What is "Mistakal"?
Ibn Ezra: The root is Sechel. I contemplated [the horns]. Malbim ? he concluded that a horn of salvation will sprout from there.
What is the meaning of "va'Alu"?
Rashi: This is like va'Aru ? Hinei (behold).
What is the significance of the small horn?
Ibn Ezra (14): Close to the time of Mashi'ach, a nation will come from the east and destroy three kingdoms. The king will be a Chacham and speak high matters.
Malbim: This refers to the pope. Initially it was small ? the Kaisers did not esteem him at all. Afterwards it overpowered in the days of Constantine. He took Pope Sylvester, who was hiding in a cave, and put the Kaiser's crown on his head, that he and his successors will rule in Romi and Italy. The Kaiser went to Constantine, built it, and made it the place of the Kaisers.
What is the significance of the three horns that were uprooted in front of it?
Malbim #1: Three of the kings who will later bear the horn of Malchus Romi, they will cast the rule of the pope from them. Three great wise kings separated from the pope's rule hundreds of years ago. If you include Malchus Yishmael, which is included in the Klal of Malchus Romi, those who separated have three distinct Emunos. There are Moslems, and two sects that made changes in the creed of Notzerim. All separated from the small horn, and argue with his rule over the creed and government. About this, the angel said that three will fall from him (separate from his rule). We read Es'akarah (singular), for they did not fall at once.
Malbim #2: Perhaps the small horn is Muchamed (Islam). Initially he was small, and later became very powerful and conquered Asia and other parts of the world. Three horns were uprooted in front of it ? three kingdoms that resulted after Yavan split after Alexander died, they became included in Islam.
What is the significance of eyes and a mouth on the horn?
Malbim: The other horns merely gore. Their power is only physical, with a shield and sword in war. This horn has eyes (intellect and Chochmah). They will look in the Sefer Torah and Nevi'im and understand Kisvei ha'Kodesh like people, i.e. Yisrael.
What great things did it say?
Rashi: It spoke haughtily. Chazal said that Titus blasphemed and entered the Heichal brazenly (Gitin 56b).
Malbim: They will be expert in the Chochmah of speech and debate. This horn's power is via its mouth. So [Romi] made war in olden days and overcame great and mighty kings, until they requested pardon.
