DANIEL 8:4 FROM THE EAST GOING WESTWARD, NORTHWARD, SOUTHWARD
Updated: Dec 12, 2022
CHAPTER 4
The Ram as representing the kings of the Medes and Persians would literally come from the east and push west, north, and south in conquest of the world. Looking at the Ram spiritually, we see Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, rising in the east to war against the west or sea of popular opinion, the north or darkness of spiritual confusion, and the south or spiritual drought the world had been thrown into ever since the prince of darkness began to rule in this earth.
Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
The Hebrew word for “pushing” in Daniel 8:4 according to the Strong’s Concordance is to war.
PUSHING H5055
נָגַ nâgach naw-gakh'; a primitive root; to butt with the horns; figuratively, to war against:—gore, push (down, -ing).
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H5055&t=KJV
To give understanding to the Hebrew word translated “push” we see it used in Daniel 11:40 in the context of war.
Daniel 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-11/
The Medo-Persian kings literally went to war to conquer the world.
The following Hebrew words for westward, northward, southward and eastward are defined below per the Strong’s Concordance.
WESTWARD H3220
יָם yâm, yawm; from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south:—sea (× -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3220&t=KJV
NORTHWARD H6828
צָפוֹן tsâphôwn, tsaw-fone'; or צָפֹן tsâphôn; from H6845; properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown):—north(-ern, side, -ward, wind). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H6828&t=KJV
SOUTHWARD H5045
נֶגֶב negeb, neh'-gheb; from an unused root meaning to be parched; the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine):—south (country, side, -ward). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H5045&t=KJV.
EASTWARD H4217
מִזְרָח mizrâch, miz-rawkh'; from H2224; sunrise, i.e. the east:—east (side, -ward), (sun-) rising (of the sun). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H4217&t=KJV
The fact that the Ram pushes westward, northward, southward means that he comes from the east (sunrise) and is pushing or warring against the west (seaward), the north (Babylon), and the south (Egypt). This can be seen historically from the following account of Persian conquests. I have also provided the commentary below for a non-biblical account of history regarding the reign of the kings of the Medes and Persians.
The Achaemenian Dynasty (559-330 BC)
“By the 6th century BC, the Medes had built a large empire that included the Persians to the east and the Assyrians to the west. However, in 550 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the Medes, acquiring Assyria in the process, which the Median King Cyarxes had taken in about 612 BC. The formidable armies of Cyrus battled their way to more victories, notably the conquest of Lydia, then ruled by King Croesus (see Croesus). This victory gave Cyrus possession of the Greek seaboard cities of Asia Minor. In 539 BC Babylon, capital of the Chaldean Empire, surrendered to Cyrus without a fight; in conquering Babylon, Cyrus also acquired Palestine. He allowed the Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. Turning eastward, Cyrus expanded his empire to the border of India. He was killed fighting against eastern nomads in 529 BC and was buried in a tomb he had prepared at his capital, Pasargadae.
Cyrus' son Cambyses II, who ruled from 529 to 522 BC, successfully crossed the hostile Sinai Peninsula on his way to conquering Egypt in a short campaign. After his death, the crown of Persia was seized in 522 BC by Darius.
Under Darius, the Persian Empire flourished. His most notable accomplishment was perfecting the system of government begun by Cyrus. The empire was divided into 20 satrapies, or provinces, each ruled over by a satrap. Officials known as the king's eyes made regular visits to the satrapies and reported their observations to the king. The satrapies furnished soldiers for the king's armies. Phoenicia, Egypt, and the Greek colonies of Asia Minor also supplied ships and sailors. In addition, each satrap paid a fixed yearly tribute to Darius.
Enormous wealth flowed into the royal treasure houses of Susa, Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Ecbatana. When the king required money, he minted gold coins. To encourage commerce Darius standardized coins, weights, and measures; built imperial highways; and completed a canal from the Nile River to the Red Sea. He demanded strict enforcement of the severe laws of the Medes and Persians.
Throughout his reign Darius was forced to suppress revolts in the empire. In 500 BC the Greek cities of Asia Minor rebelled. After putting down this rebellion, Darius turned on Athens to punish it for sending aid to the rebels. Beaten in the famous battle of Marathon, he prepared another expedition but died in 486 BC before it started.
Xerxes, the son of Darius, ruled from 486 to 465 BC. He was a tyrannical king who began his reign by quelling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, then gathered a huge force to overwhelm Greece. It seemed as if the mighty empire would conquer the small, disunited Greek city-states. Yet Xerxes met disaster at Salamis and Plataea, and his great army was driven back into Asia (see Persian Wars). This defeat marked the first sign of decay in the Persian Empire. Persian history for the next 125 years was filled with conspiracies, assassinations, and the revolts of subject peoples ground down by ruinous taxation. The empire was briefly united under the bloodthirsty Artaxerxes III (originally Ochus), who ruled from about 359 to 338 BC. He killed many of his relatives and was then poisoned by his own physician. His son Arses, who succeeded him, was poisoned two years later and all his children slain.
Darius III was on the throne when Alexander the Great of Macedon led his powerful army into Asia (see Alexander the Great). In the decisive battle of Issus in 333 BC, Alexander captured the western half of the Persian Empire. Darius fled from the battlefield. He met Alexander again at Arbela, in 331 BC, and fled once more. Soon afterward one of Darius' own followers murdered him. Alexander went on to conquer other lands, but Persia remained under his control until his death in 323 BC. While Persia continued to flourish as a nation, the days of the great Persian Empire were over.”
https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Persia/276370
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
REGARDING THE RAM’S CONQUESTS
Thinking spiritually of Christ as the RAM, we see Him coming from the east or symbolically as the Sun of Righteousness and pushing or warring against the west (sea of flesh or nations), the north (land of spiritual darkness), and the south (land of spiritual drought).
Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Some Scriptures to back this up include:
EAST (RISING SUN or Spiritually the SUN of Righteousness or Jesus Christ)
Numbers 2:3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Numbers-Chapter-2/
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Malachi-Chapter-4/
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-8/
WEST (SEA or spiritually PEOPLES)
Numbers 34:6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Numbers-Chapter-34/
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-17/
NORTH (DARKNESS or spiritually BABYLON)
Zechariah 2:6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Zechariah-Chapter-2/
SOUTH (DROUGHT or DESERT or spiritually a FAMINE for the WORD of the Lord)
Isaiah 21:1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-21/
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Amos-Chapter-8/
Jesus Christ, the Lamb (Ram) of God, is in a battle with Satan over the conquest of our hearts. This battle literally began in heaven and until the cross was a battle over the hearts of all the universe (Revelation 12:7). First, the created covering cherub or angel next to God in heaven became enthralled with his own beauty (Ezekiel 28:17). He then deceived a third of the angels with his self-seeking trade turning their hearts against God even to the point of violence and profanity against God (Ezekiel 28:12-17; Revelation 12:3-4). The covering cherub became the dragon. This was a wonder in heaven (Revelation 12:3). How could this happen? The dragon or Satan, expelled from heaven by God, carried on his battle here on earth deceiving the woman to sin (Luke 10:18; Genesis 3:13). He then warred against the promised Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12:1-4,7). Until the cross the purposes or heart of the deceiver and the purposes of God in expelling Lucifer from heaven were not understood and needed to be revealed to all, even heaven. Christ, in sacrificing His life to save us, cast Satan out of the hearts of all of heaven (Revelation 12:8,9). After Satan and his angels were cast out of their place in the hearts of heaven, Satan continued this battle in our world (Jude 6; Revelation 12:9). Though Jesus won the battle over sin, death, and Satan at the cross, because of sin, not everyone in our world yet understood the purposes of God or Satan. That is why the Bible says Christ goes forth conquering and to conquer. He went forth as the Son of Righteousness from the grave conquering Satan, sin and death. He still goes forth to conquer in the battle over the hearts of man (John 12:31; Colossians 2:14,15; Revelation 6:2). God has given humanity time to see this history and what happened at the cross and to fully understand the character of Satan and that of God. Daniel 8 studied carefully, is not only the story of the battle between kingdoms but is also the story of the controversy between Christ and Satan.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-12/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-28/
Luke 10:18 And he (Jesus) said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-10/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-Chapter-3/
Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Jude-Chapter-1/
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-12/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Colossians-Chapter-2/
Revelation 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-6/
Once Christ, the Lamb of God, won the battle at the cross, He could say “All power is given unto me… go ye therefore and teach all nations.”
Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will and became great. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-Chapter-24/
The book of Revelation tells us that the Lamb slain is the conquering Lion! By His blood he has prevailed to open to us the Lamb’s Book of Life, offering to every kindred, tribe and nation His redemptive eternal love and life.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-5/
Isaiah 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-42/
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-28/
In summary, literally, the Ram represents the kings of the Medes and Persians coming from the east and push west, north, and south in conquest of the world. Spiritually, the Ram represents the conquering Son of Righteousness, risen from the grave, pushing westward, northward, and southward to tell the whole world of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As part of the army of God, and under His command, and by His strength, His people are called to take the gospel to all the world. The Lamb is the conquering Lion!