Daniel 11:1

Daniel 11:1 says, Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.  We are continuing in the progression of Daniel's life.  Darius, the Mede, is now ruler, and Daniel stood to confirm and strengthen him.  Matthew Henry seems to imply that the person speaking here is the angel, but since it says "I stood" and not "he stood," then I believe that Daniel was speaking.  Though God does send His angels to aid in His work, He most often works through His followers.  Verse two adds, And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.  Again, we can interpret this as Daniel speaking to Darius or as an angel speaking to Daniel, but since we have no statement that this was a dream or vision, I believe it was Daniel speaking.  We know that Daniel was never afraid to speak God's word, or prophecies to any ruler.  Either way, the prophecy spoke of four kings of Persia, the last of which was to be the greatest.  Matthew Henry says this was most likely Xerxes, whose wealth and power came to the attention of the Greeks.  Verse three continues, And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.  Matthew Henry says that most agree that this was was Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world.  He would have great power during his lifetime, but the kingdom would be divided after his death.  Verse four states, And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.  Though he would be a mighty king, his kingdom would be divided after his death.  Alexander the Great would be worshipped as a god.  No matter how much power a ruler has today, and some are considered gods, their end is certain.  Only God's kingdom will remain.  Verse five adds, And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.  Matthew Henry says that the two kingdoms would be Egypt and Syria.  Verse six continues, And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.  There was an attempt to unite the two kingdoms through marriage.  Verse seven says, But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:  Verse eight adds, And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.  Matthew Henry says that this was the brother of the king's daughter who attempted to establish the alliance between the kingdoms.  What we can say with certainty is that these kingdoms rose and fell according to Daniel's prophesy.