Daniel 11:4

The disruption of Alexander's empire, after his death.

when he shall stand up or, at the time of his standing up. The expression, if correct, will be intended to emphasize the short-lived duration of Alexander's empire (his reign extended from 336 to 323; his conquests in Asia from 334 to 323). But in view of Daniel 8:8, Grätz's emendation, -when he shall become strong" (וכעצמו for וכעמדו), is a probable one; the reference will then be to the manner in which Alexander was suddenly struck down in the midst of his successes.

be broken The word is, no doubt, suggested by Daniel 8:8, where it is used of the -great horn," which symbolizes Alexander.

toward the four winds of heaven So also Daniel 8:8. Alexander's empire, after his death, was broken up; and in the end the four kingdoms of Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy arose upon its ruins (see on Daniel 8:8).

but (it shall) not(belong) to his posterity Alexander, the conqueror's youthful son by Roxana, and Herakles, an illegitimate son, were both murdered in 310 or 309, the former by Cassander directly, the latter by Polysperchon at Cassander's persuasion (Diod. Sic. xix. 105, xx. 28).

nor(be) according to his dominion, wherewith he ruled The divided kingdom would not, in any of its parts, retain the power and prestige which Alexander enjoyed. Cf. Daniel 8:22, -but not with his power."

pluckt up The figure is that of a tree: it is common in Jeremiah, as Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 18:7; Jeremiah 31:28.

and (it shall be) for others besides these] besides Alexander's generals, with allusion to the independent petty dynasties which arose gradually in Cappadocia, Armenia, and other countries, during the century and a half that followed upon the death of Alexander (Jerome, von Leng., Bevan).

From this point onwards the author confines himself to the kingdoms of the north and of the south, i.e. of the Seleucidae (in Syria), and of the Ptolemies (in Egypt), these being the two dynasties which during the period that elapsed from the death of Alexander to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, successively dominated Palestine.