Daniel 11

Da 11:1-45.

This chapter is an enlargement of the eighth: THE

OVERTHROW OF

PERSIA BY

GRECIA:

THE

FOUR

DIVISIONS OF

ALEXANDER'S

KINGDOM:

CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE

KINGS OF THE

SOUTH AND OF THE

NORTH, THE

PTOLEMIES AND

SELEUCIDÆ:

ANTIOCHUS

EPIPHANES.

1. I--the angel

(Da 10:18).

first year of Darius--Cyaxares II; the year of the conquest of

Babylon

(Da 5:31).

Cyrus, who wielded the real power, though in name subordinate to

Darius, in that year promulgated the edict for the restoration of the

Jews, which Daniel was at the time praying for

(Da 9:1, 2, 21, 23).

stood--implying promptness in helping

(Ps 94:16).

strengthen him--namely, Michael; even as Michael

(Da 10:21,

"strengtheneth himself with me") helped the angel, both joining

their powers in behalf of Israel

[ROSENMULLER]. Or, Darius, the

angel "confirming him" in his purpose of kindness to Israel.

2. three kings in Persia--Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius

Hystaspes. (Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, and Darius, in

Ezr 4:6, 7, 24).

The Ahasuerus of Esther (see on

Da 9:1)

is identified with Xerxes, both in Greek history and in Scripture,

appearing proud, self-willed, careless of contravening Persian customs,

amorous, facile, and changeable

(Da 11:2).

fourth . . . riches . . . against

. . . Grecia--Xerxes, whose riches were proverbial.

Persia reached its climax and showed its greatest power in his invasion

of Greece, 480 B.C. After his overthrow at

Salamis, Persia is viewed as politically dead, though it had an

existence. Therefore,

Da 11:3,

without noticing Xerxes' successors, proceeds at once to Alexander,

under whom, first, the third world kingdom, Grecia, reached its

culmination, and assumed an importance as to the people of God.

stir up all--Four years were spent in gathering his army out of all

parts of his vast empire, amounting to two millions six hundred and

forty-one thousand men.

[PRIDEAUX, Connexion, 1.4. l. 410].

3. mighty king . . . do according to his

will--answering to the he-goat's "notable horn"

(Da 8:6, 7, 21).

Alexander invaded Persia 334 B.C., to avenge the

wrongs of Greece on Persia for Xerxes' past invasion (as Alexander said

in a letter to Darius Codomanus, ARRIAN,

Alexander. 2.14.7).

4. kingdom . . . divided toward . . . four

winds--the fourfold division of Alexander's kingdom at his death

(Da 8:8, 22),

after the battle of Ipsus, 301 B.C.

not to his posterity--(See on

Da 8:8;

Da 8:22).

nor according to his dominion--None of his successors had so wide a

dominion as Alexander himself.

others besides those--besides Alexander's sons, Hercules by

Barsine, Darius' daughter, and Alexander by Roxana, who were both slain

[MAURER]. Rather, besides the four successors to the four chief

divisions of the empire, there will be other lesser chiefs who shall

appropriate smaller fragments of the Macedonian empire

[JEROME].

5. Here the prophet leaves Asia and Greece and takes up Egypt and

Syria, these being in continual conflict under Alexander's successors,

entailing misery on Judea, which lay between the two. Holy Scripture

handles external history only so far as it is connected with God's

people, Israel [JEROME].

TREGELLES puts a chasm between the fourth and

fifth verses, making the transition to the final Antichrist here,

answering to the chasm (in his view) at

Da 8:22, 23.

king of . . . south--literally, "of midday": Egypt

(Da 11:8, 42),

Ptolemy Soter, son of Lagus. He took the title "king," whereas Lagus

was but "governor."

one of his princes--Seleucus, at first a satrap of Ptolemy

Lagus, but from 312 B.C. king of the largest

empire after that of Alexander (Syria, Babylon, Media, &c.), and called

therefore Nicator, that is, "conqueror." Connect the words thus,

"And one of his (Ptolemy's) princes, even he (Seleucus) shall be

strong above him" (above Ptolemy, his former master).

6. in . . . end of years--when the predicted time

shall be consummated

(Da 11:13,

Margin;

Da 8:17; 12:13).

king's daughter of the south--Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy

Philadelphus of Egypt. The latter, in order to end his war with

Antiochus Theus, "king of the north" (literally, "midnight": the

prophetical phrase for the region whence came affliction to Israel,

Jer 1:13-15;

Joe 2:20),

that is, Syria, gave Berenice to Antiochus, who thereupon divorced his

former wife, Laodice, and disinherited her son, Seleucus Callinicus.

The designation, "king of the north" and "of the south," is given in

relation to Judea, as the standpoint. Egypt is mentioned by name

(Da 11:8, 42),

though Syria is not; because the former was in Daniel's time a

flourishing kingdom, whereas Syria was then a mere dependency of

Assyria and Babylon: an undesigned proof of the genuineness of the Book

of Daniel.

agreement--literally, "rights," that is, to put things to rights

between the belligerents.

she shall not retain the power of the arm--She shall not be able to

effect the purpose of the alliance, namely, that she should be the

mainstay of peace. Ptolemy having died, Antiochus took back Laodice,

who then poisoned him, and caused Berenice and her son to be put to

death, and raised her own son, Seleucus Nicator, to the throne.

neither shall he stand--The king of Egypt shall not gain his point

of setting his line on the throne of Syria.

his arm--that on which he relied. Berenice and her offspring.

they that brought her--her attendants from Egypt.

he that begat her--rather as Margin, "the child

whom she brought forth"

[EWALD]. If English Version (which

MAURER

approves) be retained, as Ptolemy died a natural death, "given up" is

not in his case, as in Berenice's, to be understood of giving up

to death, but in a general sense, of his plan proving abortive.

he that strengthened her in these times--Antiochus Theus, who is to

attach himself to her (having divorced Laodice) at the times

predicted [GEJER].

7. a branch of her roots . . . in his estate--Ptolemy Euergetes,

brother of Berenice, succeeding in the place (Margin) of

Philadelphus, avenged her death by overrunning Syria, even to the

Euphrates.

deal against them--He shall deal with the Syrians at his own pleasure.

He slew Laodice.

8. carry . . . into Egypt their gods, &c.--Ptolemy, on hearing of a

sedition in Egypt, returned with forty thousand talents of silver,

precious vessels, and twenty-four hundred images, including Egyptian

idols, which Cambyses had carried from Egypt into Persia. The idolatrous

Egyptians were so gratified, that they named him Euergetes, or

"benefactor."

continue more years--Ptolemy survived Seleucus four years, reigning

in all forty-six years. MAURER

translates, "Then he for several years

shall desist from (contending with) the king of the north"

(compare

Da 11:9).

9. come into his kingdom--Egypt: not only with impunity, but with great

spoil.

10. his sons--the two sons of the king of the north, Seleucus

Callinicus, upon his death by a fall from his horse, namely, Seleucus

Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great.

one shall . . . come--Ceraunus having died, Antiochus alone prosecuted

the war with Ptolemy Philopater, Euergetes' son, until he had recovered

all the parts of Syria subjugated by Euergetes.

pass through--like an "overflowing" torrent

(Da 11:22, 26, 40;

Isa 8:8).

Antiochus penetrated to Dura (near Cæsarea), where he gave

Ptolemy a four months' truce.

return--renew the war at the expiration of the truce (so

Da 11:13).

even to his fortress--Ptolemy's; Raphia, a border-fortress of Egypt

against incursions by way of Edom and Arabia-Petræa, near Gaza; here

Antiochus was vanquished.

11. the king of the south . . . moved with choler--at so great losses,

Syria having been wrested from him, and his own kingdom imperilled,

though otherwise an indolent man, to which his disasters were owing, as

also to the odium of his subjects against him for having murdered his

father, mother, and brother, whence in irony they called him

Philopater, "father-lover."

he shall set forth a great multitude--Antiochus, king of Syria, whose

force was seventy thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry.

but . . . multitude . . . given into his

hand--into Ptolemy's hands; ten thousand of Antiochus' army were

slain, and four thousand made captives.

12. when he hath taken away--that is, subdued "the multitude" of

Antiochus.

heart . . . lifted up--instead of following up his victory by making

himself master of the whole of Syria, as he might, he made peace with

Antiochus, and gave himself up to licentiousness

[POLYBIUS, 87;

JUSTIN, 30.4], and profaned the temple of God by entering the holy

place [GROTIUS].

not be strengthened by it--He shall lose the power gained by his

victory through his luxurious indolence.

13. return--renew the war.

after certain years--fourteen years after his defeat at Raphia.

Antiochus, after successful campaigns against Persia and India, made war

with Ptolemy Epiphanes, son of Philopater, a mere child.

14. many stand up against the king of the south--Philip, king of

Macedon, and rebels in Egypt itself, combined with Antiochus against

Ptolemy.

robbers of thy people--that is, factious men of the Jews shall exalt

themselves, so as to revolt from Ptolemy, and join themselves to

Antiochus; the Jews helped Antiochus' army with provisions, when on his

return from Egypt he besieged the Egyptian garrison left in Jerusalem

[JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 12:3.3].

to establish the vision--Those turbulent Jews unconsciously shall

help to fulfil the purpose of God, as to the trials which await Judea,

according to this vision.

but they shall fall--Though helping to fulfil the vision, they shall

fail in their aim, of making Judea independent.

15. king of . . . north--Antiochus the Great.

take . . . fenced cities--Scopas, the Egyptian general, met Antiochus

at Paneas, near the sources of the Jordan, and was defeated, and fled to

Sidon, a strongly "fenced city," where he was forced to surrender.

chosen people--Egypt's choicest army was sent under Eropus, Menocles,

and Damoxenus, to deliver Scopas, but in vain

[JEROME].

16. he that cometh against him--Antiochus coming against Ptolemy

Epiphanes.

glorious land--Judea

(Da 11:41, 45;

Da 8:9;

Eze 20:6, 15).

completely brought under his sway.

JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 12:3.3]

shows that the meaning is not, that the Jews should be utterly consumed:

for Antiochus favored them for taking his part against Ptolemy, but that

their land should be subjected to him

[LENGKERKE].

GROTIUS

translates, "shall be perfected by him," that is, shall flourish under

him. English Version gives a good sense; namely, that Judea was much

"consumed" or "desolated" by being the arena of conflict between

the combatants, Syria and Egypt.

TREGELLES refers

(Da 11:14),

"robbers of thy people," to the Gentiles, once oppressors, attempting

to restore the Jews to their land by mere human effort, whereas this is

to be effected only by divine interposition: their attempt is

frustrated

(Da 11:16)

operations.

17. set his face--purpose steadfastly. Antiochus purpose was,

however, turned from open assault to wile, by his war with the Romans in

his endeavor to extend his kingdom to the limits it had under Seleucus

Nicator.

upright one--Jasher, or Jeshurun

(De 32:15;

Isa 44:2);

the epithet applied by the Hebrews to their nation. It is here used not

in praise; for in

Da 11:14

(see on

Da 11:14)

they are called "robbers," or "men of violence, factious": it is the

general designation of Israel, as having God for their God.

Probably it is used to rebuke those who ought to have been God's

"upright ones" for confederating with godless heathen in acts of

violence (the contrast to the term in

Da 11:14

favors this).

thus shall he do--Instead of at once invading Ptolemy's country

with his "whole strength," he prepares his way for doing so by the

following plan: he gives to Ptolemy Epiphanes his daughter Cleopatra in

marriage, promising Cœlo-Syria and Judea as a dowry, thus

securing his neutrality in the war with Rome: he hoped through his

daughter to obtain Syria, Cilicia, and Lycia, and even Egypt itself at

last; but Cleopatra favored her husband rather than her father, and so

defeated his scheme [JEROME]. "She shall not

stand on his side."

18. isles--He "took many" of the isles in the Ægean in his war with

the Romans, and crossed the Hellespont.

prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach . . .

to cease--Lucius Scipio Asiaticus, the Roman general, by routing

Antiochus at Magnesia (190 B.C.), caused the

reproach which he offered Rome by inflicting injuries on Rome's allies,

to cease. He did it for his own glory.

without his own reproach--with untarnished reputation.

19. Then he shall turn . . . toward . . . his own land--Compelled by

Rome to relinquish all his territory west of the Taurus, and defray the

expenses of the war, he garrisoned the cities left to him.

stumble . . . not be found--Attempting to plunder the temple of Jupiter

at Elymais by night, whether through avarice, or the want of money to

pay the tribute imposed by Rome (a thousand talents), he was slain with

his soldiers in an insurrection of the inhabitants

[JUSTIN, 32.2].

20. in his estate--in Antiochus' stead: his successor, Seleucus

Philopater, his son.

in the glory of the kingdom--that is, inheriting it by hereditary

right. MAURER

translates, "one who shall cause the tax gatherer

(Heliodorus) to pass through the glory of the kingdom," that is,

Judea, "the glorious land"

(Da 11:16, 41;

Da 8:9).

Simon, a Benjamite, in spite against Onias III, the high priest, gave

information of the treasures in the Jewish temple; and Seleucus having

reunited to Syria Cœlo-Syria and Palestine, the dowry formerly

given by Antiochus the Great to Cleopatra, Ptolemy's wife, sent

Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple. This is narrated in 2

Maccabees 3:4, &c. Contrast

Zec 9:8,

"No oppressor shall pass through . . . any more."

within few days . . . destroyed--after a reign of twelve years, which

were "few" compared with the thirty-seven years of Antiochus' reign.

Heliodorus, the instrument of Seleucus' sacrilege, was made by God the

instrument of his punishment. Seeking the crown, in the absence at Rome

of Seleucus' only son and heir, Demetrius, he poisoned Seleucus. But

Antiochus Epiphanes, Seleucus' brother, by the help of Eumenes, king of

Pergamos, succeeded to the throne, 175 B.C.

neither in anger, nor in battle--not in a popular outbreak, nor in

open battle.

21. vile--Antiochus called Epiphanes, that is, "the illustrious,"

for vindicating the claims of the royal line against Heliodorus, was

nicknamed, by a play of sounds, Epimanes, that is, "the madman," for his

mad freaks beneath the dignity of a king. He would carouse with the

lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly

jest and throw stones at passers-by

[POLYBIUS, 26.10]. Hence, as also

for his crafty supplanting of Demetrius, the rightful heir, from the

throne, he is termed "vile."

they shall not give . . . kingdom: but . . . by flatteries--The nation

shall not, by a public act, confer the kingdom on him, but he shall

obtain it by artifice, "flattering" Eumenes and Attalus of Pergamos to

help him, and, as he had seen candidates at Rome doing, canvassing the

Syrian people high and low, one by one, with embraces

[LIVY, 41.20].

22. shall they be overflown . . . before him--Antiochus Epiphanes

shall invade Egypt with overwhelming forces.

prince of the covenant--Ptolemy Philometer, the son of

Cleopatra, Antiochus' sister, who was joined in covenant with him.

Ptolemy's guardians, while he was a boy, sought to recover from

Epiphanes Cœlo-Syria and Palestine, which had been promised by

Antiochus the Great as Cleopatra's dowry in marrying Ptolemy Epiphanes.

Hence arose the war. Philometer's generals were vanquished, and

Pelusium, the key of Egypt, taken by Antiochus, 171 B.C.

23. TREGELLES

notes three divisions in the history of the "vile

person," which is continued to the end of the chapter: (1) His rise

(Da 11:21, 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

(Da 11:23-31).

(3) His career of blasphemy, to his destruction

(Da 11:32-45);

the latter two periods answering to the "week" of years of his

"covenant with many" (namely, in Israel)

(Da 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

Da 8:11, 25,

with Da 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,"

Da 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 (1 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

(Da 11:22-24).

This is the first of Antiochus' three

(Da 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"

(Da 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" (1

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

Da 11:26).

Eulœus and Lenœus 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

(Ps 41:9;

Joh 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--(1 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

(see on

Da 11:3;

Da 11:25).

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"

(Da 11:29, 30).

28. (1 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 (2 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 (2 Maccabees

5:15-21).

29. At the time appointed--"the time" spoken of in

Da 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 Lœnas, 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

Da 11:42, 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

(see on

Jer 2:10).

Chittim, properly Cyprian, so called from a

Phœnician colony in Cyprus; then 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 (1 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

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

(1 Maccabees 1:41; 2 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

(Da 4:31-34; 6:27, 28;

Ezr 1:2, 4; 7:12;

Ne 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

Da 9:27

with Da 11:30, 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"

(Da 11:30),

but "do wickedly against" it

(Da 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

Ps 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

(Ps 48:1-3, 12-14).

Apollonius "polluted" it with altars to idols and sacrifices of swine's

flesh, after having "taken away the daily sacrifice" (see on

Da 8:11).

place . . . abomination that maketh desolate--that is,

that pollutes the temple

(Da 8:12, 13).

Or rather, "the abomination of the desolater," Antiochus

Epiphanes (1 Maccabees 1:29, 37-49). Compare

Da 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. 1 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

(2Th 2:4)

may all be antitypically referred to here under Antiochus the type, and

the Old Testament Antichrist.

32. (1 Maccabees 1:52).

corrupt--seduce to apostasy.

people that . . . know their God--the Maccabees and their followers

(1 Maccabees 1:62, 63).

33. they that understand--who know and keep the truth of God

(Isa 11:2).

instruct many--in their duty to God and the law, not to apostatize.

yet they shall fall--as Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6:18, &c.). They shall

be sorely persecuted, even to death

(Heb 11:35, 36, 37;

2 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

Da 11:35,

it is the people who "fall," not those of understanding.

But

Da 11:35

makes the latter "fall," not an unmeaning repetition; in

Da 11:33

they fall (die) by persecution; in

Da 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 (2 Maccabees 7:3-5).

many days--rather, "certain days," as in

Da 8:27.

JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 12:7.6,7] tells us

the persecution lasted for three years (1 Maccabees 1:59; 4:54; 2

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 (1 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.

(1 Maccabees 5:55-57; 2 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 (1 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

(1Pe 1:7).

Hence they are allowed to fall for a time; not finally

(2Ch 32:31;

Lu 22:31).

Image from wheat cleared of its chaff by the wind.

make . . . white--image from cloth

(Re 7:9).

to . . . time of . . . end--God will not suffer His people to be

persecuted without limitation

(1Co 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

Re 13:1-18,

and the "beast" of Armageddon

(Re 16:13, 16; 19:19).

Some identify him with the revived French emperorship, the eighth head

of the beast

(Re 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"

(2Th 2:4;

Re 13:5, 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

Da 7:25,

as to the "little horn," which seemingly identifies the two (compare

Da 8:25).

Antiochus forbade the worship of Jehovah by a decree "marvellous" for

its wickedness: thus he was a type of Antichrist. Compare

Da 7:8,

"a mouth speaking great things."

indignation . . . accomplished--God's visitation of

wrath on the Jews for their sins

(Da 8:19).

that . . . determined--

(Da 9:26, 27; 10:21).

37. Neither . . . regard . . . the desire of women--(Compare

Eze 24:16, 18).

The wife, as the desire of man's eyes, is the symbol of the

tenderest relations

(2Sa 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

(1 Maccabees 6:1, &c.; 2 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

(Ge 30:23;

Lu 1:25, 28).

nor regard any god--

(2Th 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

Re 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

Da 11:40,

therefore, may be a recapitulation summing up the facts of the first

expedition to Egypt (171-170 B.C.), in

Da 11:22, 25;

and

Da 11:41,

the former invasion of Judea, in

Da 11:28;

Da 11:42, 43,

the second and third invasions of Egypt (169 and 168 B.C.) in

Da 11:23, 24, 29, 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"

(Da 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 Phœnicia, agrees with

Da 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 1 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

Isa 11:14,

as to Israel's future retribution, just as the Maccabees made war on

them as the friends of Antiochus (1 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

(Ge 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

(Ex 11:8,

Margin;

Jud 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 (1 Maccabees 3:10, &c., 1 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.

See on

Da 11:40,

as to the time of 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 (2 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"

(Isa 14:13),

but "shall be brought down to hell" (compare Note, see on

Da 7:26;

2Th 2:8).