Daniel 8:21 And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.
Javan is a son of Japheth. Javan is Noah’s grandson. History shows this group of people as Ionians or the Greeks. His name means effervescing, hot, and active. This gives insight into Javan’s character. (Strong’s Concordance).
Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Gabriel describes the goat as “shaggy” or sa’iyr. The term is also translated as hairy. Esau was reported to be sa’iyr.
Genesis 27:11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
Sa’iyr can also be translated as devil.
The Bible views the goat as a leader in other verses. Some translations will use the term “he goat“. Noted are a couple of examples below.
Jeremiah 50:8 Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock.
A goat is equated with a king in Proverbs.
Proverbs 30:31 the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.
Daniel’s vision included a goat who was a great leader. He needed assistance in understanding the nature of the goat and his origin.
Daniel 8:5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.
And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.
In the Bible, horns are equated with kings and leaders. Horns demonstrate strength, power, and honor.
Luke 1:69 …and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…
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Historically, there is only one great leader from Greece that fits the description of Daniel 8:5. He conquered the known world at a break neck pace. Greece would replace the Persians as the dominant military power as prophesied by Daniel.
From the time of the given unveiling, about 230 years later in 323 BC, Alexander the Great would conquer the known world and fulfill this prophecy. Alexander is the large horn. He succeeded his father Philip at age 20. Alexander never lost on the battlefield.
Alexander the Great died at age 32 in Babylon. History suggests he was an alcoholic and could not control himself. Moderation was not in his make up. Alexander was the expression of his fore father Javan (effervescing, hot, and active).
Daniel 8:22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.
Gabriel continued his interpretation of prophecy with Daniel regarding the future Greek Empire. As history records, when Alexander the Great died and the horn of the goat was broken.
Alexander’s kingdom was divided into his four generals. Cassander would rule Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus would preside over Thrace, Bithynia, and the majority of Asia Minor. Seleucus would take over Syria and the land to the east including Babylon. Ptolemy would be in charge of Egypt, the Holy Land, and the Sinai Peninsula. And they would war and fight…
And as the prophecy states, none of the generals or four horns would assume control of Alexander’s vast empire.
