Daniel 11

23. TREGELLES notes three divisions in the history of the "vile person," which is continued to the end of the chapter: (1) His rise ( Daniel 11:21 Daniel 11:22 ). (2) The time from his making the covenant to the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up of the abomination of desolation ( Daniel 11:23-31 ). (3) His career of blasphemy, to his destruction ( Daniel 11:32-45 ); the latter two periods answering to the "week" of years of his "covenant with many" (namely, in Israel) ( Daniel 9:27 ), and the last being the closing half week of the ninth chapter. But the context so accurately agrees with the relations of Antiochus to Ptolemy that the primary reference seems to be to the "league" between them. Antitypically, Antichrist's relations towards Israel are probably delineated. Compare Daniel 8:11 Daniel 8:25 , with Daniel 11:22 here, "prince of the covenant."
work deceitfully--Feigning friendship to young Ptolemy, as if he wished to order his kingdom for him, he took possession of Memphis and all Egypt ("the fattest places," Daniel 11:34 ) as far as Alexandria.
with a small people--At first, to throw off suspicion, his forces were small.

24. peaceably--literally, "unexpectedly"; under the guise of friendship he seized Ptolemy Philometer.
he shall do that which his fathers have not done--His predecessors, kings of Syria, had always coveted Egypt, but in vain: he alone made himself master of it.
scatter among them . . . prey--among his followers (I Maccabees 1:19).
forecast his devices against . . . strongholds--He shall form a studied scheme for making himself master of the Egyptian fortresses. He gained them all except Alexandria, which successfully resisted him. Retaining to himself Pelusium, he retired to Judea, where, in revenge for the joy shown by the Jews at the report of his death, which led them to a revolt, he subdued Jerusalem by storm or stratagem.
for a time--His rage shall not be for ever; it is but for a time limited by God. CALVIN makes "for a time" in antithesis to "unexpectedly," in the beginning of the verse. He suddenly mastered the weaker cities: he had to "forecast his plans" more gradually ("for a time") as to how to gain the stronger fortresses.

25. A fuller detail of what was summarily stated ( Daniel 11:22-24 ). This is the first of Antiochus' three ( Daniel 11:29 ) open invasions of Egypt.
against the king of the south--against Ptolemy Philometer. Subsequently, Ptolemy Physcon (the Gross), or Euergetes II, was made king by the Egyptians, as Ptolemy Philometer was in Antiochus hands.
great army--as distinguished from the "small people" ( Daniel 11:23 ) with which he first came. This was his first open expedition; he was emboldened by success to it. Antiochus "entered Egypt with an overwhelming multitude, with chariots, elephants, and cavalry" (I Maccabees 1:17).
stirred up--by the necessity, though naturally indolent.
not stand--Philometer was defeated.
they shall forecast, &c.--His own nobles shall frame treacherous "devices" against him (see Daniel 11:26 ). Euloeus and Lenoeus maladministered his affairs. Antiochus, when checked at last at Alexandria, left Ptolemy Philometer at Memphis as king, pretending that his whole object was to support Philometer's claims against the usurper Physcon.

26. they that feed of . . . his meat--those from whom he might naturally have looked for help, his intimates and dependents ( Psalms 41:9 , John 13:18 ); his ministers and guardians.
his army shall overflow--Philometer's army shall be dissipated as water. The phrase is used of overflowing numbers, usually in a victorious sense, but here in the sense of defeat, the very numbers which ordinarily ensure victory, hastening the defeat through mismanagement.
many shall fall down slain--(I Maccabees 1:18, "many fell wounded to death"). Antiochus, when he might have slain all in the battle near Pelusium, rode around and ordered the enemy to be taken alive, the fruit of which policy was, he soon gained Pelusium and all Egypt [DIODORUS SICULUS, 26.77].

27. both . . . to do mischief--each to the other.
speak lies at one table--They shall, under the semblance of intimacy, at Memphis try to deceive one another
it shall not prosper--Neither of them shall carry his point at this time.
yet the end shall be--"the end" of the contest between them is reserved for "the time appointed" ( Daniel 11:29 Daniel 11:30 ).

28. (I Maccabees 1:19,20, &c.).
against the holy covenant--On his way back to Syria, he attacked Jerusalem, the metropolis of Jehovah's covenant-people, slew eighty thousand, took forty thousand prisoners, and sold forty thousand as slaves (II Maccabees 5:5-14).
he shall do exploits--He shall effect his purpose. Guided by Menelaus, the high priest, he entered the sanctuary with blasphemies, took away the gold and silver vessels, sacrificed swine on the altar, and sprinkled broth of the flesh through the temple (II Maccabees 5:15-21).

29. At the time appointed--"the time" spoken of in Daniel 11:27 .
return--his second open invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy Philometer, suspecting Antiochus' designs with Physcon, hired mercenaries from Greece. Whereupon Antiochus advanced with a fleet and an army, demanding the cession to him of Cyprus, Pelusium, and the country adjoining the Pelusiac mouth of the Nile.
it shall not be as the former--not successful as the former expedition. Popilius Loenas, the Roman ambassador, met him at Eleusis, four miles from Alexandria, and presented him the decree of the senate; on Antiochus replying that he would consider what he was to do, Popilius drew a line round him with a rod and said, "I must have a reply to give to the senate before you leave this circle." Antiochus submitted, and retired from Egypt; and his fleets withdrew from Cyprus.
or as the latter--that mentioned in Daniel 11:42 Daniel 11:43 [TREGELLES]. Or, making this the third expedition, the sense is "not as the first or as the second" expeditions [PISCATOR]. Rather "not as the former, so shall be this latter" expedition [GROTIUS].

30. ships of Chittim--the Roman ambassadors arriving in Macedonian Grecian vessels the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean in general.
grieved--humbled and dispirited through fear of Rome.
indignation against the holy covenant--Indignant that meantime God's worship had been restored at Jerusalem, he gives vent to his wrath at the check given him by Rome, on the Jews.
intelligence with them that forsake the . . . covenant--namely, with the apostates in the nation (I Maccabees 1:11-15). Menelaus and other Jews instigated the king against their religion and country, learning from Greek philosophy that all religions are good enough to keep the masses in check. These had cast off circumcision and the religion of Jehovah for Greek customs. Antiochus, on his way home, sent Apollonius (167 B.C.) with twenty-two thousand to destroy Jerusalem, two years after its capture by himself. Apollonius slew multitudes, dismantled and pillaged the city. They then, from a fortress which they built commanding the temple, fell on and slew the worshippers; so that the temple service was discontinued. Also, Antiochus decreed that all, on pain of death, should conform to the Greek religion, and the temple was consecrated to Jupiter Olympius. Identifying himself with that god, with fanatical haughtiness he wished to make his own worship universal (I Maccabees 1:41; II Maccabees 6:7). This was the gravest peril which ever heretofore threatened revealed religion, the holy people, and the theocracy on earth, for none of the previous world rulers had interfered with the religious worship of the covenant-people, when subject to them ( Daniel 4:31-34 , Daniel 6:27 Daniel 6:28 , Ezra 1:2 Ezra 1:4 , 7:12 , Nehemiah 2:18 ). Hence arose the need of such a forewarning of the covenant-people as to him--so accurate, that PORPHYRY, the adversary of revelation, saw it was hopeless to deny its correspondence with history, but argued from its accuracy that it must have been written subsequent to the event. But as Messianic events are foretold in Daniel, the Jews, the adversaries of Jesus, would never have forged the prophecies which confirm His claims. The ninth chapter was to comfort the faithful Jews, in the midst of the "abominations" against "the covenant," with the prospect of Messiah who would "confirm the covenant." He would show by bringing salvation, and yet abolishing sacrifices, that the temple service which they so grieved after, was not absolutely necessary; thus the correspondence of phraseology would suggest comfort (compare Daniel 9:27 with Daniel 11:30 Daniel 11:31 ).

31. arms--namely, of the human body; not weapons; human forces.
they--Antiochus' hosts confederate with the apostate Israelites; these latter attain the climax of guilt, when they not only, as before, "forsake the covenant" ( Daniel 11:30 ), but "do wickedly against" it ( Daniel 11:32 ), turning complete heathens. Here Antiochus' actings are described in language which reach beyond him the type to Antichrist the antitype [JEROME] (just as in Psalms 72:1-20 many things are said of Solomon the type, which are only applicable to Christ the Antitype); including perhaps Rome, Mohammed, and the final personal Antichrist. SIR ISAAC NEWTON refers the rest of the chapter from this verse to the Romans, translating, "after him arms (that is, the Romans) shall stand up"; at the very time that Antiochus left Egypt, the Romans conquered Macedon, thus finishing the reign of Daniel's third beast; so here the prophet naturally proceeds to the fourth beast. JEROME'S view is simpler; for the narrative seems to continue the history of Antiochus, though with features only in type applicable to him, fully to Antichrist.
sanctuary of strength--not only naturally a place of strength, whence it held out to the last against the besiegers, but chiefly the spiritual stronghold of the covenant-people ( Psalms 48:1-3 Psalms 48:12-14 ). Apollonius "polluted" it with altars to idols and sacrifices of swine's flesh, after having "taken away the daily sacrifice"
place . . . abomination that maketh desolate--that is, that pollutes the temple ( Daniel 8:12 Daniel 8:13 ). Or rather, "the abomination of the desolater," Antiochus Epiphanes (I Maccabees 1:29,37-49). Compare Daniel 9:27 , wherein the antitypical desolating abomination of Rome (the eagle standard, the bird of Jupiter, sacrificed to by Titus' soldiers within the sacred precincts, at the destruction of Jerusalem), of Mohammed and of the final Antichrist, is foretold. I Maccabees 1:54, uses the very phrase, "the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty-fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation on the altar"; namely, an idol-altar and image of Jupiter Olympius, erected upon Jehovah's altar of burnt offerings. "Abomination" is the common name for an idol in the Old Testament. The Roman emperor Adrian's erection of a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus where the temple of God had stood, A.D. 132; also the erection of the Mohammedan mosque of Omar in the same place (it is striking, Mohammedanism began to prevail in A.D. 610, only about three years of the time when Popery assumed the temporal power); and the idolatry of the Church of Rome in the spiritual temple, and the final blasphemy of the personal Antichrist in the literal temple ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ) may all be antitypically referred to here under Antiochus the type, and the Old Testament Antichrist.

32. (I Maccabees 1:52).
corrupt--seduce to apostasy.
by flatteries--promises of favor.
people that . . . know their God--the Maccabees and their followers (I Maccabees 1:62,63).

33. they that understand--who know and keep the truth of God ( Isaiah 11:2 ).
instruct many--in their duty to God and the law, not to apostatize.
yet they shall fall--as Eleazar (II Maccabees 6:18, &c.). They shall be sorely persecuted, even to death ( Hebrews 11:35 Hebrews 11:36 Hebrews 11:37 ; II Maccabees 6,7). Their enemies took advantage of the Sabbath to slay them on the day when they would not fight. TREGELLES thinks, from comparison with Daniel 11:35 , it is the people who "fall," not those of understanding. But Daniel 11:35 makes the latter "fall," not an unmeaning repetition; in Daniel 11:33 they fall (die) by persecution; in Daniel 11:35 they fall (spiritually) for a time by their own weakness.
flame--in caves, whither they had retired to keep the Sabbath. Antiochus caused some to be roasted alive (II Maccabees 7:3-5).
many days--rather, "certain days," as in Daniel 8:27 . JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 12:7.6,7] tells us the persecution lasted for three years (I Maccabees 1:59 4:54; II Maccabees 10:1-7).

34. a little help--The liberty obtained by the Maccabean heroes for the Jews was of but short duration. They soon fell under the Romans and Herodians, and ever since every attempt to free them from Gentile rule has only aggravated their sad lot. The period of the world times (Gentile rule) is the period of depression of the theocracy, extending from the exile to the millennium [ROOS]. The more immediate reference seems to be, the forces of Mattathias and his five sons were originally few (I Maccabees 2:1-5).
many shall cleave to them--as was the case under Judas Maccabeus, who was thus able successfully to resist Antiochus.
with flatteries--Those who had deserted the Jewish cause in persecution, now, when success attended the Jewish arms, joined the Maccabean standard, for example, Joseph, the son of Zecharias, Azarias, &c. (I Maccabees 5:55-57; II Maccabees 12:40 13:21). MAURER explains it, of those who through fear of the Maccabees' severity against apostates joined them, though ready, if it suited their purpose, to desert them (I Maccabees 2:44 3:58).

35. to try them--the design of affliction. Image from metals tried with fire.
to purge--Even in the elect there are dregs which need to be purged out ( 1 Peter 1:7 ). Hence they are allowed to fall for a time; not finally ( 2 Chronicles 32:31 , Luke 22:31 ). Image from wheat cleared of its chaff by the wind.
make . . . white--image from cloth ( Revelation 7:9 ).
to . . . time of . . . end--God will not suffer His people to be persecuted without limitation ( 1 Corinthians 10:13 ). The godly are to wait patiently for "the end" of "the time" of trial; "for it is (to last) yet for a time appointed" by God.

36. The wilful king here, though primarily Antiochus, is antitypically and mainly Antichrist, the seventh head of the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-18 , and the "beast" of Armageddon ( Revelation 16:13 Revelation 16:16 , 19:19 ). Some identify him with the revived French emperorship, the eighth head of the beast ( Revelation 17:11 ), who is to usurp the kingly, as the Pope has the priestly, dignity of Christ--the false Messiah of the Jews, who will "plant his tabernacle between the seas in the holy mountain," "exalting himself above every god" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 , Revelation 13:5 Revelation 13:6 ). This last clause only in part holds good of Antiochus; for though he assumed divine honors, identifying himself with Jupiter Olympius, yet it was for that god he claimed them; still it applies to him as the type.
speak marvellous things against . . . God of gods--so Daniel 7:25 , as to the "little horn," which seemingly identifies the two (compare Daniel 8:25 ). Antiochus forbade the worship of Jehovah by a decree "marvellous" for its wickedness: thus he was a type of Antichrist. Compare Daniel 7:8 , "a mouth speaking great things."
indignation . . . accomplished--God's visitation of wrath on the Jews for their sins ( Daniel 8:19 ).
that . . . determined--( Daniel 9:26 Daniel 9:27 , 10:21 ).

37. Neither . . . regard . . . the desire of women--(Compare Ezekiel 24:16 Ezekiel 24:18 ). The wife, as the desire of man's eyes, is the symbol of the tenderest relations ( 2 Samuel 1:26 ). Antiochus would set at naught even their entreaties that he should cease from his attack on Jehovah's worship [POLANUS]. MAURER refers it to Antiochus' attack on the temple of the Syrian Venus, worshipped by women (I Maccabees 6:1, &c.; II Maccabees 1:13). NEWTON refers it to Rome's "forbidding to marry." ELLIOTT rightly makes the antitypical reference be to Messiah. Jewish women desired to be mothers with a view to Him, the promised seed of the woman ( Genesis 30:23 , Luke 1:25 Luke 1:28 ).
nor regard any god--( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ).

38. God of forces--probably Jupiter Capitolinus, to whom Antiochus began to erect a temple at Antioch [LIVY, 41.20]. Translate, "He shall honor the god of fortresses on his basis," that is, the base of the statue. NEWTON translates, "And the god 'Mahuzzim' (guardians, that is, saints adored as 'protectors' in the Greek and Roman churches) shall he honor."
honour with gold, &c.--Compare Revelation 17:4 as to Antiochus' antitype, Antichrist.

39. NEWTON translates, "to be defenders of Mahuzzim (the monks and priests who uphold saint worship), together with the strange god whom he shall acknowledge, he shall multiply honor." English Version is better: He shall do (exploits) in the most strongholds (that is, shall succeed against them) with a strange god (under the auspices of a god which he worshipped not before, namely, Jupiter Capitolinus, whose Worship he imported into his empire from Rome). Antiochus succeeded against Jerusalem, Sidon, Pelusium, Memphis.
cause them--Antiochus "caused" his followers and the apostates "to rule over many" Jews, having "divided their land" (Judea), "for gain" (that is, as a reward for their compliance).

40. The difficulty of reconciling this with Antiochus' history is that no historian but PORPHYRY mentions an expedition of his into Egypt towards the close of his reign. This Daniel 11:40 , therefore, may be a recapitulation summing up the facts of the first expedition to Egypt (171-170 B.C.), in Daniel 11:22 Daniel 11:25 ; and Daniel 11:41 , the former invasion of Judea, in Daniel 11:28 ; Daniel 11:42 Daniel 11:43 , the second and third invasions of Egypt (169 and 168 B.C). in Daniel 11:23 Daniel 11:24 Daniel 11:29 Daniel 11:30 . AUBERLEN takes rather PORPHYRY'S statement, that Antiochus, in the eleventh year of his reign (166-165 B.C.), invaded Egypt again, and took Palestine on his way. The "tidings" ( Daniel 11:44 ) as to the revolt of tributary nations then led him to the East. PORPHYRY'S statement that Antiochus starting from Egypt took Arad in Judah, and devastated all Phoenicia, agrees with Daniel 11:45 ; then he turned to check Artaxias, king of Armenia. He died in the Persian town Tabes, 164 B.C., as both POLYBIUS and PORPHYRY agree. Doubtless, antitypically, the final Antichrist, and its predecessor Mohammed, are intended, to whom the language may be more fully applicable than to Antiochus the type. The Saracen Arabs "of the south" "pushed at" the Greek emperor Heraclius, and deprived him of Egypt and Syria. But the Turks of "the north" not merely pushed at, but destroyed the Greek empire; therefore more is said of them than of the Saracens. Their "horsemen" are specified, being their chief strength. Their standards still are horse tails. Their "ships," too, often gained the victory over Venice, the great naval power of Europe in that day. They "overflowed" Western Asia, and then "passed over" into Europe, fixing their seat of empire at Constantinople under Mohammed II [NEWTON].

41. Antiochus, according to PORPHYRY, marching against Ptolemy, though he turned from his course to wreak his wrath on the Jews, did not meddle with Edom, Moab, and Ammon on the side of Judea. In I Maccabees 4:61 5:3; &c., it is stated that he used their help in crushing the Jews, of whom they were the ancient enemies. Compare Isaiah 11:14 , as to Israel's future retribution, just as the Maccabees made war on them as the friends of Antiochus (I Maccabees 5:1-68). Antitypically, the Turks under Selim entered Jerusalem on their way to Egypt, and retain "the glorious land" of Palestine to this day. But they never could conquer the Arabs, who are akin to Edom, Moab, and Ammon ( Genesis 16:12 ). So in the case of the final Antichrist.

42, 43. Egypt . . . Libyans . . . Ethiopians--The latter two, being the allies of the first, served under Antiochus when he conquered Egypt. Antitypically, Egypt, though it held out long under the Mamelukes, in A.D. 1517 fell under the Turks. Algiers, Tunis, and other parts of Africa, are still under them.
at his steps--following him ( Exodus 11:8 , Margin; Judges 4:10 ).

44. tidings out of the east and out of the north--Artaxias, king of Armenia, his vassal, had revolted in the north, and Arsaces, leader of the Parthians, in the east (I Maccabees 3:10, &c., I Maccabees 3:37; TACITUS, Histories, 5.8). In 147 B.C. Antiochus went on the expedition against them, on the return from which he died.
great fury--at the Jews, on account of their successes under Judas Maccabeus, whence he desired to replenish his treasury with means to prosecute the war with them; also at Artaxias and Arsaces, and their respective followers. DE BURGH makes the "tidings" which rouse his fury, to be concerning the Jews' restoration; such may be the antitypical reference.

45. plant . . . between the seas--the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
tabernacles of . . . palace--his palace-like military tents, such as Oriental princes travel with. Antiochus' attack on Judea, and his subsequent "end" at Tabes, which was caused by chagrin both at hearing that his forces under Lysias were overcome by the Jews, and at the failure of his expedition against the temple of Elymais (II Maccabees 9:5).
holy mountain--Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The desolation of the sanctuary by Antiochus, and also the desecration of the consecrated ground round Jerusalem by the idolatrous Roman ensigns, as also by the Mohammedan mosque, and, finally, by the last Antichrist, are referred to. So the last Antichrist is to sit upon "the mount of the congregation" ( Isaiah 14:13 ), but "shall be brought down to hell" 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ).