Daniel 8:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

An he-goat; Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia and all Greece, called a he-goat because the Greeks were called \'c6geans, as was their sea, that country and its islands abounding in goats, as the word signifies, goatish. The word he-goat signifies a young he-goat; for so was Alexander, called pellaeus juvenis. The he-goat goes before the flock, Jeremiah 1:8. This notes him to be the Grecian captain and leader. This he-goat answers to the belly and thighs of the image, and to the leopard and third beast. On the face of the whole earth, i.e. in that part of Asia where he opposed Xerxes, and overran all the Eastern empire. Touched not the ground; therefore called a leopard with wings, for he conquered with incredible swiftness in a short time, for in six years space he overcame the Medes and Persians, Babylon, Egypt, and all the countries round far and near; as if he had but travelled over them, he so came, saw, and overcame them. A notable horn between his eyes: this was Alexander the Great, the western emperor. Creatures that have one horn are therefore strong, as the monoceros or unicorn, Numbers 23:22. Between his eyes, noting his power and policy; also his wise council, captains, and conduct, as Parmenio, Clitus, Philotes, &c.