@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, 1.410].
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 3 12 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).
by his hand shall be consumed--literally, "perfected," that is,
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) by the wilful king, who makes Judea the scene of his
military 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 Coelo-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 Coelo-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 II 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
Coelo-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 (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 (@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"
(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 @Da 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
(@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--(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
(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. (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 @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 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 @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 Phoenician 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 (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 (@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 (I 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.
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 (@2Th 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
(@Isa 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 (@Heb 11:35,36,37;
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 @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 (II 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 (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 (@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 (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 (@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 Phoenicia, 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 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 @Isa 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 (@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 (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.
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 (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" (@Isa 14:13), but "shall be brought down to hell"
(compare Note, see on Da 7:26;
@2Th 2:8).