Daniel 8:9

8:9 From one of them came a small horn. ¹  But it grew to be very big, toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. ² 

Daniel 8:23

8:23 Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts ³  are complete, a rash ⁴  and deceitful ⁵  king will arise. ⁶ 

Daniel 8:25

8:25 By his treachery ⁷  he will succeed through deceit. ⁸  He will have an arrogant attitude, ⁹  and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. ¹⁰  He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart – but not by human agency. ¹¹ 

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¹ sn This small horn is Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who controlled the Seleucid kingdom from ca. 175-164 B.C. Antiochus was extremely hostile toward the Jews and persecuted them mercilessly.

² sn The expression the beautiful land (Heb. הַצֶּבִי [hatsÿvi] = “the beauty”) is a cryptic reference to the land of Israel. Cf. 11:16, 41, where it is preceded by the word אֶרֶץ (’erets, “land”).

³ tc The present translation reads הַפְּשָׁעִים (happÿsha’im, “rebellious acts”) for the MT הַפֹּשְׁעִים (happoshÿ’im, “rebels”). While the MT is understandable (cf. NIV, “when rebels have become completely wicked”), the filling up of transgressions is a familiar OT expression (cf. Gen 15:16) and fits this context well. Cf. the LXX, Theodotion, the Vulgate, and the Syriac.

⁴ tn Heb “strong of face.”

⁵ tn Heb “understanding riddles.” Possible meanings include “double-dealing” (BDB 295 s.v. חִידָה; cf. TEV, CEV) and “with a good knowledge of intrigue” (HALOT 309 s.v. חִידָה; cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

⁶ tn Heb “stand” or “stand up.”

⁷ 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 tn Heb “he will cause deceit to succeed by his hand.”

⁹ tn Heb “in his heart he will act arrogantly.”

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ tn Heb “with nothingness of hand.”