Daniel 11:4

“And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, etc.] When Alexander was risen up to his highest pitch of grandeur, was sole monarch of the world, in the height of his ambition, in the prime of his days, he was cut off by death; his kingdom remained no more one, but became many, was seized by different persons, his generals, and so broke to pieces: and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; which seem to have respect to the four horns or kings, which came up in his place, (<270808>Daniel 8:8), and among whom his kingdom was parted; Ptolemy reigned in Egypt to the south; Antigonus in Asia to the north; Seleucus in Babylon and Syria to the east; and Cassander in Macedonia…”

“kingdom . . . divided toward . . . four winds--the fourfold division of Alexander's kingdom at his death (Dan 8:8, Dan 8:22), after the battle of Ipsus, 301 B.C. not to his posterity--(See on Dan 8:8; Dan 8:22). nor according to his dominion--None of his successors had so wide a dominion as Alexander himself. others besides those--besides Alexander's sons, Hercules by Barsine, Darius daughter, and Alexander by Roxana, who were both slain [MAURER]. Rather, besides the four successors to the four chief divisions of the empire, there will be other lesser chiefs who shall appropriate smaller fragments of the Macedonian empire [JEROME].”

“And when he shall stand up - In the might and power of his kingdom. When his power shall be fully established. I understand this, with Rosenmuller and Havernick, as meaning, when he shall be at the height of his authority and power, then his kingdom would be broken up. The reference is, undoubtedly, to the sudden death of Alexander; and the sense is, that his empire would not “gradually” diminish and decay, but that some event would occur, the effect of which would be to rend it into four parts. His kingdom shall be broken - To wit, by his death. The language is such as is properly applicable to this, and indeed implies this, for it is said that it would not be “to his posterity” - an event…”

“When he shall stand up - When he is come to his highest point. Nor according to his dominion - They did not reign as kings at first, but only as captains; and as to the extent of their dominion, it was far less than Alexander's, yea, all four fell short of his. Even for others - Some lesser commanders shared several parts of the empire. Daniel 11:5”

“11:4 Alexander died on June 10, 323 BC, in Babylon at the age of thirty-three. He was at the height of his power and willing to be worshiped as a god. • Alexander’s descendants were not capable of governing, and his brother Philip was incompetent. • For his empire will be . . . given to others: Several of Alexander’s generals divided his empire; by 301 BC, their conflicts had resulted in four parts (see 7:4-7; 8:8-12 and corresponding study notes). God orchestrates history, and its end belongs to him.”

“he shall stand: Job 20:5-7; Psa 37:35, Psa 37:36, Psa 49:6-12, Psa 73:17-20; Luk 12:20 and shall be: Dan 7:6, Dan 8:8, Dan 8:22; Psa 39:6; Ecc 2:18, Ecc 2:19, Ecc 4:8; Mat 12:25 be plucked: Dan 7:8; Jer 12:15, Jer 12:17, Jer 18:7, Jer 31:40, Jer 45:4 Daniel 11:5”