The Vision of World History--11:1-45, Part 2

II. DANIEL THE PROPHET--Chapters 7-12
E. The Vision of World History--11:1-45
1. The two empires--vv-. 1-35
b. The Grecian Empire--vv. 3-35
    (I) Alexander the Great--vv. 3, 4
(A) He was a mighty king.
(1) "One of the by-products of the attack on Greece by Xerxes is that he incurred the undying hatred
of Greece." (Ibid.)
(2) "He foretels [sic] Alexander's conquests and the partition of his kingdom, v. 3. He is that mighty
king that shall stand up against the kings of Persia, and he shall rule with a great dominion, over
many kingdoms, and with a despotic power, for he shall do according to his will, and undo
likewise, which, by the law of the Medes and Persians, their kings could not." (Henry, 1101-2;
italics are his.)
(B) He did according to his will.
(1) "Alexander the Great was indeed 'a mighty king' which Leupold translates 'a hero-king' and the
remaining description fits Alexander the Great perfectly. He indeed had great dominion and
absolute ruler who did 'according: to his will.'" (Walvoord, 275)
(2) "When Alexander, after he had conquered Asia, would be worshipped as a god, then this was
fulfilled, that he shall do according to his will. That is God's prerogative but was his pretension."
(Henry, 1102; italics are his.)
(C) He stood up and his kingdom was broken.
(1) "As previously revealed in Daniel 8:8, Alexander died prematurely. The expression in verse 4,
when he shall stand up, may be translated 'while he was growing strong,' that is, while still
ascending in power. Another rendering, perhaps more normal Hebrew, is 'and as soon as he stood
up,' indicating the brief duration of Alexander's reign. The word stood has the same military
connotation as in the preceding verses." (Walvoord, 275; italics are his.)
(2) "In the words, also, there does not lie the idea 'that he himself in his life-time is deprived of his
throne and his kingdom by a violent castrophe' (. . .); for the destruction of the kingdom does not
necessarily include in it the putting to death of the ruler. The thought is only this: 'when he has
appeared and founded a great dominion, his kingdom shall be immediately broken.'" (Keil, 432)
(D) His kingdom was divided.
(1) The prophetic picture
(a) It was to be divided into four parts.
(b) It was not to be given to his heirs.
(c) It was not to be according to dominion.
(d) It was to be plucked up.
(e) It was to be for others.
(2) The historical facts
(a) The kingdom was divided between his four generals.
(b) His heirs did not receive it--"Arideus, his brother, was made king in Macedonia; 0lympias,
Alexander's mother, killed him, and poisoned Alexander's two sons, Hercules and Alexander.
Thus was his family rooted out by its own hands." (Henry, 1102)
(c) It was not according to his dominion--"The empire of Alexander the Great, after it fell into the
hands of his four generals, did not preserve the glory and power it had in Alexander's day. The
strong central rule which had characterized it passed with the death of Alexander." (Walvoord,
257)
(d) It was plucked up and for others beside those refers to the fact his family did not receive it.
(II) The beginning of the struggle between Egypt and Syria --v. 5
(A) The king of the south, etc.
(1) Probably Ptolemy I Soter (323-255 B. C.)
(2) "The kingdom of Egypt, which was made considerable by Ptolemaeus Lagus, one of Alexander's
captains, whose successors were, from him, called the Lagidae. He is called the king of the south,
that is, Egypt, named here, v. 8, 42, 43. The countries that at first belonged to Ptolemy are
reckoned to be Egypt, Phoenicia, Arabia, Libya, Ethiopia, &c." (Henry, 1103; italics are his.)
(B) "He shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion."
(1) "The kingdom of Syria, which was set up by Seleucus Nicanor, or, the conqueror; he was one of
Alexander's princes, and became stronger than the other, and had the greatest dominion of all,
was the most powerful of all Alexander's successors. It was said that he had no fewer than
seventy-two kingdoms under him." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(2) "Seleucus' had fled from Antigonus of Babylon and was temporarily associated with Ptolemy I.
They combined their strength and defeated Antigonus, thus paving the way for Seleucus to gain
control of the entire area from Asia Minor to India; and in time, he became stronger than Ptolemy
who ruled Egypt. Hence the Scripture says that Seleucus 'shall be strong above him [Ptolemy] and
have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.'" (Walvoord, 258; brackets are his.)
(III) The joining of the two kingdoms--v. 6
(A) The phrase In the end of years
(1) Means after the passing of several years
(2) Cf. occurrence
(a) Daniel 11:8, 13
(b) 2 Chronicles 18:2
(B) The marriage of the southern king's daughter to the northern king
(1) "In the passage of time, it was natural that there would be intermarriage for political reasons
between Egypt and Syria and such is pictured in verse 6." (Ibid.)
(2) "The fruitless attempt to unite these two kingdoms of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar's image
(. . .): 'At the end of certain years, about seventy after Alexander's death, the Lagidae and the
Seleucidae shall associate, but not in sincerity. Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, shall marry
his daughter Berenice to Antiochus Theos, king of Syria,' who had already a wife called Laodice.
'Berenice shall come to the king of the north, to make an agreement, but it shall not hold; She
shall not retain the power of the arm; neither she nor her posterity shall establish themselves in
the kingdom of the north, neither shall Ptolemy her father, nor Antiochus her husband (between
whom there was to be a great alliance), stand, nor, their arm, but she shall be given up and those
that brought her,' all that projected that unhappy marriage between her and Antiochus, which
occasioned so much mischief, instead of producing a coalition between the northern and southern
crowns as was hoped. Antiochus divorced Berenice, took his former wife Laodice again, who
soon after poisoned him, procured Berenice and her son to be murdered and set up her own son by
Antiochus to be king, who was called Seleucus Callinicus." (Henry, 1103; italics are his.)
(3) "The reference to 'he that begat her' is, of course, Ptolemy II whose death precipitated the murders
which followed." (Walvoord, 259)
(IV) The prevalence of Egypt over Syria--vv. 7-9
(A) The rise of another Egyptian king
(1) "Subsequent to the events of verse 6, a new king of Egypt known as Ptolemy III Euergetes
(246-221 B. C.) succeeded in prevailing militarily over the king of the north, Seleucus Callinicus
(247-226 B. C.); and as the prophecy indicates, he entered 'into the fortress of the king of the
north,' carried into Egypt princes as hostages, some of their idols, and their precious vessels of
silver and gold." (Ibid.)
(2) "The expression out of a branch of her roots, literally, 'the sprouting of her roots,’ signifies
lineage, the immediate ancestry of Berenice. The person referred to is consequently the son of her
parents, her own brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes, the successor of Ptolemy Philadelphus." (Ibid.;
italics are his.)
(B) The phrase he shall continue more years than the king of the north
(1) It could mean--"The expression shall continue more years than the king of the north is best
understood as meaning, 'he shall refrain some years from the king of the north’ (. . .), that is, 'refrain
from attacking the king of the north.'" (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(2) Or it could mean--"This Ptolemy reigned forty-six years; and Justin says that if his own affairs had
not called him home he would, in this war, have made himself master of the whole kingdom of
Syria." (Henry, 1103)
(C) He returns to his own land
(1) "He shall be forced to come into his kingdom and return into his own land, to keep peace
there, so that he can no longer carry on the war abroad. Note, It is very common for a treacherous
peace to end in a bloody war." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(2) To whom does verse 9 refer?
(a) "Verse 9 is translated in the King James Version seems to imply that the king of the south return
to his own land." (Walvoord, 260)
(b) "The subject of the verb shall come into his kingdom seems rather to be Seleucus Callinicus,
and refers to the fact that Seleucus several years after the Egyptian invasion was about to mount
a return attack on Egypt about 240 B. C. Seleucus, however, was defeated completely and
was forced to 'return into his own land.' This, of course, was only the beginning of the seesaw
battle between the two nation." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(3) This is background to verses 10-19--"This set the stage for the persecutions of Israel under
Antiochus Epiphanes, which is the major concern of verses 21-35 of this prophecy." (Ibid.)
(V) The struggle between Syria and Egypt--vv. 10-19
(A) The sons of Seleucus Callinicus--v. 10
(1) Callinicus attack on Egypt failed.
(2) His Sons were more successful.
(3) Seleucus III
(a) 226-223 B. C.
(b) Perished in battle in Asia Minor
(c) "But Seleucus the elder, being weak, and unable to rule his army, was poisoned by his friends,
and reigned only two years; and his brother Antiochus succeeded him." (Henry, 1103)
(4) Antiochus III
(a) 223-187 B. C.
(b) Notice the change from.plural to singular.
(c) "And therefore the angel, though he speaks of sons at first, goes on with the account of one
only, who was but fifteen years old when he began to reign, and he shall certainly come, and
overflow, and over-run, and shall be restored at length to what his father lost." (Henry,1103;
italics are his.)
(d) "Antiochus the Great was able to mount several campaigns against Egypt; and largely because
of the indolence of the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy Philopator (221-203 B. C.) , he restored to
Syria the territory as far south as Gaza." (Walvoord, 261)
(B) The Egyptian king fights back--vv. 11, 12.
(1) "The approach of the armies this near Egypt proper aroused the Egyptian ruler, who assembled a
large army to combat Antiochus (11:11). In 217 B. C., Antiochus met the Egyptian army at the
Palestinian border at Raphia. The Egyptian army was directed by Ptolemy accompanied by his
sister-wife, Arsinoe. There were about 70.000 soldiers on each side. The battle resulted in
complete victory for Egypt (11:11-12); and as Jerome comments, 'Antiochus lost his entire
army,and was almost captured as he fled to the desert.'" (Ibid.)
(2) His pride
(a) "A peace had to be arranged because Antiochus had managed to escape. As verse 12
indicates, the Egyptian monarch was too indolent to pursue his advantage; and although the
battle was disastrous for the Syrians, it tended to bring peace between the two nations; at least
temporarily." (Ibid.)
(b) "Ptolemaeus Philopater, having gained this victory, grew very. insolent; his heart was lifted up;
then he went into the temple of God at Jerusalem, and, in defiance of the law, entered the most
holy place, for which God had a controversy with him, so that, though he shall cast down many
myriads, yet he shall not be strengthened by it, so as to secure his interest." (Henry, 1103;
italics are his.)
(c) "Meanwhile, Antiochus turned his attention to conquest in the east, in which he was quite
successful, gathering strength and wealth. In the period 212-204 B.C. he advanced east to the
borders of India and as far north as the Caspian." (Walvoord, 262)
(C) The return of the king of the north--vv. 13-20
(1) Ptolemy Philopater is succeeded by Ptolemy Epiphanes.
(a) "Ptolemy Philopator and his queen died mysteriously in 203 B. C. and were succeeded by their
infant son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes." (Ibid.)
(b) This gave Antiochus the Great, the king of the north, a great advantage.
(c) "In this expedition he had some powerful allies (v. 14): Philip of Macedon was confederate with
Antiochus against the king of Egypt, and Scopas his general, whom he sent into Syria;
Antiochus routed him, destroys a great part of his army; whereupon the Jews willingly yielded to
Antiochus, joined with him, helped him to besiege Ptoemaeus's garrisons." (Henry, 1103-4)
(2) The robber of the people
(a) "The expression the robbers of the people (11:14) refers to persons who violate law and
justice; hence, they are 'robbers,' or 'men of violence' (. . .). As Zockler says, 'The oracle
refers to the league against Egypt, into which a large number of Jews entered with Antiochus the
Great, and to their participation in his warlike operations against that country, e. g., in his attacks
on the garrison which the Egyptian general Scopas had left in the citadel of Jerusalem."
(Zockler, Otto, “The Book of the Prophet Daniel.” In Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, ed.
John Peter Lange, vol. 13. 1876 ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1960, 244; quoted in
Walvoord, 262; italics are his.)
(b) "The reference to establish the vision is probably a prophecy of the afflictions of the Jews
under Antiochus Epiphanes already recorded in Daniel 8 and 9." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(c) His further conquest--"He shall surprise his strong-holds; all that he has got in Syria and
Samaria, arid the arms of the south, the power of the king of Egypt, shall not be able to
withstand him. See how dubious and variable the turns of the scale of war are; like buying and
selling, it is winning and losing; sometimes one side gets the better and sometimes the other; yet
neither by chance; it is not, as they call it, the fortune of war, but, according. to the will and
counsel of God, who brings some low and raises others up." (Henry, 1104; italics are his.)
(d) The land of Palestine wasted--"He that comes against him (that,is, the king of the north) shall
carry all before him and do what he pleases, and he shall stand and get footing in the glorious
land; so the land of Israel was, and by his hand it was wasted and consumed, for with the spoil
of that good land he victualled his vast army. The land of Judea lay between these two potent
kingdoms of Egypt and Syria, so that in all the struggle between them that was sure to suffer, for
to it they both bore ill will." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(e) His victories
((I)) "The Egyptian armies led by Scopas were defeated at Paneas , near the headwater of the
Jordan River. Antiochus III subsequently forced Scopas to surrender at Sidon, referred to
as 'the most fenced cities,' literally 'a city of fortifications'; which the Seleucid king captured
in199-198 B. C. This victory resulted in the Syrian occupation of all Palestine as far south
as Gaza. The allusion to 'the arms at the south shall not stand' is to the unsuccessful attempt
by three Egyptian leaders, Eropar, Menaclere, and Damoyenus to rescue the besieged
Scopas from Sidon" (Walvoord, 262)
((II)) "He shall still push on his war against the king of Egypt, and set his face to enter with the
strength of his whole kingdom, taking advantage of the infancy of Ptolemy Epiphanes,
and the upright ones, many of the pious Israelites, siding with him. (Henry, 1104; italics are
his.)
(3) War with Rome foretold
(a) "He shall turn his face to the isles (v. 18), the isles of the Gentiles (Gen. x. 5) , Greece and
Italy. He took many of the isles about the Hellespont---Rhodes, Samos, Delos , &c., which by
war or treaty he made himself master of; but a prince, or state (so some), even the Roman
senate, or a leader, even the Roman general, shall return his reproach with which he abused
the Romans upon himself, or shall make his shade rest on himself, and without his own
shame, or any disgrace to himself, shall pay him again.'" (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(b) "Antiochus the Great begins to suffer reverses, however, as indicated in verse 13, where 'prince
for his own behalf ' refers to the Roman consul Lucius Scipio Asiaticus, who, as Young
expresses it, 'brought about the defeat of Antiochus.' The reference to 'the reproach offered
by him,' refers to Antiochus' scornful treatment of the ambassador at a meeting in Lysimachia,
when he said contemptuously, 'Asia did not concern them, the Romans, and he was not subject
to their orders.'" (Walvoord, 263}
(c) Antiochus successfully defeated Scopas in his, conquest of Egypt.
(d) Then, he turned the west by attempting to conquer Greece--"In this he was notably
unsuccessful, being defeated in 191 B. C. at Thermopylae north of Athens and again in 189
B. C. at Magnseia on the Maeander River southeast of Ephesus by soldiers of Rome and
Pergamum under the Roman leadership of the Roman general Scipio. This fulfilled the
prophecies of verses 18 and 19, and from an historic viewpoint, was important in removing
from Europe the control by Asiatic governments. This paved the way for Roman expansion
later." (Ibid.)
(e) The importance of this to Israel--"From the standpoint of the history of Israel, this was
important because Antiochus the Great was followed by Seleucus IV Philopater (187-175
B. C.), who in turn was succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B. C.), the notorious
persecutor of the Jews described in detail in Daniel 11:21-25." (Ibid.)
(D) The raiser of taxes--v. 20
(1) "There rose up one in his place, a raiser of taxes, a sender forth of the extortioner, or extorter.
This character was remarkably answered in Seleucus Philopater, the elder, son of Antiochus the
Great, who was a great oppressor of his own subjects, and exacted abundance of money from
them; and when he was told he would thereby lose his friends, he said he knew no better friend he
had than money. He likewise attempted to rob the temple at Jerusalem, which this seems especially
to refer to." (Henry, 1104; italics are his.)
(2) This was necessary because the tribute of 1000 talents annually he had to pay to Rome.
(3) Zockler--"'Soon after Heliodorus was dispatched to plunder the temple, Seleucus Philopater was
suddenly removed. This explains the statement, "within a few days he shall be destroyed" (11:20),
possibly by poison administered to him by the same Heliodorus.' This set the stage for the terrible
persecutions by Antiochus Epiphanes which followed." (Zockler, 246, citing Appian Syr. C. 45;
quoted in Walvoord, 264)
(4) The lessons
(a) God sets up and pulls down--"Some have called great men the foot-balls of fortune; or,rather,
they are the tools of Providence." (Henry, 1104; italics are his.)
(b) "This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts, and make it a theatre of
sin and misery." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(c) God foresees all things perfectly and plainly.
(d) The Word of God shall infallibly be fulfilled--"Even the sins of men shall be made to serve his
purpose, and contribute to the bringing of his counsels to birth in their season; and yet God is
not the author of sin." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(e) Heathen authors can shed light on the Scripture in showing the fulfillment of prophecy.
(VI) Antiochus IV Epiphanes--vv. 21-35
(A) His rise--vv. 2l-23
(1) General statement
(a) Reigned 175-164 B. C.
(b) The "little horn" of Daniel 8.
((I)) Verses 9-14
((II)) Verses 23-25
(c) "From the standpoint of Scripture and the revelation by the angel to Daniel, this was the most
important feature of the entire third empire. The reasons for the prominence of Antiochus IV
Epiphanes were his desecration of the Jewish temple and altar, and his bitter persecution of the
Jewish people." (Walvoord, 264)
(2) A vile person
(a) "By comparison with Seleucus IV Philopator, his predecessor, he is described as 'a vile person.'
The title Epiphanes, meaning 'glorious,' was a title which Antiochus gave himself, in keeping with
his desire to be regarded as god. The description here given is God's viewpoint of him because
   of his immoral life, persecution, and hatred of the people of God. His life was characterized
  by intrigue, expediency, and lust for power in which honor was always secondary." (Ibid.)
(b) "The heathen writers describe him to be an odd-humoured man, rude and boisterous, base and
sordid. He would sometime steal out of the court into the city, and herd with any infamous
company incognito--in disguise; he made himself a companion of the common sort, and of
the basest of strangers that came to town. He had the most unaccountable whims, so that some
took him to be silly, others to be mad. Hence he was called Epimanes--the madman. He is
called a vile person, for he had, been a long time a hostage at Rome for the fidelity of his father
when the Romans had subdued him; and it was agreed that, when the other hostages were
exchanged, he should continue a prisoner at large." (Henry, 1106; italics are his.)
(c) "The expression to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom has reference to the
fact that he seized the throne rather than obtaining it honorably." (Walvoord, 264; italics are his.)
(3) A flatterer
   (a) "Posing as the guardian of young Antiochus who was in Rome, Antiochus IV Epiphanes
proceeded to Antioch where by various intrigues, referred to in verse 21 as 'he shall come in
peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries,' he secured the throne. Meanwhile, young
Antiochus was murdered by Andronicus, whom Antiochus IV then put to death, although it is
possible that Antiochus himself had laid the whole plot. Helidorus, who had murdered Seleucus
IV, was not able to secure the throne and disappeared. Antiochus IV was therefore secure on
   his throne and began an active life of military conquest and intrigue in his struggle for power
against both Egypt and Rome." (Ibid.)
(b) "The state of Syria did not give it to him (v. 21), because they knew it belonged to his elder
brother's son, nor did he get it by the sword, but came in peaceably, pretending to reign for his
brother's son, Demetrius, then a hostage in Rome. But with the help of Eumenes and Attalus,
neighbouring princes, he gained an interest in the people, and by flatteries obtained the
kingdom, established himself in it, and crushed Heliodrus, who made head against him with the
arms of a flood; those that opposed him were overflown and broken before him, even the
prince of the covenant, his nephew the rightful heir, whom he pretended to covenant with that
he would resign to him whenever he should return, v. 22." (Henry, 1106; italics are his.)
(c) "The reference to the 'prince of the covenant' prophecies the murder of the high priest Onias
which was ordered by Antiochus in 172 B. C., and indicates the troublesome times of his reign.
The high priest bore the title 'prince of the covenant' because he was de facto the head,of the
theocracy at that time. In 11:28 and 11:32 the 'covenant' is used for the Jewish state."
(Walvoord, 265)
(4) A deceiver
(a) "Verse 23 described his various leagues with other nations, especially with Egypt which involved
considerable intrigue and deceit. At the time, there was a contest for power between two of
Antiochus' nephews, Ptolemy Philometor and Ptolemy Euergetes, for control of Egypt.
Antiochus supported Ptolemy Philometor, but only for his own gain. Out of it, Antiochus
became stronger himself." (op. cit., 266)
(b) "After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully as one whose avowed maxim it is
that princes ought not to be bound by their word any longer than it is for their interest. And with
a small people, that at first cleave to him, he shall become strong." (Henry, 1106; italics are
his.)
(B) His power--vv. 24-26
(1) Used his riches
(a) "Unlike his father, Antiochus IV did not use his wealth, secured in this way for personal
advantage so much as to buy favor with others and to secure their cooperation." (Walvoord,
266)
   (b) "He shall enter peaceably upon the fattest places of the kingdom of Syria, and very unlike
his predecessors, shall scatter among the people the prey, and the spoil, and riches, so
insinuate himself into their affections; but, at the same time, he shall forecast his devices against
the strong-holds, to make himself master of them, so that his generosity shall last but for a time;
when he has got the garrisons into his hands he will scatter his spoil no more, but rule by force,
as those commonly do that come in by fraud." (Henry, 1106; italics are his.)
   (c) "The expression he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches indicates this
distribution of the wealth he had secured. According to 1 Maccabees 3:30, 'He feared that he
might not have such funds as he had before for his expenses and for gifts which he used to give
more lavishly than preceding kings.'" (Walvoord, 266)
(2) Continued his wars
(a) Had several campaigns against Egypt
(b) "The outcome of the battle was that the king of Egypt was defeated as indicated in the
statement but he shall not stand, referring to the king of the south."(Ibid.; italics are his.)
(c) "His war with Egypt which was his second expedition thither. This is described, v. 25, 27.
Antiochus shall stir up his power and courage against Ptolemaeus Philometer king of Egypt.
Ptolemy, thereupon, shall be stirred up to battle against him, shall come against him with a very
great and mighty army; but Ptolemy, though he has such a vast army, shall not be able to stand
before him; for Antiochus's army shall overthrow his, and overpower it, and great multitudes of
the Egyptian army shall fall down slain." (Henry, 1106; italics are his.)
(d) King of Egypt's supporters conspired against him--"And no marvel, for the king of Egypt shall
be betrayed by his own counsellors; those that feed of the portion of his meat, that eat of his
bread and live upon him, being bribed by Antiochus, shall forecast devices against him, and
even they shall destroy him; and what fence is there against such treachery?" (Ibid.; italics are
his.)
(C) His wickedness--vv. 27, 28
(1) The dishonorable agreement--v. 27
(a) "The struggle between Syria and Egypt, however, led to various agreements which did not
prosper. Neither the rulers of Egypt nor Syria were honorable in their agreements as indicated
in verse 27, 'they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper!' As the last part of verse
27 makes clear, in spite of all his intrigue, Antiochus was fulfilling prophecy on schedule."
(Walvoord, 267)
(b) "After the battle, a treaty of peace shall be set on foot. and these two kings shall meet at one
council-board, to adjust the articles of peace between them; but they shall neither of them be
sincere in it, for they shall, in their pretences and promises of amity and friendship, lie to one
another, for their hearts shall be at the same time to do one another all the mischief they can.
And then no marvel that it shall not prosper." (Henry, 1106; italics are his.)
(c) At the appointed time the peace between the two will end.
(2) The hateful heart --v. 28
(a) He returned with great riches to his own country.
(b) His hatred of the Jews is clearly seen.
   ((I)) "Antiochus, returning from Egypt with great riches, began to manifest his hatred against the
people of Israel and his covetousness in relation to the wealth of the temple. This is
indicated in the statement, His heart shall be against the holy covenant." (Walvoord, 267;
italics are his.)
((II)) "His rage and cruel practice against the Jews. This is that part of his government, or
misgovernment rather, which is most enlarged upon in this prediction. In his return from his
expedition into Egypt (which is prophesied of, v. 28) he did exploits against the Jews, in the
sixth year of his reign; then he spoiled the city and temple." (Henry, 1107; italics are his.)
(c) The hatred is detailed in 1 Maccabees 1:20-28 and 2 Maccabees 5:11-17
(D) His Desecration--vv. 29-31
(1) Another expedition into Egypt--v. 29
(a) "From the former he returned with great riches (v. 28), and therefore took the first occasion
to invade Egypt again, at the time appointed by divine Providence, two years after, in the eighth
year of his reign, v. 29. He shall come towards the south. But this attempt shall not succeed,
as the two former did, nor shall he gain his point, as he had done before once again." (Ibid.;
italics are his.)
(b) He captured Ptolemy Philometor.
(c) He failed to take the city of Alexandria.
(2) Arrival of the ships of Chittim--v. 30a
(a) Chittim is a reference to the inland of Cyprus.
(b) Symbolic of Rome
(c) "The ships of Chittim shall come against him, that is, the navy of the Romans, or only
ambassador from the Roman senate, who came in ships. Ptolemaeus Philometer, king of Egypt,
being now in a strict alliance with the Romans, craved their aid against Antiochus, who
besieged him and his mother Cleopatra in the city of Alexandria. The Roman senate thereupon
sent an embassy to Antiochus, to command him to raise the siege, and when he desired some
time to consider of it and consult with his friends about it, Popilius, one of the ambassadors,
with his staff drew a circle about him, and told him, as one having authority, he should give a
positive answer before he came out of that circle; whereupon, fearing the Roman power, he
was forced immediately to give orders for the raising of the siege and the retreat of his army out
of Egypt." (Ibid.; Italics are his.)
(3) Anger against the Jews--v. 30b
(a) "Disgruntled by his defeat in Egypt at the hands of Rome, Antiochus Epiphanes seems to have
vented his wrath upon the Jewish people as intimated in verse 20 in the expression, 'had
indignation against the holy covenant.' The history of the period is given in 1 and 2 Maccabees.
The added statement and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant
indicates his affiliation with those who sided with Antiochus, who became his favorites and
proteges (cf. 1 Mac. 2:18; 2 Mac 6:1 )." (Walvoord, 268; Italics are his.)
(b) "He had indignation against the holy covenant, that covenant of peculiarity by which the
   Jews were, incorporated a people distinct from all other nations, and dignified above them. He
hated the law of Moses and the worship of the true God, and was vexed at the privileges of
the Jewish nation and the promises made to them. Note, That which is the hope and joy of the
people of God is the envy of their neighbours, and that is the holy covenant. Esau hated
Jacob because he had got the blessing. Those that are strangers to the covenant are often
enemies to it." (Henry, 1107; italics are his.)
(c) Apostate Jews joined with him--"We read (2 Mac. iv. 9) of Jason,.the brother of Onias the
high priest, who by the appointment of Antiochus set up a school at Jerusalem, for the training
up of youth in the fashion of the heathen; and (2 Mac. iv. 23 , &c) of Menelaus, who fell in
with the interests of Antiochus, and was the man that helped him into Jerusalem , now in his
last return from Egypt. We read much in the book of the Macabees of the mischief done to the
Jews by these treacherous, men of their own nation, Jason and Menelaus, and their party."
(Ibid.; Italics are his.)
(d) Note
((I)) The same thing will happen in the Great Tribulation.
((II)) "It is not strange if those who do not live up to their religion, but in their conversation do
wickedly against the covenant, are easily corrupted by flatteries, to quit their religion.
Those that make shipwreck of a good conscience will soon make shipwreck of the faith."
(Ibid.; Italics are his.)
(4) The polluting of the temple--v. 31
(a) "In the process of his opposition to the Jews, Antiochus polluted the holy altar in the temple by
offering a sow upon the altar and forbidding the continuance of the daily sacrifices (cf. 1 Mac
1:44-54). He also issued orders that the Jews should cease their worship and erected in the
holy place an idol, probably the image of Zeus Olympius. This represents placing 'the
abomination that maketh desolate,' mentioned in verse 31 to which Christ referred in Matthew
24:15. The parallel prophecy in Daniel 8:23-25 covers the same series of incidents."
(Walvoord, 268)
((I)) Matthew 24:15
((A)) Shows that this is prophetic of the Great Tribulation
((B)) Thus, Antiochus Epiphanes is a type of the future antichrist, the man of sin.
((II)) Daniel 8:23-25
(b) "Arms stand on his part (v. 31), not only his own army which he now brought from Egypt, but
a great party of deserters from the Jewish religion that joined with them;and they polluted the
sanctuary of strength, not only the holy city, but the temple. The story of this we have, 1
Mac. i. 21, &c. (Henry, 1107; italics are his.)
(E) His persecutions--vv. 32-35
(l) The opposition to desecration--vv. 32-33
   (a) "The continued opposition of Antiochus to the Jewish faith is prophesied in verse 32, indicating
how he attempts to corrupt them; but the strong reaction of the Jewish people is indicated in the
expression but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. The
resulting conflict, however, brought much harm on the people of Israel; and though it caused to
some extent a spiritual revival, many were killed, as indicated in verse 33. Some of the Jews
succumbed to the flattery of the king and defected from their fellow Jews as they revolted
against Antiochus. It was a time of purging and separation of the true from the false, of those
who were courageous from those who were fainthearted." (Walvoord, 268-9; italics are his.)
(b) He persecuted those who retained their integrity. Though there are many who forsake the
   covenant and do wickedly against it, yet there is a people who do know their God and retain
the knowledge of him, and they shall be strong and do exploits, v. 32. When others yield to
the tyrant's demands, and surrender their conscience to his impositions, they bravely keep their
ground, resist the temptation, and make the tyrant himself ashamed of his attempt upon them.
Good old Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, when he had swine's flesh thrust into his mouth,
did bravely spit it out again, though he knew he must be tormented to death for so doing, and
was so, 2 Mac. vi:19." (Henry, 1108; italics are his.)
(c) Many instructed by godly example
((I)) "Zockler quotes Fuller to indicate the various processes used to purify the Jews, 'Not only
the pretended adherents to Jehovah's party to separate themselves from His sincere
followers, but the latter themselves, incited thereto by the example of steadfastness and
self-denial furnished by their martyrs, shall cast out from themselves everything that is impure;
and they shall succeed in gaining over all those who share their convictions in their hearts but
have been hindered by fear and timidity from avowing an open connection with them. In like
manner, a Nicodemus and Joseph Arimathaea were induced by the very death of Christ on
   the cross to confess their allegiance to him. Thus Antiochus attempts to annihilate the party
among the Jews that is devoted to its God , but succeeds only in contributing to its purifying."
(Zockler, 251, quoting Fuller, John M., An Essay on the Authenticity of the Book of
Daniel. Cambridge: 1864; quoted in Walvoord, 269)
((II)) "They shall instruct many, v. 33. They shall make it their business to show others what
   they have themselves of the difference between truth and falsehood, good and evil. Note,
Those that have the knowledge of God themselves should communicate their knowledge to
those about them, and this spiritual charity must be extensive: they must instruct many.
Some understand this of a society newly erected for the propagating of divine knowledge,
called Assideans, godly men, pietists (so the name signifies), that were both knowing and
zealous in the law; these instructed many. Note, In times of persecution and apostasy, which
are trying times, those that have knowledge ought make use of it, for the strengthening
establishing of others. Those that understand aright themselves ought to do what they can to
bring others to understanding; for knowledge is a talent that must be traded with. 0r, They
shall instruct many by their perseverance in their duty and their patient suffering for it. Good
examples instruct many, with many are the most powerful instructions." (Henry, 1108; italics
are his.)
(2) The fall of the opposers--vv. 34, 35a
(a) The torture and death--"They shall fall by the cruelty of Antiochus, shall be put to torture, and
put to death, by his rage. Though they are so excellent and intelligent themselves, and so useful
and serviceable to others, yet Antiochus shall show them no mercy, but they shall fall for some
days; so it may be read , Rev. ii. 10, Thou shalt have tribulation ten days. We read much, in
the books of the Maccabees, of Antiochus's barbarous usage of the pious Jews, how many he
slew in wars and how many he murdered in cold blood. Women were put to death for having
their children circumcised, and the infants were hanged about their neck, 1 Mac. i. 60, 61."
(Ibid.; italics are his.)
(b) Why God allowed it--"Very well, if we consider what it was that God aimed at in this (v. 35):
Some of those of understanding shall fall, but it shall be for the good of the church [This
speaking of Israel, not the church, but can be by application.] and for their own spiritual benefit.
It shall be to try them, and to purge, and to make them white. They needed these afflictions
themselves. The best have their spots, which must be washed off their dross, which must be
purged out; and their troubles, particularly their share in the public troubles, help to do this;
being sanctified to them by the grace of God, they are means of mortifying their corruptions,
weaning them from the world, and awakening them to greater seriousness and diligence in
religion. They try them, as silver in the furnace is refined from its dross; they purge them as
wheat in the barn is winnowed from the chaff; and they make them white, as cloth by the fuller
is cleared from its spots." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
   (c) There was some help--"The cause of religion, though it be thus run upon, shall not be run down.
When they shall fall they shall not be utterly cast down, but they shall be holpen with a little
help, v. 34. Judas Maccabaeus, and his brethren, and a few with them, shall make head
against the tyrant, and assert the injured cause of their religion; they pulled down the
idolatrous altars, circumcised the children that they found uncircumcised, recovered the
law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and the, war prospered in their hands, 1 Mac. ii. 45,
&c. Note, those that stand by the cause of religion when it is threatened and struck at, though
   they may not immediately be delivered and made victorious, shall yet have present help. And a
little help must not be despised; but when times are very bad, we must be thankful for some
reviving." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
(d) Some will cleave to believers with flatteries.
((I)) Cf. Matthew 7:1ff.
((II)) "When they see the Maccabees prosper some Jews shall join with them that are no true
   friends to religion, but will only pretend friendship either with design to betray them or in
hope to rise with them; but the fiery trial (v. 35) will separate between the precious and
the vile, and by it those that are perfect will be made manifest and those that are not."
(op. cit., 1108-9; italics are his.)
(3) The coming of the appointed time--v. 35a
   (a) "Though these troubles may continue long, yet they will have an end. They are for a time
appointed, a limited time, fixed in the divine counsels. This warfare shall be accomplished.
Hitherto the power of the enemy shall come, and no further; here shall its groundwaves be
stayed." (op. cit., 1109; italics are his.)
(b) "The purging process is indicated in verse 35 to continue 'to the time of the end.' It is clear
from this reference that the persecutions of Antiochus, are not the time of the end, even though
they foreshadow them. The mention of 'the time of the end' in verse 35 is notice, however, that
from verse 36 on, the prophecy leaps the centuries that intervene to the last generation prior to
God's judgment of Gentile power and its rulers. Beginning in verse 36, prophecy is unfolded
that is as yet unfulfilled." (Walvoord, 269)
(c) Thus, this verse serves as an introduction or transition to vv. 36ff.

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