Midrash sobre Daniel 8:20

R. Joshua b. Levi, in the name of Rabbi, said: "A time will come, when those who have destroyed the second Temple will fall into the hands of the Persians, as it is said (Jer. 49, 20) Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that He hath resolved against Edom; and his purposes, that He hath devised against the inhabitants of Theman. Surely the least of the flocks shall drag them away; surely He will devastate their habitation." Raba b. Ulla, however, raised the following objection: "How do we know that the least of the flocks refers to Persia? Shall we assume that it is based upon the passage (Dan. 8, 20) The ram that thou hast seen, him with the two horns, signifies the kings of Media and Persia? Why not say that it refers to Greece, concerning whom it is written (Ib. lb., 21) And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece." When R. Abba came to Palestine, he told the objection of Raba b. Ulla to one of the Rabbis there, whereupon the latter remarked: "Only one who cannot explain the meaning of the verses could dare bring forth such an objection in opposition to Rabbi." What is meant by The least of the flock? The youngest of the brothers (that is, Thirass); as R. Joseph has said, Thirass is Persia.

Rabbi Eliezer said: The Holy One, blessed be He, showed to our father Abraham (at the covenant) between the pieces the four kingdoms, their dominion and their downfall, as it is said, "And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old" (Gen. 15:9). "An heifer of three years old" (ibid.) refers to the kingdom of Edom, which is like the heifer of a sheep. "And a she-goat of three years old" (ibid.) refers to the kingdom of Greece, as it is said, "And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly" (Dan. 8:8). "And a ram of three years old" (Gen. 15:9); this is the kingdom of Media and Persia, as it is said, "And the ram which thou sawest that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia" (Dan. 8:20). "And a turtle-dove" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the sons of Ishmael. This expression is not to be understood in the literal meaning of Tôr (turtle-dove), but in the Aramaic language, in which Tôr means Ox, for when the male ox is harnessed to the female, they will open and break all the valleys, even as it says (about) "the fourth beast" (Dan. 7:19). "And a young pigeon" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the Israelites, who are compared || to a young pigeon, as it is said, "O my dove, thou art in the clefts of the rock" (Cant. 2:14). For thy voice is pleasant in prayer, and thy appearance is beautiful in good deeds. "And a young pigeon" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the Israelites, who are compared to a young pigeon: "My dove, my perfect (one), is (but) one" (Cant. 6:9).