Daniel 11:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He declares, “I am he who even then delivered the Jewish people.” To preempt any objections like, “What are you battling for? What if victory eludes you?” he asserts, “No; I stood up for them. And no one offers me aid in this matter except Michael, your prince” (Dan. 10:21). He expresses this to assure the prophet that he is neither an enemy nor a foe, but rather that the prophet seeks the unapproved, not because he is in need of assistance. So what does this imply? It is clear that he is not among the ranks of ‘princes.’ Following this, he elaborates on matters thoroughly, revealing the sources of future defeats. He then declares the future salvation and glory of his people.

Now I will convey the truth to you. The explanation is as follows: since you desire to understand the fate of the Persian kings, pay attention to the sequence of events and grasp your inquiry. Three additional kings will emerge in Persia, and the fourth will greatly exceed all of them in riches. Once he is empowered by his wealth, he will incite all against the Greek kingdom. It is recorded that after Cyrus, four kings will rise in Persia: Cambyses, Cyrus's son, and Smerdis the Magician, who took Pantap as his wife, the daughter of Cambyses.

Now I will reveal to you the truth regarding what is to come. Indeed, I will disclose the future. Three additional kingdoms will emerge in Persia. Following the reign of Cyrus came Cambyses; then the magicians who succeeded him ruled for ten months; afterward, Darius Istasp took the throne. The fourth kingdom, as stated by the one who appeared, will possess unparalleled wealth. He is referring to Xerxes, the son of Darius. Once he has amassed his riches, he will turn his aspirations against all the kingdoms of the Greeks. There will be discussions about him, not accepted by our learned historians, storytellers, sophists, and rhetoricians, detailing his proud expedition and his disgraceful return. Having briefly addressed the affairs of the Persians prior to Xerxes, and having overlooked the weaker kings who reigned after him, the one who appeared shifts his focus to the king of Macedon, saying: