1.
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
This verse is parenthetical, to tell us what the angelic speaker had done two years previously (426 B.C.)
Darius the Mede is the same king as in Daniel 9:1 , i.e. Cyrus.
stood = was at my station.
him: i.e. Michael.
2.
And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
now. Calling attention to the then present time (424 B.C.) as being distinct from Daniel 11:1 , which refers to what took place two years before.
yet: i.e. in the then immediate future.
three kings in Persia. Cambyses, the pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspes. See App-57 . But ancient histories "contain much that is admittedly fabulous" ( Encycl. Brit, 11th ed., vol. 21, p. 210), and the commentaries based on them differing among themselves are therefore not to be relied on. We know from this verse that there were three, after Cyrus, and a fourth. Whoever he was, he was succeeded by the "mighty king" of Daniel 11:4 (Alexander the Great).
by his strength through his riches . Some codices, and five early printed editions, read "by strengthening himself in his riches he will stir up".
3.
And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
a mighty king . The he-goat's "little horn" (Daniel 8:9 ).
do according to his will . See Daniel 8:4 . Compare verses: Daniel 11:16 , Daniel 11:36 .
4.
And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
broken . See Daniel 8:8 .
divided . See Daniel 8:22 .
winds . Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
not to his posterity . But to his generals. Compare "not in his power" (Daniel 8:22 ).
others beside those: i.e. beside those four. See note on Daniel 8:22 . That there is a break between the past and the future is manifest from Daniel 10:14 , of which this chapter is the continuation. Those who take verses: Daniel 11:5-20 as belonging to the past do not agree as to the interpretation from history. We give the commonly held view, making the break between Daniel 11:20 and Daniel 11:21 .
5.
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
the king of the south . Ptolemy Soter, son of Lagus, king of Egypt (see Daniel 11:8 ). He took the title "king"; whereas his father "Lagus" had been only governor.
south . With reference to Judea.
one of his princes. Seleucus I (Nicator = conqueror).
him: i.e. Ptolemy.
a great dominion . It added Syria to Babylon and Media.
6.
And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
in the end of years . In Daniel 11:13 this is rendered "after certain years", said to be sixty-three. Compare 2 Chronicles 18:2 , and Daniel 11:8 below.
join: i.e. in league.
the king's daughter . Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II (Philadelphus) of Egypt.
the king of the north . Antiochus.
north . With reference to Judea.
make an agreement = do upright things: i.e. to come to terms upon what is equitable between the parties. Here it included her marriage with Antiochus, who divorced his wife (Laodice) and disinherited her son (Seleucus Callinious).
given = delivered.
times: or, vicissitudes.
7.
But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
a branch of her roots. Her brother Ptolemy III (Euergetes), "roots" referring to their father Ptolemy II (Philadelphus).
in his estate = in his stead. Hebrew. kanno . See note on Daniel 9:27 ("for the overspreading"): i.e. in the stead of Philadelphus, who avenged the murder of Berenice and her son by Laodice. Euergetes had been restored. This is the second king of the south.
8.
And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
their precious vessels = vessels of desire, said to have been valued at 40,000 talents of silver; and 2,400 images, including Egyptian idols, which Cambyses had taken from Egypt. Hence he was named by the grateful Egyptians "Euergetes" (= Benefactor).
continue = stand.
more years: i.e. four years, reigning forty-six years in all.
9.
So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
land = soil.
10.
But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
his. Seleucus II (Callinicus).
sons. Hebrew text is "son" (singular) But the Hebrew margin, with some codices and one early printed edition, read "sons" (plural), as here: i.e. Seleucus II (Callinicus) and his brother Antiochus III. See Encycl. Brit., 11th (Cambridge) ed., vol. 24, p. 604.
shall = he shall: i.e. Antiochus III, the second king of the north, his brother having died by a fall from his horse.
come . Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Syriac, read "come against him".
be stirred up = will wage war. Defeating Antiochus III.
11.
And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
the king of the south . The second, Ptolemy III.
choler . See note on Daniel 8:7 .
he: i.e. the king of the north, Antiochus III.
given = delivered.
his hand: i.e. Ptolemy's hand.
12.
And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
taken away = subdued.
cast down, &c . = will cause tens of thousands to fall. This occurred at Raphia, south-west of Gaza.
he shall not be strengthened by it . Giving himself up to licentiousness.
13.
For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
the king of the north . The second king, Antiochus III.
return = renew the war.
come . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "will come against him". Figure of speech Polyptoton = coming he will come. App-6 .
after certain years . Hebrew at the end of years, as in Daniel 11:6 . This was fourteen years after his defeat at Raphia.
14.
And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
the king of the south . This would be the third king, Ptolemy V (Epiphanes), a mere child.
the robbers = sons of the oppressors: i.e. apostate Jews, or turbulent men who defied laws and justice.
to establish the vision: i.e. to help to fulfil prophecy, by taking the side of Syria, so as to make Judea independent.
but they shall fall . For they indirectly helped to establish Antiochus. See verses: Daniel 11:16-19 .
15.
So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
the king of the north . This is Antiochus III (the Great); and verses: Daniel 11:16-19 describe his doings, which were a typical foreshadowing of his antitype, "the little horn", the yet future antichrist, described in Daniel 11:21 Daniel 12:1 ; which show how the latter portion can be fulfilled by an individual.
neither his chosen people . Dr. Ginsburg suggests "but his people will flee".
16.
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
him . Ptolemy V.
do according to his own will . Thus foreshadowing but not exhausting what is said of "the vile person" in verses: Daniel 11:21 , Daniel 11:36 .
which by his hand shall be consumed = much wasted in his hand.
consumed = perfected: i.e. completely desolated.
17.
He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
set his face . The idiom for expressing a fixed purpose. Compare 2 Kings 12:17 .
and upright ones . . . shall he do = he will make equitable terms with him (i.e. Ptolemy V). The words which follow tell us what the terms were. With this agree the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate.
the daughter of women: i.e. Cleopatra, his own daughter, then only eleven years of age. The term denotes beauty, &c.
women: i.e. her mother and grandmother, probably still caring for her education, &c.
not stand, &c . She sided with her husband, and defeated her father's plans.
18.
After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
isles = coast-lands, or maritime countries.
a prince = a captain or general. Hebrew. kazin. Occurs only here in this book. He was the Roman general, Scipio (Lucius Scipio).
for his own behalf: i.e. for his own interest.
him . Antioohus III.
without his own reproach: i.e. with untarnished reputation.
19.
Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
fort = fortresses.
stumble = stagger. Antiochus III, after his defeat by Scipio at Magnesia (near Smyrna), withdrew to Syria.
20.
Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
a raiser of taxes . . . kingdom . = one [Seleucus] causing the exactor [Heliodorus] to pass through [Judea], the glorious land (compare verses: Dan 16:41 ; Daniel 8:9 ). Seleucus sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the Temple, &c.
neither in anger . Ginsburg suggests "and not with hands", because it was by poison. Here ends the historical portion, which has been fulfilled now, but which was then future, verse Dan 21:12 , Dan 21:3 passes on to the time which is still (1912/2009) future to us. Here begins the portion of this prophecy which is still future to us (1912/2009), "the latter days" of Daniel 10:14 .
21.
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
a vile person. One of the twelve titles given to the antichrist. See note on Daniel 7:8 . The prophecy concerning him is continuous to the end of the chapter. It is parallel with Daniel 7:8 , &c.; Daniel 8:9 , &c.; and Daniel 9:26 , Daniel 9:27 . He is not another successional king of the north, but a totally different and unique personage, still future. He comes in by "flatteries", and in Daniel 11:40 he is attacked by both a "king of the south" and a "king of the north". Note the parallel exhibited in App-89 .
vile = despicable. Compare Psalms 15:4 .
they shall not give = to whom was not given.
honour = dignity.
peaceably = unexpectedly: i.e. in a time of careless security (Compare Daniel 8:25 ). Compare Ezekiel 16:49 ("abundance of idleness").
22.
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
be overflown from = sweep all.
broken = broken in pieces.
yea, also, &c.: i.e. a prince with whom he had made a covenant or league (Daniel 11:23 ), and who had hitherto aided him.
23.
And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
the league: i.e. the covenant just mentioned (Daniel 11:22 ).
with a small people . Hence he is called "the little horn".
24.
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
forecast his devices = devise plots.
25.
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
he: i.e. the king of the south.
shall not stand = will make no stand.
26.
Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
they that feed, &c. There will be treachery within, as well as fighting without.
27.
And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
And both these kings hearts, &c . = Now, as to the two kings, their hearts [will be set] to do, &c.
mischief = evil. Hebrew. ra'a'.
yet the end, &c . Intimating that these things belong to the closing scenes. Compare Daniel 11:35 and Daniel 11:40 .
28.
Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
his heart, &c Showing when the purpose of breaking the covenant was plotted.
do exploits = act effectively, or accomplish [the purpose of his heart].
29.
At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
the former . In verses: Daniel 11:25 , Daniel 11:26 . the latter. In verses: Daniel 11:42 , Daniel 11:43 .
30.
For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Chittim = Cyprus, or some European power. See note on Numbers 24:24 . Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:24 ). App-92 .
against the holy covenant . Made with the Jews at the beginning of the last seven years, already mentioned in Daniel 9:27 . in Daniel 11:28 , he had already plotted the breaking of it.
do = do [so], or accomplish [it]: i.e. he will break it.
holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 .
have intelligence = fix his attention on (with a view to co-operation).
31.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
pollute the sanctuary . By putting up the "abomination" (the Asherah, App-42 ), which brings on the judgment of "desolation". The end is marked by the "cleansing of the sanctuary" (Daniel 8:14 ; Daniel 9:24 ). App-89 .
take away the daily sacrifice . This marks the middle of the "week", or the last seven years. See Daniel 8:11 , Daniel 8:12 ; Daniel 9:27 ; Daniel 12:11 ; and App-89 . From this point he is energized by Satan.
place the abomination, &c . This accompanies the taking away of the daily sacrifice (Daniel 8:13 ; Daniel 9:27 ; Daniel 12:11 ; and App-89 ). Our Lord refers to this verse in Matthew 24:15 .
32.
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
such as do wickedly against = them that are ready to deal lawlessly with.
wickedly . Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
corrupt = make impious or profane.
know their God . Denotes those who have an experimental rather than an intellectual knowledge. Hebrew. yada'.
God . Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
be strong = prove themselves strong. Hebrew. hazak = strong for endurance (i.e. for resisting all temptation to apostatize).
do exploits = work effectually.
33.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
understand = are wise. See Daniel 11:35 with Daniel 12:3 , Daniel 12:10 , where it would be well to use the Hebrew Maskilim, as a proper name.
shall fall by the sword: i.e. in the great tribulation which is here described, in part.
many . Some codices, with six early printed editions, read this word "many" in the text.
34.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
shall be holpen, &c . = shall obtain but little help.
35.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
try = refine. Expulsion of dross.
purge = purify. Separation from dross.
the time of the end. Now near at hand.
36.
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
do according to his will . Compare Daniel 8:4 ; Daniel 11:3 .
he shall exalt himself, &c . This is quoted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 , 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ; and referred to in Daniel 7:25 ; Daniel 8:11 , Daniel 8:25 .Revelation 13:5 , Revelation 13:6 .
GOD . Hebrew El. App-4 .
against, &c . Compare Daniel 8:11 , Daniel 8:24 , Daniel 8:25 .
gods . Hebrew ' elim .
the indignation, &c . Jehovah's indignation. Compare Daniel 8:19 ; Daniel 9:16 ; and Isaiah 10:23 , Isaiah 10:25 .
determined = decreed.
37.
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
the desire of women . In view of the context this must refer to any gods desired by women: such as Baaltis, Astarte, or Mylitta of the Babylonians; the Persian Artemis, or the Nanoea of the Syrians; or the "queen of heaven" of Jeremiah 7:18 ; Jeremiah 44:17 , &c.
GOD . Hebrew Eloah. App-4 .
38.
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
in his estate = in its place: i.e. the God of forces on its pedestal.
God of forces . Hebrew. Ma'uzzim = God of fortresses.
shall he honour, &c . Thus, in secret he is superstitious, though in public he exalts himself above all gods.
39.
Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
do = deal.
the most strong holds = the strongest fortresses.
whom he shall acknowledge = whosoever acknowledged him.
and increase = he will increase.
gain = a price.
40.
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
at the time of the end: i.e. near the close of the last seven years.
he: i.e. this "wilful king".
the countries = the countries [adjoining].
41.
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
the glorious land. Compare verses: Daniel 11:11 , Daniel 11:16 , Daniel 11:45 ; and Daniel 8:9 .
children = sons.
42.
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43.
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44.
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
make away many = devote many [to extermination]. Revelation 13:7 .
45.
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
plant = spread out.
tabernacles, &c . = palatial tent.
come to his end . This could not be said of Antiochus, for he died at Tabae, in Persia. "The wilful king" comes to his end in Judea, between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea.
and none shall help him . For he is smitten by God Himself. See Isaiah 11:4 .Zechariah 12 and Zechariah 14 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 . Revelation 19:20 . The grave does not receive him (for Isaiah 14:19 is only a comparison "like"), and he is not joined with them in burial. He is cast into the lake of fire.