Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 8:23

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." — Daniel 8:23 (ASV)

Transgressors—When transgressors have filled up the measure of their guilt so as to exceed the limits of God’s mercy, then this event will take place. The transgressors are the apostate Jews. Here, as in the other visions, the details concerning the most prominent objects of the vision are given more fully in the interpretation than in the early part of the chapter. The king is represented as being of a fierce countenance, he is shameless, he has no reluctance in pursuing the cruelties which he has designed. He understands dark sayings, or uses falsehood and dissimulation to carry out his purposes.