John Calvin Commentary Daniel 11:3

"And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will." — Daniel 11:3 (ASV)

This refers to Alexander of Macedon. I have already briefly stated the reason why the angel passed over all the Persian kings from Artabanus to the last Darius: they did not engage in any conflicts with the Jews until Xerxes. But when Alexander invaded Asia, he struck the Jews with terror, as well as all other nations.

He came like lightning, and it is by no means surprising that the Jews should be frightened at his arrival, because, as we previously expressed it, he flew with amazing swiftness. Alexander then rose up, not only because of the riches and might of his warlike preparations, but he also necessarily inspired the Jews with trepidation when they perceived their inability to resist him. Thus, he was deservedly hostile to them, because, from the very beginning, they had despised his empire.

Josephus also informs us how Alexander was moved at the sight of the high priest, and how he determined to mitigate his rage against the Jews. For when Alexander was at home, before crossing into Asia, the vision of the high priest appeared to him, because God had sent his angel in that disguise.

Alexander supposed it to be some deity. However, when the high priest met him in procession, the vision returned to his recollection, and he was struck as if he had seen God appearing to him from heaven.

Whatever the purpose of this occurrence, Alexander clearly came into Judea with the intention of utterly destroying the whole nation. This is the reason why the angel carefully predicts this change.

A brave king, therefore, shall stand up, and rule with extensive dominion, and do according to his pleasure; that is, he shall succeed as if he had all the events of the war under his own control and according to his own pleasure, as the event itself most fully proved.

It follows: —