Alexander in Daniel’s Vision

Seder ‘olam 30

2nd–5th Century

And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. . . . And a mighty king shall stand up. . . . And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken (Daniel 8:21; 11:3–4). [This refers to] Alexander the Macedonian who ruled for twelve years and then died.

Translated by Matthew Goldstone.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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The work titled Seder ‘olam, literally “ordering of the world,” is a history of the world based on midrashic interpretation of the Bible attributed to the second-century CE sage Yosi ben Ḥalafta. This passage interprets verses from the book of Daniel as an allusion to Alexander the Great.

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Mosaic with three registers, arranged vertically. In the center register is a depiction of a person with a halo surrounded by the zodiac. In the top register is a Torah shrine flanked by two menorahs, surrounded by ritual objects. In the bottom register is a grid with Greek inscriptions, flanked by lions.
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Ancient mosaic depicting a warrior in ornate armor, holding a spear, riding a horse into battle. The warrior has wavy hair and a determined expression and is surrounded by other soldiers. The background is partially damaged.
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Rabbinic Constructions of the Past: Alexander the Great

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