Three Kings in Persia - Daniel 11:2

In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him”, and in chapter eleven and verse two of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia” where we read,

And now will I show you 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.

The verse reads, “and now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia.” Daniel began with the words, “and now will I show you the truth” or “and at this time shall I, Gabriel, declare, inform and make known to you, Daniel that which is firm, faithful, sure and reliable”. “Behold, there shall stand up” which means “lo, look and consider, there will be erected, appointed and established” “three kings” or “three royal rulers” “in Persia” which means “within Persia whose name means pure or splendid and referred to the empire Persia which encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the reliable word that three royal rulers would rise to power within the empire of “Persia”. 

The verse continues, “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.” Daniel added the words, “and the fourth” or “and the fourth royal ruler” “shall be far richer than they all” which means “will exist as exceedingly wealthy and enriched compared to every one of the other three royal rulers”: “and by his strength” or “and through the means of his power, might and ability” “through his riches” which means “by means of his, the fourth royal ruler’s, wealth” “he shall stir up all against” or “he, the fourth royal ruler, will arouse, awaken and incite” “the realm of Grecia” which means “the royal power, reign, kingdom, dominion and sovereign power belonging to Grecia or Greece”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him that a “fourth” royal ruler would have wealth that far exceeded everyone of the other royal rulers in “Persia”, and because of his “wealth”, he would arouse and awaken the kingdom of Greece.  

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how three royal rulers were to arise in “Persia” besides Darius, and the fourth one would be exceedingly wealthy and use his wealth to incite Greece. Matthew Henry wrote, “These three rulers were to be Cyrus, Artaxasta or Artaxerxes, called by the Greeks Cambyses, and Ahasuerus that married Esther, called Darius son of Hystaspes. To these three the Persians gave these attributes - Cyrus was a father, Cambyses a master, and Darius a hoarder up”. The fourth royal ruler, “Xerxes” who was very wealthy, used his wealth to have an army of 800,000 men. “Xerxes” used this army and “stirred up all against the realm of Greece.” Xerxes's expedition against Greece is famous in history, and the shameful defeat that he met with”. This much we do know for certain, even though Daniel was being given these prophetic words in advance of being fulfilled, we know them to be true today. God was and is in control of all the royal rulers, leaders and nations of the world, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way when we believe and trust in Him for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit so we have no need to fear when prophetic words are fulfilled. 

Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel told him, “a mighty king shall stand up”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".