Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. – Daniel 11:2

Today's Scripture Reading (November 9, 2026): Daniel 11

Xerxes I's rise to power in the Persian Empire was somewhat unexpected. Xerxes was crowned King of Kings in Persia in October 486 B.C.E. The rise to power was unexpected because Xerxes was not his father Darius's eldest son, and in almost every other nation in the known world the crown passed to the eldest son.

Xerxes' older brother (actually older half-brother) was named Artabazanes. Artabazanes claimed the right to the Persian throne under the traditions of other nations. However, Darius ruled against his oldest son. There are probably two reasons for this decision. First, Darius is believed to have divided his life into two sections. The first was the period he lived as "Darius the Subject." During this time, it is thought that an impostor ruled the throne of Persia. The throne belonged to Bardiya, Cyrus the Great's youngest son. Traditional histories hold that Bardiya died in the spring of 522 B.C.E., though the people were kept in the dark. Instead, an impostor ruled in Bardiya's name. Darius killed this impostor later that year, and the next day Darius was crowned king, ending the life of "Darius the Subject" and beginning the life of "Darius the King." Artabazanes was the oldest son, but he was born to "Darius the Subject." Xerxes was the oldest son of "Darius the King," so he ascended the Persian throne after his father's death. The second argument for Xerxes' rise over his older brother is that Artabazanes' mother was a commoner, while Xerxes' mother was, like Darius, from Persia's ruling class. So, Xerxes became the King of Kings of the Persian Empire.

This section of Daniel is so precise that some critics have argued it must have been written after the events. Aside from the prophecy's precision, there is no reason to date this writing late. There is no doubt that the fourth king Daniel writes about is Xerxes, the son of Darius the Great (Darius the King). He would be richer than those who came before him precisely because he was the son of Darius the Great. Darius presided over the Persian Empire at its height, and at the time of his death he was preparing to move against Greece, stockpiling the resources and finances needed for that conflict. When he took the throne, Xerxes inherited all of these resources.

Nevertheless, even though Xerxes had all the advantages the kings before him lacked and could marshal support for his move against the Greeks, he could not hold his gains in Greece. Trouble at home forced Xerxes to send part of his army home, and the portion left in Greece was defeated, ending the hope that he could complete the military dream that had started with his father. Xerxes stirred everyone against Greece, but he could not defeat it.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Daniel 12