September 6: A PROPHETIC LAUNCH INTO HISTORY

…Also, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) Daniel 11:1

The parenthetical statement of Gabriel that began in the middle of the closing verse of chapter 10 is completed in the opening verse of chapter 11. It seems an unusual place to divide chapters (chapters and verses were numbered long after the writing occurred, to facilitate quick location of passages), but it helps to cement the preparation of Daniel that occurred in chapter 10 to the revelation just ahead. We are now entering upon a prophecy of future events, but they will not be clothed in figures and symbols, as in the visions of chapters 2,7, and 8. Instead, they are presented in predominantly plain language.

You will remember that immediately after Cyrus the Persian invaded Babylon, it fell without resistance and Darius the Mede sat upon Babylon’s throne (now a part of Persia). Darius, early on, saw in Daniel a high quality of character. Gabriel is now telling Daniel that, through the ordeal of the jealous satraps (laid out in chapter 6), he stood up to confirm and strengthen King Darius and played a role in the events that unfolded. Darius and Daniel subsequently enjoyed a friendship.

At the point of this visit from Gabriel, Darius was dead and Cyrus was ruling over all of Persia. Gabriel continues:

And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. (11:2)

The immediate successors of Cyrus would be: Cambyses, son of Cyrus; Smerdis, an impostor; and Darius Hystaspes. This Darius had a son, Xerxes, who was far richer than them all. Famously wealthy, he was obsessed with overrunning Greece. He amassed an army of well over 5 million men. He fought successfully against Greece at the famous battle of Thermopylae, but only because the 300 Spartans who guarded the pass were betrayed by traitors. But then a disastrous defeat at the battle of Salamis (480BC) sent the Persian army limping home.

Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. (11:3)

This is none other than Alexander the Great. Xerxes was the last Persian king to invade Greece. The visions, belly and thighs of bronze (2:32), leopard…[with] four wings…[and] four heads (7:6), and male goat…with a notable horn (8:5) are here confirmed as the king of Greece.

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them. But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. Proverbs 11:2-5