Daniel Chapter 11:21-45/Commentary

Daniel Chapter 11:21-45

11:21 “And in his place a despicable person will arise”: This is no other than the notorious Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes, who will reign from 175-164 B.C. The name “Epiphanes”, which Antiochus gave himself means “illustrious one”, the Jews called him “Epimanes”, which means “mad-man”. The Syrian kingdom was not given to Antiochus by right of succession; rather, he took it, from the expected heir. “And seize the kingdom by intrigue”: History records this man as being a master of intrigue and flattery. “His manner of taking the kingdom was catching people unawares in times when they thought things were safe and secure and by intrigue and deceit” (Butler p. 423).

11:22 Antiochus was successful in war against great armies like that of Ptolemy Vl (170 B.C.).

This is a graphic picture when the armies of the Syrians and Ptolemies shall surge back and forth through the land of Palestine. “The prince of the covenant”: In the early days of his reign, Jerusalem was ruled by the High Priest, Onias II, a descendant of Simon the Just, a strictly orthodox Jew. The Jews who wanted to embrace Greek culture opposed Onias and backed the cause of his brother, Jason. By promising a larger tribute to Antiochus, Jason succeeded in gaining the High Priesthood, and Onias was murdered in 172 B.C. Jason, who had changed his name from the Hebrew “Joshua” to the Greek “Jason”, encouraged the Hebrews to adopt Greek ways and customs. During this period of time Hebrew ways and doctrines were looked upon as “behind the times” (Romans 12:1-2).

11:23 Through many devices of intrigue, flattery, and deception, and with a small army, Antiochus won a significant victory at Pelusium in Egypt. Many would make leagues with him but he will work deceitfully against his allies. In Egypt he pretended to support the cause of one nephew against another nephew, pretending that it was his nephew’s interests that had caused him to invade Egypt.

11:24 “He will accomplish what his fathers never did”: Lower Egypt (which is really the northern part of Egypt) was well known for its fertility and wealth. This is the region that Antiochus captured, something that his forefathers had not been able to do. “He will distribute plunder”: Antiochus lavished upon is troops a distribution of the plunder taken in conquest.

“He will devise his schemes against strongholds”: Antiochus would enter one rich Egyptian city after another by deception, when the people actually thought he was bringing peace and security.

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11:25-26 Antiochus was forced to return to Syria and quell a revolt in Cilicia, but then he attempted to invade Egypt again with a great army. In this expedition he came as close as ever to subduing the empire of the Ptolemies. The king of Egypt will go up against him with a large army, but he shall not stand, even his own friends (“those who eat his choice food”) undermine his success by giving poor military advice. The “king of the South”, Ptolemy IV (170 B.C.), will be defeated partly by sedition and desertion in and from his army.

11:27 “As for both kings”: Antiochus called a truce and met with Ptolemy Philometor at the conference table. Antiochus pretended to be conducting his campaign against Egypt in order to help Ptolemy regain total control of Egypt, and Ptolemy pretended to believe him. “For the end is still to come at the appointed time”: Obviously, this does not mean the “end of the world”.

“All the apparent candor and joint projects discussed will mask only evil intentions. Neither of these kings will ultimately benefit anything since their end is appointed by God; both kingdoms will fall” (McGuiggan p. 175). Once again, there is that great lesson that powerful men and nations may scheme and plot, but God ultimately controls the timetable including the destiny of various nations (Jeremiah 18:5-10). In addition, two wicked rulers may try to work out a deceptive peace, but God can frustrate such plans.

11:28 Laden with the spoils of war, Antiochus returns to Syria, as he passes through Israel there is a burning hatred in this heart against the Jews, other documents such as 1 Maccabees 1:2028 record of his plundering Palestine. “The prophecy here made by Daniel was intended to strengthen the Jews in that future time when it would appear as if evil were prospering under Antiochus; they were to understand that it was only temporary and that in the appointed time of God it would come to an end” (Butler p. 427). In like manner, various prophecies in the New Testament do encourage us to remain faithful (2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1 Timothy 4:1-4).

11:29 “At the appointed time”: That is, at the appointed time within God’s providence. This third expedition of Antiochus against Egypt was in the spring of 168 B.C. As the verse states, his efforts against Egypt did not fare well, in fact, he was humiliated. In Egypt, the two Ptolemy brothers were no longer at odds with each other, their sister Cleopatra, had succeeded in persuading them that their interests were the same, and besides, the brothers had sought the support of the Romans.

11:30 “Ships of Kittim”: Ships from Cyrus, a Roman dominion, bearing Roman envoys, came and ordered his withdrawal from Egypt. What happened is a famous historical episode that has often been retold. Antiochus, who was besieging Alexandria, was ordered by the Roman embassy to withdraw. Antiochus hesitated and sought to gain time, with his staff the head of the Roman embassy drew a circle about the king and told him that his decision must be reached before he stepped outside the circle, or else he would have to meet the Romans in war. Though vexed and agitated, he withdrew. Yet the rage he was unable to vent on Egypt was now turned against the Jews. He dispatched his general to occupy Jerusalem and in an attack on the Sabbath, he slaughtered large numbers of Jews. “Show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant”: Menelaus and his apostate Jewish followers assisted Antiochus’ forces.

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11:31 Antiochus sought to force the Jewish people to embrace Greek culture and Greek gods.

An elderly Athenian philosopher was sent to Jerusalem to supervise the enforcement of this order. He identified the God of Israel with Jupiter and ordered a bearded image of the pagan deity, to be set up upon the Temple altar. The faithful Jews referred to this as the “abomination of desolation”. Immoral rites were performed in the Temple courts, swine were sacrificed on the altar, the Jews were forbidden to circumcise, observe the Sabbath or the various feasts, and copies of the Hebrew Scriptures were destroyed.

11:32-33 “But the people who know their God will display strength and take action…yet they will fall by the sword”: Yet, God will have a faithful remnant (Romans 11:1-5). Great persecution always separates the chaff from the wheat. Faithful Jews arose who taught others the faithful way of God, but many of them shall suffer much for their faith. It is possible that Hebrews 11:32-40 may have reference to these times. Notice while the faithful hold on to God, the unfaithful become even more degenerate.

11:34-35 “They will be granted a little help”: This “little help” “probably refers to Judas Maccabeus whose efforts were valiant enough, but he was never able to put an end to all the distresses of the people” (Butler p. 433). Of course, during the same time there will be those who continue to spy for the enemy (“many will join with them in hypocrisy”). This suffering however would have a purifying effect on the faithful, as it always does (1 Peter 1:6-8). It did not take long to separate the hypocrites from the godly ones. “Until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time”: God has appointed the time when this troubles will end, that is, when Syrian domination ends with the coming of the Romans to Palestine.

11:36 “Then the king will do as he pleases”: There are various speculations as to who “the king” is here. There is the premillenial view that this is some future “Antichrist”, yet: 1. Daniel has not been talking about the end of the world, but rather, things that would happen in the centuries leading up to the Messiah. 2. The Bible does not predict the emergence of a single “Antichrist”, but rather, anyone who opposes Jesus is an antichrist (1 John 2:18,22). 3. The scope of the book has consistently been to Rome and no further. McGuiggan feels that this king cannot be Antiochus because he never fought a war against Egypt after 168 B.C. (11:29,40), and he never conquered Libya and or Ethiopia (11:40-45). Others feel that this “king” represents the Roman Empire, with their Caesars, the empire that exists when God sets up His kingdom (Daniel 2:44).

11:36 “He will exalt and magnify himself above every god”: Both Antiochus and the Roman Caesars viewed themselves as divine. Antiochus proclaimed himself “God, Manifest, Victorybearer”, and magnified himself above every god by plundering the temples at Jerusalem, Elymais, and other places. “The indignation is finished”: That is, the outpouring of God’s wrath. The king will be permitted to prosper until God is through with him as an instrument of punishment. “For that which is decreed will be done”: “Over and over again we are told that the times and the season are in the hand of God. There is much consolation there. The world is not, no matter how it looks, running in wild chaos. No trends take God by surprise; no movements come up on Him unexpectedly” (McGuiggan p. 180). 11:37 “There are numerous 3

basic elements which move men. Family, religion, tradition, female companionship, home, etc.

None of these things matter to this king in comparison to success and power” (McGuiggan p.

180). 11:38 “A god of fortresses”: “All strong fortresses and stratagems of war shall receive his adoration and worship. All who worship warfare and fortification will receive his support” (Butler p. 435). 11:39 “With the help of a foreign god”: His worship is only a political expediency. Whatever is necessary for gaining or holding on to power, he will do it. He will offer up sacrifices to the gods of anyone if it will gain his end. 11:40 “At the end time”: Not the end of the world, such a time is pictured as being one of normal conditions (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). Rather, the end time is the period leading up to the Messiah, the time of the last empire of Daniel 2:44. Here we might have a prophecy concerning when the last of the Ptolemies move against the Romans. Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemy line, aided by Mark Antony begin the push against Rome, which will move Rome to declare war on Egypt. After a few successful land engagements against the Romans, Mark Antony is urged by Cleopatra to execute the war as a predominately naval affair. This was a grave mistake, the Romans finally overwhelmed Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 B.C., and this ended the Ptolemy kingdom, the last vestige of the Greek empire. 11:41 Following the above battle, Octavian will appoint Herod as ruler over Palestine. 11:42-43 The entire country of Egypt surrendered to the Romans and came under direct Roman rule. “And Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels”: This may refer to the triumphal procession of Roman generals in which they showed off to the Senate and Roman people that they had conquered. Premillennialists try to make the Egyptians as those who oppose some future Antichrist, so much for the claim that they consistently take the Bible literally. They do the same thing in 11:40, where they tell us that this is a land battle, so we should not press the “ships” element. 11:44 The Parthians on the east and the Germanic tribes in the north were always giving the Romans trouble. 11:45 Though Rome will set its authority and rule in Palestine, this empire will also come to an end, and it will prosper until it has served God’s purpose.

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