sons, Alexander AEgus and Hercules; but in the space of about fifteen years they were all murdered, and the first horn or kingdom was intirely broken. The royal family being thus extinct, the governors of provinces, who had before usurped the power, usurped the title of kings, and by the defeat and death of Antigonus, in the battle of Issus, were reduced to four; Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus, who parted Alexander’s dominions between them, and divided and settled them into four kingdoms. These four kingdoms are the four notable horns which came up in the room of the first great horn, and are the same as the four heads of the leopard, ch. 7. Four kingdoms shall stand up,but not in his power: they were to be kingdoms of Greeks, not of Alexander’s own family, but only of his nation: neither were they to be equal to him in power and dominion; as an empire united is certainly more powerful than the same divided, and the whole greater than any of its parts. They were likewise to extend towards the four winds of heaven; and in the partition of the empire Cassander held Macedon and Greece, and the western parts; Lysimachus had Thrace, Bithynia, and the northern regions: Ptolemy possessed Egypt, and the southern countries; and Seleucus obtained Syria, and the eastern provinces. See Bishop Newton, p. 27.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Ver. 8. Therefore the he-goat waxed very great. ] The Greeks became lords of all; their emperor was Et re et nomine magnus, not called great for nought; he began to take upon him as a god, and would be counted son to Jupiter Hammon; he called for divine honours, and slew Callisthenes, his tutor, because he would not yield thereto. This intolerable pride was a sure forerunner of his fall; his heart swelled so fast that the case could no longer hold it, but cracked. The world was a cage or little ease to him, therefore is he soon turned out of it, and of heaven’s darling made the disdain of all. a
And when he was strong, the great horn was broken.
“ Magna repente raunt, summa cadunt subito. ”
Being not unlike those flores horae, flowers of the hour, very pleasant for the time, but dead and withdrawn in a trice. The vanities of this life, saith one, b at our most need, and when we least think, quite forsake us, leaving even them that most sought after them, and most abounded in them, shrouded often times in the sheet of dishonour and shame. Great Alexander lay unburied thirty days together; his conquests above ground purchased him no title for habitation under ground. The like befell Pompey the Great, our William the Conqueror, and others of the like reputation.
And for it came up four notable horns,
a Alexander orbi magnus, Alexandro orbis angustus est. – Seneca, Athenaeus.
b Turkish History, 331.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
waxed very great. Referring to the great extent of Alexander’s conquests, as “ran” (Dan 8:6) refers to the rapidity of them.
very = exceedingly.
great: or, proud. Compare Dan 8:4.
broken = broken in pieces.
for it = instead of it.
came up. Septuagint adds “afterward”.
four notable ones = four conspicuous [ones].
the four winds. See note on Dan 7:2.
winds. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 8:8
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goatH6842 H5795 waxed very great:H1431 H5704 H3966 and when he was strong,H6105 the greatH1419 hornH7161 was broken;H7665 and forH8478 it came upH5927 fourH702 notable onesH2380 toward the fourH702 windsH7307 of heaven.H8064
Dan 8:8
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Alexander “waxed very great”, hence the title, ‘Alexander the Great’. History records that Alexander contracted a deadly fever and died in the city of Babylon in 323 BC in the height of his power. Alexander’s heir was, as yet unborn, and Alexander failed to set in place a regency to assure the ascension of his heir in the event of his death. Alexander was quite young at this time and obviously had no idea he would take sick and die.
Upon Alexander’s death, there was almost immediately a dispute among his generals as to who his successor should be. General Meleager and the infantry supported the candidacy of Alexander’s illegitimate half-brother named Arrhidaeus. General Perdiccas, the leading cavalry commander, supported waiting until the birth of Alexander’s child by Roxana. A dispute arose over whether the child would be a male or not. A compromise was arranged – Arrhidaeus (as Philip III) would become a figurehead king while Perdiccas would rule the empire as regent. Alexander’s direct heir would assume the throne if it was a boy. And he was and was named Alexander IV, born in August of 323 BC.
Perdiccas was assassinated by his senior officers in May or June of 321 or 320 BC. Antipater was then named as the new regent over the empire. He brought with him Roxana to Macedon and gave up trying to rule supremely over the Empire and left it under the control of the diadochi. Antipater died in 319 and he named Polyperchon, a Macedonian general who had served under both Alexander and his father, as his successor. This move enraged Antipater’s son, Cassender, and he allied himself with Ptolemy Soter, Antigonus and Eurydice who was the ambitious wife of king Philip Arrhidaeus, and declared war upon the regency under Polyperchon. The Civil war that erupted went back and forth with both Cassender and Polyperchon defeating and being defeated by each other. In 316, Cassender took Macedon again, and a peace treaty was signed which recognized Alexander IV as Alexander’s rightful heir to the throne. Cassender would rule as regent until his death when Alexander would then be old enough to assume the throne.
After the peace treaty was signed, those opposed to Cassender started declaring that Alexander IV should assume the throne and that the regency was no longer necessary. Cassender had both Roxana and the thirteen year old Alexander IV assasinated by poisoning. Thus ended any hope of the Grecian Empire being ruled by any heir of Alexander the Great.
There were more-or-less forty years of constant war between Alexander’s generals, known as the Wars of the Diadochi, for the rule of his vast Empire. By about 281 BC the situation had stabilized, resulting in four major domains. Gabriel made it clear to Daniel in verse 22 that the Grecian Empire would then be ruled by four kings, explaining the four notable horns. Geographically, the four land-mass territories would eventually come to be:
1) Macedon and central Greece, on mainland Europe, under the rule of Cassender, the son of Antipater, the founder of the short-lived Antipatrid dynasty. The Antigonid dynasty succeeded the Antipatrid headed by one of Alexander’s generals, Antigonus I Monophthalmus. He was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. During his early life he served under Alexander’s father, Philip II, and he was a major figure in the Wars of the Diadochi (Generals), after Alexander’s death, declaring himself king in 306 BC and establishing the Antigonid dynasty.
2) Asia Minor, then called Anatolia ruled by the Attalid dynasty which ruled from the city of Pergamon after the death of Lysimachus who was one of Alexander’s generals. The Attalid kingdom was the remnant of the Lysimachian Empire. One of Lysimachus’ officers, Philetaerus, took control of the city in 282 BC. The later Attalids were descended from his father, and they expanded the city into a kingdom. Attalus I proclaimed himself King in the 230s BC, following his victories over the Galatians. The Attalids ruled Pergamon until Attalus III bequeathed the kingdom to the Roman Republic in 133 BC.
3) Babylonia and Syria under the rule of Seleucus I who established himself in Babylon in 312 BC. After the death of Alexander, Seleucus was appointed as the satrap of Babylon in 323 BCE. Antigonus attacked Seleucus and forced him to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, he was able to return victorious in 312 BCE. Seleucus later went on to conquer the Persian and the Median territories. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya. Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE and Lysimachus in the battle of Corupedium in 281 BCE. He was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus during the same year. Seleucus’ successor was his son Antiochus I, ancester of Antiochus IV Epiphanes who played prominently in this vision of Daniel. Seleucus I was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of his Diadochi (Generals). In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander’s death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire.
4) Egypt under the rule of Ptolemy who was the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty and declared himself King Ptolemy I in 305 BC. He was accepted by the Egyptians as the successor to the Pharoahs and his Dynasty lasted until the Roman conquest of 30 BC. Alexandria was the capitol city. His kingdom was the last holdout of Alexander’s former empire to Roman conquest.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
waxed: Deu 31:20, Est 9:4, Jer 5:27, Eze 16:7
when: Dan 4:31, Dan 5:20, 2Ch 26:16, Psa 82:6, Psa 82:7, Eze 28:9
the great: Dan 8:22, Dan 7:6, Dan 11:4
toward: Dan 7:2, Mat 24:31, Mar 13:27, Rev 7:1
Reciprocal: Ecc 3:14 – nothing Jer 49:36 – the four winds Dan 8:5 – touched not the ground Dan 8:21 – the great Act 4:16 – a notable 2Ti 3:1 – perilous
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 8:8. When, he was strong denotes that Alexander was at the height of his success when he died, and that event also fulfilled the rest of the prediction, the great horn teas broken. I shall quote a passage from one of the “church fathers, otherwise called the Nicetle Library, “Again, the sons of Greece celebrate Alexander the Macedonian as the conqueror of many and diverse nations; yet we find that he was removed by an early death, before he had reached maturity, being carried off by the effects of revelry and drunkenness. His whole life embraced but the space of thirtytwo years, and his reign extended to no more than a third part of that period. Unsparing as the thunderbolt, he advanced through streams of blood and reduced entire nations and cities, young and old, to utter slavery. But when he had scarcely arrived at the maturity of life, and was lamenting the loss of youthful pleasure, death fell upon him with terrible stroke, and, that he might not longer outrage the human race, cut him off in a foreign and hostile land, childless, without successor, and homeless. His kingdom, too, was instantty dismembered, each of his officers taking away and appropriating a portion for himself. And yet this man is extolled for such deeds as these.’-Eusebius, Life of Constantine, Book 1, Chapter 7. The four notable ones refers to the four divisions into which Alexander’s conquests fell upon his death, predicted by the four wings and four heads in chapter 7: 6.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 8:8. Therefore the he-goat waxed very great See note on chap. Dan 2:39. The empire of the goat was in its full strength when Alexander died. He was succeeded by his natural brother Philip Aridus, and by his own two sons before mentioned; but in the space of about fifteen years they were all murdered, and the firstborn, or kingdom, was entirely broken.
And for it came up four notable ones The royal family being thus extinct, the governors of provinces, who had usurped the power, assumed the title of kings, and by the defeat and death of Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus they were reduced to four, Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus; who parted Alexanders dominions between them, and divided and settled them into four kingdoms, which are the four notable horns that came up in the room of the first great horn, and are the same as the four heads of the leopard, chap. 7. Toward the four winds of heaven In the partition of the empire Cassander held Macedonia and Greece, and the western parts; Lysimachus had Thrace, Bithynia, and the northern regions; Ptolemy possessed Egypt and the southern countries; and Seleucus obtained Syria and the eastern provinces. Thus were they divided toward the four winds of heaven.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great {i} horn was broken; and for it came up four {k} notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
(i) Alexander’s great power was broken: for when he had overcome all the East, he thought to return towards Greece to subdue those that had rebelled, and so died along the way.
(k) That is, who were famous: for almost in the space of fifteen years there were fifteen different successors before this monarchy was divided to these four, of which Cassander had Macedonia, Seleucus had Syria, Antigonus had Asia the less, and Ptolemeus had Egypt.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Clearly this description corresponds to that of the third beast in Dan 7:6. Alexander magnified himself exceedingly in two ways. He extended the borders of his empire after he conquered Medo-Persia even farther east, into modern Afghanistan and to the Indus Valley. Alexander’s empire covered one and a half million square miles. [Note: Whitcomb, p. 111.] He also became extremely arrogant. He regarded himself as divine and made his soldiers bow down before him. This resulted in his troops revolting. [Note: Archer, "Daniel," p. 97.]
"Expositors, both liberal and conservative, have interpreted this verse as representing the untimely death of Alexander and the division of his empire into four major sections. Alexander, who had conquered more of the world than any previous ruler, was not able to conquer himself. Partly due to a strenuous exertion, his dissipated life, and a raging fever, Alexander died in a drunken debauch at Babylon, not yet thirty-three years of age. His death left a great conquest without an effective single leader, and it took about twenty years for the empire to be successfully divided." [Note: Walvoord, Daniel . . ., p. 184.]
As mentioned in my comments on Dan 7:6, the most probable identifications of the four horns are Lysimachus, Cassander, Seleucus, and Ptolemy (cf. Dan 11:4). [Note: Young, p. 169; Leupold, p. 344; Montgomery, pp. 332-33; Walvoord, Daniel . . ., p. 184.] Lysimachus ruled the northern part of Alexander’s empire, Cassander the western part, Seleucus the eastern part, and Ptolemy the southern part.