ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

Three more kings in Persia, then a fourth, very rich, who stirs up all against Greece (Daniel 11:2)

Xerxes crosses a bridge toward Greece with his army, medieval artist’s impression by the Boucicaut Master (Paris, around 1413-1415).
Artist’s impression Xerxes crosses a bridge toward Greece with his army, medieval artist’s impression by the Boucicaut Master (Paris, around 1413-1415). — Boucicaut Master or his workshop (J. Paul Getty Museum), Wikimedia Commons · CC0

○ Written after the events, according to historians; tradition dates it before

Written c. 536 BC according to tradition; c. 167–164 BC according to historians. Event: 480 BC.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The book of Daniel, in a vision dated around 536 BC (around 167–164 BC according to scholars), announces three more kings in Persia, then a fourth, very rich, who will launch the whole empire against Greece.

What happened. After Cyrus come Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius I and then Xerxes I. In 480 BC, Xerxes leads the largest expedition known against Greece, sacks Athens, then is defeated at sea at Salamis.

What is still debated. the count of kings is not certain, and if the text dates from around 165 BC, it summarizes a history everyone had known for three centuries.

What would be striking if the text came first

If the book does date from 536 BC, as tradition holds, the announcement comes half a century before the invasion. Historians instead date it to around 165 BC: it would then be an accurate summary of a history known to all.

Main objection (in French for now)

Dans la datation critique, l’auteur écrit vers 165 : l’expédition de Xerxès a trois siècles et Hérodote l’a racontée.

The text (World English Bible)

“Now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings will stand up in Persia. The fourth will be far richer than all of them. When he has grown strong through his riches, he will stir up all against the realm of Greece.

Dan 11:2

Sources