Daniel 8:22-24

Expanded Bible

²² The four horns that grew in the place of the broken horn are four kingdoms [^CAlexander died in 323 bc and his four most powerful generals carved up his empire between them]. Those four kingdoms will come from ·the nation of the first king [^Lhis nation], but ·they will not be as strong as the first king [^Lnot with his power/strength].

²³ “When the end comes near for those kingdoms, a ·bold and cruel [fierce/stern-faced] king who ·tells lies will come [^Lunderstands riddles/enigmas; ^CAntiochus Epiphanes, who terrorized the Jews in the mid-second century bc]. This will happen when ·many people have turned against God [rebellions/transgressions will reach their height]. ²⁴ ·This king will be very powerful [^LHis power will be strong], but ·his power will not come from himself [^Lnot his own power]. He will cause ·terrible [fearful] destruction and will be successful in everything he does. He will destroy powerful people and even ·God’s holy people [^Lthe people of the holy ones].