Darius I

September 9, 2017

The kings of Persia (Dan 11:2-11:2)

“Now I will announce

The truth

To you.

Three more kings

Shall arise

In Persia.

The fourth shall be

Far richer

Than all of them.

When he has become strong,

Through his riches,

He shall stir up all

Against the kingdom of Greece.”

Next this angel Gabriel was going to tell Daniel the truth about 3 or 4 more Persian kings. This assumes that Cyrus the Great (559-530 BCE) was the king at that time. The 3 more are probably Cambyses II (530-522 BCE), Darius I (522-486 BCE), and Xerxes I (486-465 BCE), who all went to war with Greece. The 4th Persian ruler might have been Artaxerxes (465-424 BCE). Notice that most of these Persian rulers ruled for long periods of time with their biggest enemy being Greece.

August 27, 2017

Daniel prospered (Dan 6:28-6:28)

“Thus,

Daniel prospered

During the reign of Darius,

As well as the reign of Cyrus

Of Persia.”

Cyrus (559-530 BCE) clearly was a historical figure from Persia, who took over Babylon in 539 BCE. Darius I (522-486 BCE) actually came later. However, Daniel prospered under them both, just as he had under the Babylonian kings, much like Joseph under the Egyptian Pharaohs.