And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all—Gabriel's prophecy identifies specific Persian rulers following Cyrus: Cambyses II (530-522 BC), the false Smerdis (522 BC), and Darius I (522-486 BC). The fourth king is Xerxes I (486-465 BC), whose immense wealth is documented by Herodotus. The Hebrew ya'amod (יַעֲמֹד, 'shall stand up') indicates sovereign establishment, not mere succession.
By his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia—Xerxes assembled history's largest invasion force (Herodotus claims over 2 million, likely inflated but massive nonetheless) to attack Greece in 480 BC. The Hebrew ya'ir (יָעִיר, 'stir up') means to rouse or incite. This campaign's failure at Salamis and Plataea shifted power westward, setting the stage for Alexander's conquests (vv. 3-4). God reveals future history to demonstrate His sovereign orchestration of empires.
Historical Context
Written circa 536 BC during Cyrus's reign, this prophecy predates the events by decades. The Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 BC) succeeded Babylon and allowed Jewish return under Cyrus's decree (Ezra 1). Xerxes's Greek campaign is the pivot between Persian dominance and Greek ascendancy, making this prophecy remarkably specific. Daniel's detailed foreknowledge of empire succession demonstrates God's sovereignty over gentile kingdoms during Israel's dispersion.
Questions for Reflection
How does God's detailed revelation of future empires demonstrate His sovereign control over history?
What does Xerxes's massive wealth yet ultimate defeat teach about the limitations of human power and resources?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all—Gabriel's prophecy identifies specific Persian rulers following Cyrus: Cambyses II (530-522 BC), the false Smerdis (522 BC), and Darius I (522-486 BC). The fourth king is Xerxes I (486-465 BC), whose immense wealth is documented by Herodotus. The Hebrew ya'amod (יַעֲמֹד, 'shall stand up') indicates sovereign establishment, not mere succession.
By his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia—Xerxes assembled history's largest invasion force (Herodotus claims over 2 million, likely inflated but massive nonetheless) to attack Greece in 480 BC. The Hebrew ya'ir (יָעִיר, 'stir up') means to rouse or incite. This campaign's failure at Salamis and Plataea shifted power westward, setting the stage for Alexander's conquests (vv. 3-4). God reveals future history to demonstrate His sovereign orchestration of empires.