Ver. 1. In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar.] Which was his last year, when Babylon was closely besieged: therefore Daniel was not now really at Shushan, but in vision only. (Daniel 8:2) A vision appeared unto me.] While waking likely: and for further explication of the former vision, (Daniel 7:1,2) whereof because Daniel made so good use, ampliorem gratiam accipit, saith Oecolampadius, he now receiveth further grace.
Ver. 2. I saw in a vision.] God revealed himself to men waking in vision, as well as in dreams, (Hebrews 1:1) wherein the prophets saw things actually done, which hereby they knew were to be done. (1 Kings 22:17) I was at Shushan.] Which signifieth a lily, so it was called for the pleasantness of the place: now it is called Valdac, of the poverty of the place. Here it was that Alexander found fifty thousand talents of gold, besides silver great store. It was once the royal seat of the kings of Persia, and gave name to the whole province Susiane. See Nehemiah 1:1 Es 1:1. And I was by the river of Ulai.] Called by heathen authors Eulaeus, but better ολυαιος. It compassed the temple of Diana at Shushan round, and, as some say, the whole city. Pliny saith that the waters of this river were highly esteemed, so that the Persian kings drank thereof. Athenaeus. Pliny, lib. vi. cap. 27.
Ver. 3. There stood before the river a ram.] With a golden fleece and full of flesh. This was the Persian monarch; who is also said to stand, because of his slow motion and sluggish disposition; and “before the river,” because the Persians ruled over many nations, signified by waters. (Revelation 17:1) A ram stalketh stately before the flock as a captain; but they are only sheep which he leadeth. Let a dog but lay his nose over the hedge, and away they run all: so did the sheepish cowardly Persians before Alexander. Which had two horns.] These were the states of Medea and Persia. But one was higher than the other,] i.e., The Persians at length became higher than the Medes, and overtopped them. And the higher came up last.] Cyrus after Darius, uniting both nations into one monarchy.
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.] None could resist his rage, nor escape his reach.
Ver. 5. And as I was considering.] Such as are studious shall see more of God’s mind. (Revelation 1:12) Behold, an he-goat came from the west,] i.e., From Greece and Macedon, west from Persia. This goat, more nimble, swift, and potent than a ram, was the Grecian monarch Alexander, who came capering and prancing over the whole earth—that is, over the whole Persian monarchy, and more—setting fire on all Asia, as the magicians foretold he would do, as being born the same day that Diana’s temple at Ephesus was set on fire. This Alexander the Great was Dux gregis ipse caper, of all whose victories we have here a notable abridgement, more like a history than a prophecy. The high-priest Jaddus is said to have shown it to Alexander in his march against Darius Codomannus, the last king of Persia, who thereby, much encouraged in his enterprise, bestowed upon the Jews many favours and freedoms. And touched not the ground.] Alexander was notably nimble, thinking nothing too hard for him to achieve, and slipping no opportunity. When he was to encounter with Darius’s army at Granicum, Parmenion persuaded him to stay till the next day, but he would not, neither was success wanting. With wonderful celerity, in six years’ time, he overrun so great a part of the habitable world, that he might rather seem to fly than to march. Apelles pictured Alexander with a thunderbolt, signifying his great swiftness in his exploits. And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.] This notable horn is Alexander, founder of the Grecian monarchy. The Macedonians were at that time called Aegeades -i.e., goatish; the, occasion whereof see in Justin, lib. vii. Alexander is here fitly called Hircus caprarum, a he-goat, or the horn of sight, between the eyes of that goat—a fit emblem of a good prince, whose virtues are conspicuous as a horn is, who defendeth his people and offendeth their enemies; who, like this horn rising up between the eyes, is circumspect and well advised, doing all with counsel. (Proverbs 24:6) Alexander had his father Philip’s counsellors about him, who were excellent in wisdom beyond any that came after them in the same empire. Josephus. Sic Darius dicitur Aiil -i.e., Aries Persiae, Hebraice et Chaldaice, Elam.
Ver. 6. And he came to the ram that had two horns.] He came. This may betoken the slower preparations of Philip, king of Macedonia. And ran unto him.] Alexander did, by quick and furious marches. “ Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendam Fertur atrox.’’—De Cas. Lucan,