What does Daniel 8:9 mean?
Over the last several verses, Daniel has described his recent vision (Daniel 8:1–2). He has seen a unique ram, at first unchecked, which is then defeated by an incredibly fast-moving goat (Daniel 8:3–7). After this, the goat's single horn is broken and replaced by four others (Daniel 8:8). These images will be explained later as the Medo-Persian empire being conquered by Alexander the Great, whose kingdom was split into four upon his death (Daniel 8:20–22).Further prophecy comes here in the form of a new, "little horn." The little horn came from the northern division of the Greek kingdom of Alexander the Great. This little horn exerted its control of the south, meaning Egypt, the east, meaning Babylon and Persia, and "the glorious land," meaning the Promised Land given to Israel. The reference to "the glorious land" may even point specifically to Jerusalem. Antiochus IV Epiphanes fits this description.
Epiphanes usurped the throne of Syria and ruled from around 175 BC to 164 BC, from Antioch in Syria. His sister was Cleopatra of Egypt, but he is most famously remembered as the despotic enemy of the Jews. Few historical figures, prior to Adolf Hitler in the 20th century, are as associated with persecution of the Jewish people. Epiphanes means "brilliant" or "shining," but some referred to him as Epimanes, meaning "crazy." Situated between Syria and Egypt, Israel became the site of many battles as well as the setting for Antiochus Epiphanes' severest blasphemies against the God of Israel (Daniel 8:10–14, 23–25).