Daniel 8:8

8:8 The male goat acted even more arrogantly. But no sooner had the large horn become strong than it was broken, and there arose four conspicuous horns ¹  in its place, ²  extending toward the four winds of the sky. ³ 

Daniel 8:25

8:25 By his treachery ⁴  he will succeed through deceit. ⁵  He will have an arrogant attitude, ⁶  and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. ⁷  He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart – but not by human agency. ⁸ 

Daniel 11:20

11:20 There will arise after him ⁹  one ¹⁰  who will send out an exactor ¹¹  of tribute to enhance the splendor of the kingdom, but after a few days he will be destroyed, ¹²  though not in anger or battle.

[8:8]  ¹ tn The word “horns” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.

[8:8]  ² sn The four conspicuous horns refer to Alexander’s successors. After his death, Alexander’s empire was divided up among four of his generals: Cassander, who took Macedonia and Greece; Lysimachus, who took Thrace and parts of Asia Minor; Seleucus, who took Syria and territory to its east; and Ptolemy, who took control of Egypt.

[8:8]  ³ tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[8:25]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew term has a primary meaning of “skill, insight,” but here it has the connotation “cunning, treachery.” See BDB 968 s.v. שֵׂכֶל, שֶׂכֶל.

[8:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “he will cause deceit to succeed by his hand.”

[8:25]  ⁶ tn Heb “in his heart he will act arrogantly.”

[8:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “in peace.” The Hebrew word used here is difficult. It may refer to the security felt by those who did not realize the danger of imminent attack, or it may refer to the condition of being unaware of the impending danger. The latter idea is reflected in the present translation. See further, BDB 1017 s.v. שַׁלְוָה.

[8:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “with nothingness of hand.”

[11:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “on his place.”

[11:20]  ⁸ sn The one who will send out an exactor of tribute was Seleucus IV Philopator (ca. 187-176 B.C.).

[11:20]  ⁹ sn Perhaps this exactor of tribute was Heliodorus (cf. 2 Maccabees 3).

[11:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”