Daniel 11:1. AND AS FOR ME, _in_… I STOOD UP TO BE A SUPPORTER _and_ A STRONGHOLD UNTO HIM] I myself, also, in the first year of Darius, came forward to support Michael. As soon as -Darius the Mede" (Daniel 5:31; Daniel 9:1) -received the kingdom," there was need for the defenders of Israel to co-op... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now will I_ DECLARE TRUTH UNTO _thee_ something which will be verified by the event (cf. Daniel 10:21). The four kings of Persia. _stand up_ i.e. arise, as Daniel 8:23, and below, Daniel 11:3_; Daniel 11:7; Daniel 11:20_. _three kings_ the three kings following Cyrus (Daniel 10:1) are Cambyse... [ Continue Reading ]
( 2) Daniel 11:2 to Daniel 12:4. The revelation given to Daniel. This consists of a survey of the history from the beginning of the Persian period down to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, followed by a description of the Messianic age, to begin afterwards. The description is brief and general in it... [ Continue Reading ]
Alexander the Great (b.c. 336 323). The writer, passing over the intermediate Persian rulers, hastens to the period when the course of events begins to affect the Jews, limiting what he has to say respecting the whole of the Persian empire, and the founder of the Greek empire, to a single verse in e... [ Continue Reading ]
The disruption of Alexander's empire, after his death. _when he shall stand up_ or, _at the time of his standing up_. The expression, if correct, will be intended to emphasize the short-lived duration of Alexander's empire (his reign extended from 336 to 323; his conquests in Asia from 334 to 323).... [ Continue Reading ]
Ptolemy I. (Lagi), 305 285, and Seleucus I. (Nicator), 312 280. _the king of the south_ The -south" (Heb. _Negeb_), when applied to a particular region, means commonly in the O.T., the southern part of Judah (Genesis 12:9, R.V. _marg._); but in this chapter (as in Daniel 8:9) it denotes regularly E... [ Continue Reading ]
Ptolemy II. (Philadelphus), 285 247, and Antiochus II. (Theos), 261 246. Antiochus I. (Soter), b.c. 280 261, is passed by in the survey, as a ruler whose reign was of no importance to the Jews. The allusion in Daniel 11:6 is to what happened about b.c. 249. In order to terminate his long wars with... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_ ONE OF THE SHOOTS (Isaiah 11:1) _of her roots_ Ptolemy III., Berenice's brother. SHALL STAND UP _in his_(Ptolemy II."s) PLACE] or _office, position_. So Genesis 40:13; Genesis 41:13; and below, Daniel 11:20_; Daniel 11:38_. AND _shall come_ UNTO THE _army_ shall place himself at its head, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ptolemy III. (Euergetes I.), 247 222, and Seleucus II. (Callinicus), 246 226. Ptolemy Euergetes I., Berenice's brother, an enterprising and energetic king, in revenge for his sister's murder, invaded the empire of Seleucus, seized Seleukeia (Polyb. v. 58 _end_), the fortified port of Antioch (Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALSO _their gods, with their_ MOLTEN IMAGES, and _with their precious vessels of silver and of gold, shall he_ BRING INTO CAPTIVITY _into Egypt_ The custom of carrying off the gods of a conquered nation was common in antiquity: the capture of its gods implied naturally that the nation's stronge... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL COME INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE KING OF THE SOUTH, BUT HE _shall_, &c. After two years Seleucus Callinicus succeeded in re-establishing his power in Asia (b.c. 242); but proceeding to march against Ptolemy he was defeated, and obliged to retreat, accompanied by only a few attendants, to A... [ Continue Reading ]
_his sons_ Seleucus Ceraunos and Antiochus the Great, the two being grouped together, because (probably) the campaign of Seleucus in Asia Minor was the first stage in an organized plan of hostilities against Egypt. _shall_ STIR THEMSELVES _up_ viz., as the word used implies, for war or combat (cf. ἐ... [ Continue Reading ]
Seleucus III. (Ceraunos), 226 223, and Antiochus III. (the Great), 223 187: Ptolemy IV. (Philopator), 222 205, and Ptolemy V. (Epiphanes), 205 181. Seleucus Callinicus left two sons, Seleucus Ceraunos and Antiochus. The former succeeded him, but was murdered, after two years, in the course of an ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king of the south_ Ptolemy Philopator. _shall be moved with choler_(Daniel 8:7), _and shall come forth_ to meet the advancing army of Antiochus (Daniel 11:10 _b_). In the narrative of Polybius, however, Ptolemy appears as the first in the field. 11 _b_ 12 _a_. Very ambiguous. The two alternat... [ Continue Reading ]
Twelve years after the battle of Raphia, in 205, Ptolemy Philopator died, leaving a son aged 4 years, who succeeded him on the throne as Ptolemy V. (Epiphanes). Antiochus had meanwhile been gaining the series of successes in Persia, Bactria, Asia Minor, and even in India, which earned him the epithe... [ Continue Reading ]
_there shall many stand up_, &c. Alluding to Antiochus, to Philip of Macedon, his ally, and also (according to Jerome) to rebellions which broke out in the provinces subject to Egypt, and insurrections in Egypt itself, through dissatisfaction with the haughty and dissolute Agathocles, Ptolemy Philop... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he_(Antiochus) _that cometh against him_(Ptolemy) _shall do according to his own will_ so greatly will he be superior to him: the phrase, as Daniel 11:3. _stand before him_ Daniel 8:4; Daniel 8:7. _shall stand in the_ BEAUTEOUS _land_(the land of Israel: see on Daniel 8:9), WITH DESTRUCTION IN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND _he shall set his face_i.e. purpose, plan (2 Kings 12:17; Jeremiah 42:15; Jeremiah 42:17; Jeremiah 44:12) _to_ COME _with the strength_, &c. to advance with all his force against Egypt. Livy (xxxiii. 19) describes how, in the spring of 197, _omnibus regni viribus connixus, quum ingentes copias... [ Continue Reading ]
AND _he shall turn his face to the isles_(or _coast-lands_), _and shall take many; but a_ COMMANDER _shall cause_ HIS _reproach to cease_ TO HIM; NAY, HE SHALL EVEN RETURN HIS _reproach_ UNTO HIM] Antiochus cherished ambitious designs towards the West. In 196 most of the cities in Asia Minor submit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he shall turn his face towards the_ STRONGHOLDS _of his own land; but he shall stumble_, &c. The end of Antiochus (b.c. 187). After his discomfiture at Magnesia he was obliged to retire east of the Taurus, and confine himself to the -strongholds of his own land." To meet the heavy fine imposed... [ Continue Reading ]
Seleucus IV. (Philopator), b.c. 187 175. Antiochus the Great left two sons, Seleucus and Antiochus (Epiphanes), both of whom successively followed him on the throne. AND _in his_ PLACE (Daniel 11:7) _shall stand up_ ONE THAT SHALL CAUSE AN EXACTOR TO PASS THROUGH _the glory of the kingdom_ Seleucus... [ Continue Reading ]
Antiochus" accession. Antiochus was the younger brother of Seleucus Philopator; and, in accordance with the terms of the peace concluded by Antiochus the Great with the Romans (p. 175), he had been, for 14 years, one of the Syrian hostages at Rome [372] : Seleucus, in his 12th year had recalled him,... [ Continue Reading ]
Antiochus IV. (Epiphanes), 175 164.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ THE ARMS _of_ THE _flood_ fig. for opposing forces. The metaphor is a mixed one: for -arms," cf. Daniel 11:15; for the fig. of the flood, Daniel 11:10_; Daniel 11:26; Daniel 11:40_; Isaiah 8:8; Isaiah 28:2; Isaiah 28:15; Jeremiah 47:2. The reference is ambiguous: it might of c [ Continue Reading ]
General description of Antiochus" character and dealings. The verses have often (from Jerome onwards) been referred to Antiochus" first Egyptian campaign; but though occurrences in that campaign may be alluded to in them, they cannot, as a whole, be understood naturally as a description of it [378].... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ FROM THE TIME WHEN HE (or ANY) JOINS HIMSELF UNTO _him_viz. in a league (2 Ch. 30:35, 37; cf. above, Daniel 11:6) _he shall work_ DECEIT] he will immediately scheme to overreach his ally. The reference is again ambiguous. The allusion might be specially to Antiochus" insincere friendship with... [ Continue Reading ]
IN (time of) SECURITY (Daniel 11:21) AND _upon the fattest places_(cf. Genesis 27:28, Heb.) _of the province_ SHALL HE COME] The Heb. is unusually harsh; though the fact in both A.V. and R.V. is most successfully concealed. -In security" is probably accidentally out of place, and should follow -com... [ Continue Reading ]
Antiochus" first Egyptian expedition (b.c. 170).... [ Continue Reading ]
_courage_ lit. _heart_: cf. Joshua 2:11; Amos 2:16; Psalms 76:5. _the king of the south_ Ptolemy Philometor. _shall be stirred up shall_ STIR HIMSELF _up_(Daniel 11:10). _a great army … a very great and mighty army_ We have no independent evidence as to the relative size of the armies of Antiochu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND _they that_ EAT _of_ HIS DELICACIES (Daniel 1:5) _shall_ BREAK _him_ some of his courtiers will be his ruin. For the expression, cf. 1 Kings 2:7, -those that eat of thy table"; _break_, as Daniel 11:20. The allusion may be to Eulaeus and Lenaeus, at whose ill-advised suggestion it was that Phil... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ AS FOR THE TWO _kings, their heart_(shall be) FOR _mischief; and_ AT ONE TABLE THEY SHALL SPEAK LIES] Antiochus and Philometor, after the latter had fallen into his uncle's hands, were outwardly on friendly terms with one another; but their friendship was insincere, as is expressively shewn by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ AND. A chronological sequence is not expressed in the Heb.; and is perhaps (see the beginning of the last note) not intended by the writer. HE SHALL _return_ TO HIS OWN _land_ in 170, at the close of his -first" Egyptian campaign, in whatever sense this may be understood (see on Daniel 11:27... [ Continue Reading ]
Antiochus" -third" Egyptian expedition (b.c. 168). _the time appointed_ the time fixed in the counsels of God. _but it shall not be_ IN THE LATTER TIME AS IN THE FORMER] this expedition will not be as successful as the previous one.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ KITIAN SHIPS _shall come against him_ The allusion is to C. Popillius Laenas and the other Roman legates, who, as described above (p. 181), obliged Antiochus, when within sight of Alexandria, to withdraw his forces unconditionally from Egypt. _Kittim_, properly the _Kitians_, or people of _Kit... [ Continue Reading ]
Antiochus" retreat from Egypt, (Daniel 11:30 _a_), and the measures adopted by him shortly afterwards against the Jews (Daniel 11:30; Daniel 11:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
_And arms_i.e. forces (Daniel 11:15_; Daniel 11:22_) (coming) FROM HIM _shall_ STAND UP] or (following the interpunction expressed by the Heb. accents), _shall_ STAND UP AT HIS INSTANCE (Isaiah 30:1, Heb.); -stand up," i.e. be set on foot, organized (cf. in the causative conj. Daniel 11:11). The -ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_And such as do wickedly_(Daniel 9:5; Daniel 12:10) _against the covenant_ the disloyal Jews. _shall he_ MAKE PROFANE (Jeremiah 23:11)] by abetting them in their designs, he will lead them from bad to worse. In Syr. the root here used acquired the special sense of _gentile_(e.g. Matthew 6:7; Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they that_ BE WISE] as the same word is rendered in A.V. of Daniel 12:3; Daniel 12:10. The verb means properly _to shew understanding and discernment_, such as may lead a man to act judiciously and bring him success; hence it is sometimes rendered _prosper_, or _have good success_, &c. See exam... [ Continue Reading ]
In the midst of their trials a -little help" will arise, to assist them. The allusion is to the rising of the Maccabees. First of all, Mattathias, either alone or assisted only by his sons, resisted openly Antiochus" demands, and slew one of the officers sent to enforce them (1Ma 2:15-28): then othe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some of them that_ BE WISE (Daniel 11:33) _shall fall, to_ REFINE AMONG _them_(among the people at large), _and to_ CLEANSE, _and to_ MAKE WHITE] The martyrdom of some of the godly leaders in the struggle would have the effect of testing the faith of the people at large, and of confirming and p... [ Continue Reading ]
_according to his will_ as Daniel 8:4; Daniel 11:3 (of Alexander); Daniel 11:16 (of Antiochus the Great). _magnify himself_ Isaiah 10:15. So Daniel 11:37. _above every god_ Antiochus acquired a reputation for piety among the Greeks by his splendid presents to temples (cf. on Daniel 11:24); but by t... [ Continue Reading ]
The presumptuousness and impiety of Antiochus. Many of the older expositors supposed that at this point there was a transition from Antiochus to the future Antichrist, and that Daniel 11:36 related exclusively to the latter; but whatever typical significance might be legitimately considered to attac... [ Continue Reading ]
AND _the_ GODS _of his fathers_ HE WILL NOT REGARD] The honours paid by him to foreign deities implied a depreciation of the gods of his own country. He was particularly devoted to the cult of Jupiter Capitolinus, or Zeus Olympios. Even before he became king, while halting at Athens on his way home... [ Continue Reading ]
_But in his_ PLACE _he will honour the god of_ STRONGHOLDS] it is not certain who is meant by the -god of strongholds": possibly the reference is to some deity (? Mars) of whose worship by Antiochus we have no other notice; more probably, however, the name is simply an alternative designation of Jup... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WILL _do_ TO THE FORTRESSES OF STRONGHOLDS _with_(the help of) _a_ FOREIGN _god_ i.e. will conquer them by his aid. But the Heb. is strange; and the sense obtained connects badly with what follows. Hitz., Meinh., and Bevan, changing a point, render, -And he shall procure for the fortresses o... [ Continue Reading ]
_at the time of the end_ The final close of Antiochus" reign. The expression denotes a period later than that of the persecutions described in Daniel 11:35, which are to last - _until_the time of the end." _the king of the south_ would still be Ptolemy Philometor. BUTT WITH _him_ or, more exactly,... [ Continue Reading ]
The end of Antiochus. Antiochus, being attacked by the king of Egypt, will again conduct an expedition into Egypt, passing through Judah on the way; he will gain great successes, till interrupted by rumours from the East and North; and starting from Egypt on a fresh career of conquest and destructio... [ Continue Reading ]
_the_ BEAUTEOUS _land_ the land of Israel, as Daniel 11:16. _shall be overthrown_ lit. _shall stumble_(Daniel 11:14_; Daniel 11:19; Daniel 11:33; Daniel 11:35_), i.e. be ruined: cf., for the expression, Isaiah 3:8 -Jerusalem _hath stumbled_" (A.V., R.V., _is ruined_). The word for -many" is fem.: he... [ Continue Reading ]
_stretch forth his hand_ viz. to seize them: see Exodus 22:8 (-put orth his hand upon"), where the verb in the Heb. is the same. _shall not escape_ i.e. shall have none to escape; lit. _shall not become an escaping body_(Genesis 32:8 [9 Heb.]).... [ Continue Reading ]
_have power_ lit. _rule_. He will secure great treasure from Egypt: cf. (in 170 or 169) 1Ma 1:19. _and the Libyans and the Ethiopians_(shall be) _at his steps_ i.e. will follow in his train. The Libyans, on the W. of Egypt, and the Kushites (or Ethiopians) on the South, are both mentioned either as... [ Continue Reading ]
_But tidings_ or _rumours_, as the same word is rendered in 2 Kings 19:7 (Isaiah 37:7), of the tidings which caused Sennacherib to withdraw. So Jeremiah 51:46; Ezekiel 7:26. Lit. _something heard_. Here, probably, rumours of insurrections, or wars, in the E. and N. of his dominions. _trouble_ ALARM... [ Continue Reading ]
_plant_ viz. as a tree: fig. for _fix_. A late usage: cf. Ecclesiastes 12:11; and see Levy, _NHWB_[392] iii. 380. [392] _HWB._M. Levy, _Neuhebräisches und Chaldäisches Wörterbuch_, 1876 89. _the_ TENTS _of his palace_ the large and sumptuous tent, or collection of tents, which would form naturally... [ Continue Reading ]