Daniel 11:1

CHAPTER XI

This chapter gives a more particular explanation of those

events which were predicted in the eighth chapter. The prophet

had foretold the partition of Alexander's kingdom into four

parts. Two of these, in which were included Egypt and Syria,

the one to the north, the other to the south, in respect of

Judea, appear to take up the chief attention of the prophet,

as his people were particularly concerned in their fate; these

being the countries in which by far the greatest number of the

Jews were, and still are, dispersed. Of these countries he

treats (according to the views of the most enlightened

expositors) down to the conquest of Macedon, A.M. 3836, B.C.

168, when he begins to speak of the Romans, 1-30;

and then of the Church under that power, 31-35.

This leads him to speak of Antichrist, who was to spring up in

that quarter, 36-39;

and of those powers which at the TIME of the end, or the

latter days of the Roman monarchy, (as this term is generally

understood,) were to push at it, and overthrow many countries,

40-43.

By the king of the SOUTH, in the fortieth verse, the dominion

of the Saracens, or Arabs, is supposed to be intended, which

was an exceeding great plague to the Roman empire in the east,

and also to several papistical countries, for the space of one

hundred and fifty years, i.e. from A.D. 612, when Mohammed and

his followers first began their depredations, to A.D. 762, when

Bagdad was built, and made the capital of the caliphs of the

house of Abbas, from which epoch the Saracens became a more

settled people. By the king of the NORTH in the same verse the

prophet is supposed by some to design that great scourge of

eastern Christendom, the Ottoman or Othman empire, by which,

after about a hundred and fifty years of almost uninterrupted

hostilities, the Roman empire in the east was completely

overturned, A.D. 1453. The chapter concludes with a prediction

of the final overthrow of this northern power, and of the

manner in which this great event shall be accomplished, 44, 45.

But it should be observed that, notwithstanding the very

learned observations of Bishop Newton and others upon this

chapter, their scheme of interpretation presents very great and

insurmountable difficulties; among which the very lengthy

detail of events in the Syrian and Egyptian histories,

comprising a period of less than two hundred years, and the

rather uncouth transition to the incomparably greater

transactions in Antichristian times, and of much longer

duration, which are passed over with unaccountable brevity,

are not the least. On all these subjects, however, the reader

must judge for himself. See the notes.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse Daniel 11:1. In the first year of Darius the Mede] This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. Bp. Newton, who is ever judicious and instructing, remarks: It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and thus revelation "is a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The four great empires shown to Nebuchadnezzar, under the symbol of a great image, were again more particularly represented to Daniel under the forms of four great wild beasts. In like manner, the memorable events that were revealed to Daniel in the vision of the ram and he-goat, are here more clearly revealed in this last vision by an angel; so that this latter prophecy may not improperly be said to be a comment on the former. It comprehends many signal events. The types, figures, and symbols of the things are not exhibited in this, as in most other visions, and then expounded by the angel; but the angel relates the whole: and, not by way of vision, but by narration, informs Daniel of that which is noted in the Scripture of truth, Daniel 10:21.