The Goat of Macedonian Empire
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The "Goat of the Macedonian Empire" is a symbolic figure found in the prophetic visions of the Book of Daniel, specifically in Daniel 8. This vision is a significant part of biblical prophecy, offering insight into the rise and fall of empires and the unfolding of God's divine plan in history.

Biblical Context

In Daniel 8, the prophet Daniel receives a vision while in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. The vision involves a ram with two horns and a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes. The goat's actions and characteristics are central to understanding the prophecy concerning the Macedonian Empire.

The Vision of the Goat

Daniel 8:5-8 describes the goat: "As I was observing, a male goat came from the west, crossing the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. I saw him approach the ram in a rage and strike him, shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled him. And there was no one to rescue the ram from his power. Then the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven."

Interpretation

The angel Gabriel provides the interpretation of this vision to Daniel. In Daniel 8:21-22 , Gabriel explains, "The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the broken horn represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power."

Historical Fulfillment

The "Goat" symbolizes the Greek Empire, specifically under the leadership of Alexander the Great, who is represented by the "conspicuous horn." Alexander's rapid conquests and the swiftness of his military campaigns are depicted by the goat crossing the earth without touching the ground. The "ram" with two horns represents the Medo-Persian Empire, which Alexander decisively defeated.

The breaking of the large horn signifies Alexander's untimely death at the height of his power. Following his death, the Greek Empire was divided among his four generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, corresponding to the four horns that arose in place of the broken horn. These divisions did not possess the same strength or unity as Alexander's empire.

Theological Significance

The vision of the goat serves as a testament to God's sovereignty over the rise and fall of empires. It illustrates the transient nature of earthly power and the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes in history. The prophecy underscores the theme that human kingdoms, no matter how mighty, are subject to divine authority and will eventually give way to God's eternal kingdom.

This prophetic passage also serves as a reminder of the accuracy and reliability of biblical prophecy, as the events foretold in Daniel's vision were fulfilled with remarkable precision in the historical unfolding of the Greek Empire.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Daniel 8:5,21
And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Daniel
... is the Medo-Persian empire, and the goat is the ... within the period of the Persian
empire (538-331 BC ... into n, betrays the influence of the Macedonian dialect and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... CHAPTER I"THE FIRST CHALDAEAN EMPIRE AND THE HYKSOS IN EGYPT. Syria: the
part played by it in the ancient world"Babylon and the ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Demonstration v. --Of Wars.
... of the bear; until the he-goat came forth ... [787] Because after that Alexander the
Macedonian became king ... This passage describes the Roman Republic and empire. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration v of wars.htm

On Daniel. Ii. The Interpretation by Hippolytus, (Bishop) of Rome ...
... by which the Romans who hold the empire now are ... stand before him." And by the
"he-goat that came from the west," he means Alexander the Macedonian, the king of ...
/.../on daniel ii the interpretation.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... After the division of the Macedonian kingdom, it is said that another empire shall
be established by "a toga-clad and republican nation," [336] which shall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... [44] Not only Macedonian words, such ... that the winged lion traditionally meant the
Assyrian empire; the bear ... with the Psalmist, meant not the goat's or heifer's ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... dynasties of Egypt"The Eastern world on the eve of the Macedonian conquest. ... obliged
Amyntas I., the King of Macedonia, to become a tributary of the empire. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... One of the tales of the Theban empire tells us of a piece of wax which, on being
thrown into the water, changed into a living crocodile capable of devouring a ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... these by main force, he had to make a detour by narrow goat-tracks, along ... unable
to retain under their rule all the provinces of which the empire was formerly ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Resources
Why is eating dairy products and meat in the same meal considered not kosher? | GotQuestions.org

Who/what is Baphomet? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)? | GotQuestions.org

Goat: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Goat

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Goat: Wild, in Palestine

The Goat of Macedonian Empire

The Goat of the Wicked

The Goat: (Flock of) of the Church

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The Goat: Clean and Fit for Food

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The Goat: Jews had Large Flocks of

The Goat: Milk of, Used As Food

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The Goat: Offered in Sacrifice

The Goat: Skin of, often Used As Clothing

The Goat: The Arabians Traded In

The Goat: The Hair of Made Into Curtains, for Covering the Tabernacle

The Goat: The Hair of Made Into Pillows

The Goat: The Hair of Offered for Tabernacle

The Goat: The Male, Best for Sacrifice

The Goat: The Young of Called Kids

The Goat: The Young of Considered a Delicacy

The Goat: The Young of Fed Near the Shepherds' Tents

The Goat: The Young of Given As a Present

The Goat: The Young of Kept in Small Flocks

The Goat: The Young of not to be Seethed in Milk of Mother

The Goat: The Young of Offered at the Passover

The Goat: The Young of Offered in Sacrifice

The Goat: when Wild Dwelt in the Hills and Rocks

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

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Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Goat for the Sin Offering
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