דניאל, פרק ח׳, פסוק כ״ד

A destructive and powerful ruler rises to prominence with massive success, but the true source of his strength and the targets of his attacks go far beyond the usual boundaries of the battlefield. His rise does not come from standard military bravery or physical might. The primary approach among commentators [רש״י, מצודת דוד ומלבי״ם] is that his power stems from smooth talking, cunning tricks, and the sheer force of his speech. Others see a deeper, divine hand at play, noting that his strength is not his own but is instead granted by God to punish the Israelites for their sins [אבן עזרא]. Another view offers a historical comparison, suggesting that while his power will grow immensely, he will never reach the legendary might of Alexander the Great [יוסף אבן יחיא].

When this ruler acts, he brings about ruin in an extraordinary manner. The main perspective is that he causes destruction in ways that are astonishing and unnatural, successfully carrying out his every desire [רש״י, מצודת דוד ושטיינזלץ]. However, a different approach suggests that the target of his ruin is the concept of wonder itself. In this view, the ruler aims to destroy the most wondrous and sacred things in existence: the miracles and truths found within the Torah, the efforts of the prophets to uphold faith [מלבי״ם], and the deeply holy elements of the Temple [יוסף אבן יחיא].

This campaign of destruction ultimately targets both the mighty and the holy, though there is discussion regarding exactly who these victims are. One approach suggests two distinct groups: the mighty victims are powerful kings and various idolatrous nations, while the holy victims are the Israelites who remain faithful to the Torah [רש״י, מצודת דוד ושטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, both descriptions may refer entirely to the Israelites. In this reading, the Israelites themselves are the massive, mighty nation that the ruler will trample as he stops the daily offerings and brings ruin to the Temple [אבן עזרא]. Within this framework, the holy victims are specifically identified as the descendants of Aaron, the priests who faithfully serve God in the sanctuary [יוסף אבן יחיא].