23/04/2023 – Daniel 11:29-35
Antiochus IV made two definite attempts to take over Egypt, once after the battle of Pelusium (170 BC) – this may have lasted until 169 BC – and again (the second time) he attempted to take Egypt in 168 or 167 BC. But the reference in Daniel 11:40 to the kings of the north and south is not supported by history, so therefore it’s the future antichrist referred to there. Thus our references to Antiochus IV will come to an end with Vs 35 below with the antichrist being focused on after that.
Daniel 11:29 – At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
At the time that has been appointed by God according to the angel’s vision, Antiochus IV will return to have a second attempt to take control of all Egypt. He heads to “the south” kingdom of Egypt, but things will not go his way as they had in his first attempt to take Egypt. The time before, Antiochus was able (including by use of treachery) to take almost all Egypt (except its capital, Alexandria). Instead of being king over Egypt as well, or even being able to place Ptolemy VI on the throne as his puppet-king, he was denied this, with the Egyptians replacing Ptolemy VI with his brother Ptolemy VIII on the throne in Alexandria. Instead, Antiochus IV places his puppet-king Ptolemy VI on “the throne” at the previous capital, Memphis.
Note that the angel’s vision (Daniel 11:2) is “the truth” and therefore will happen according to God’s appointments. Nothing at all will be done that is not according to God’s appointments; this includes the timing for each event in the vision.
it shall not be as the former, or as the latter – His first attempt to take Egypt had been reasonably successful: he had taken all but the capital then. But the latter (subsequent) attempt would not be the same: he would not have any significant success at all. This happened to Antiochus’ second attempt.
Daniel 11:30 – For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
be grieved – be
disheartened; be cowed; to lose heart. Effectively he was a broken man. Note that it is translated “broken” in Psalm 109:16 – Because that
he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he
might even slay the broken in heart. (and “sad” in Ezekiel 13:22)
have indignation – to have indignation; be indignant; be
angrily indignant; be defiant; to curse. Antiochus IV has a strong desire to take
it out on someone. Like a bully, he cannot be told that he can’t
do something, so when a situation like this arises where he is forced to back
down, he is determined to make someone else (weaker than himself!) pay for it.
Judaea has already been made to pay for the problems they have caused him, so
he decides to make them pay even more. He’ll persecute
them until he feels better!! He hates their religion, he hates their dedication
to their God whom they worship as above all other gods, even above his Greek
gods. He has a real hatred for their “holy covenant” and will take
irrational action against their “holy covenant”. To Antiochus it
is the fault of the Jews that he was forced to retreat from Egypt and Cyprus,
and they will pay for it.
so shall he do – He’ll
not only think about it and talk about it; he’ll do something about it, too!
have intelligence – discern; understand; consider.
them that
forsake the holy covenant – This refers to those people in Judaea including apostate Jews who
wanted to Hellenise their nation; that is, Jews who preferred Greek culture and
beliefs. They opposed the circumcision and preferred to act as the Gentiles do.
Jason (who wanted to use the office of high priest to water down their beliefs
with Greek activities and worship) was one of their leaders, but it is more
likely that Antiochus would be dealing with Menelaus instead, here.
have
intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant – He will make plans (for vengeance
against the “holy covenant”) with those of the Jews who would prefer
to forsake the God of their fathers and seek instead to Hellenise Judaea.
Chittim – Kittiy (Kittim = Cyprus; sometimes
used as a general term for all Mediterranean islands) There was a
major town called Kition on Cyprus which led to the
whole island being called Kittim (or Chittim).
Genesis 10:2 says Javan was a
son of Japheth (son of Noah). Javan (Ionia) is now known as Greece. Genesis 10:4 says that Kittim
was a son of Javan (and therefore a great-grandson of Noah). Thus
Cyprus is effectively Greek.
Josephus (in “Antiquities of the Jews”) said that “Cethimus [son of Javan] possessed the island Cethima:
it is now called Cyprus; and from that it is that all islands, and the greatest
part of the sea-coasts, are named Cethim by the
Hebrews: and one city there is in Cyprus that has been able to preserve its
denomination; it has been called Citius [or Citium/Κίτιον] by those who use the
language of the Greeks”
Cyprus has generally been associated with Greece for much of its
existence.
Here, though, Chittim probably refers to Rome as a Mediterranean city.
Being warned of Antiochus’ intentions, the Egyptians asked Rome to help them.
Rome then, via Greece, sent a consul, Gaius Popilius
Laenas, to instruct Antiochus IV that he must
withdraw from both Egypt and Cyprus, or Rome would declare war on him.
In 168 or 167 BC Antiochus IV led a second attack on Egypt (primarily to take Alexandria first this time) but also sent a fleet of ships to take control of Cyprus. However, as he approached Alexandria, Gaius Popilius gave him Rome’s message. When Antiochus said he would discuss the matter with his council and let him know, Popilius drew a circle in the sand with his staff and told Antiochus IV that he must answer before he crossed that line in the sand. (This was the origin of the saying: “cross the line in the sand”.) Under some pressure, Antiochus agreed to the terms in order to avoid war with Rome, and then withdrew his forces from Egypt and Cyprus.
He returned to Judaea, angry at being forced by Rome to back down, and decided to destroy the Jewish “holy covenant” beliefs, replacing them with the Greek beliefs that he preferred. He viciously persecuted those who would stand in his way here. A great many Jews were slaughtered, and much of Jerusalem was plundered. Large areas of the city were set on fire and houses were demolished (especially where the more devout Jews lived). Sections of the temple wall were pulled down in order to prevent it being used as a stronghold. A large fortress was built overlooking the temple in order to keep watch in order to persecute those whom they caught worshipping there; and many devout Jews were slaughtered for the crime of worshipping God. He decreed that all people must worship Greek gods and Jewish law was banned; disobeying this decree was punishable by death. The temple itself was consecrated to Zeus, king of the Greek gods. (Some say, probably incorrectly, that it was consecrated to Jupiter who was actually the Roman equivalent of Zeus. Note that according to the Greeks, Zeus was said to dwell at Mt Olympus on Jupiter and therefore effectively, to the Romans, Zeus was Jupiter anyway.)
Daniel 11:31 – And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
arms – or forces. Antiochus IV used armed force to ensure that his orders were carried out. Thus “And armed forces will be used to support his orders”.
shall pollute – profane; defile; pollute; desecrate; violate (a covenant); treat as common (rather than holy or consecrated). It seems that he placed pig flesh in the temple and other pollutions after Jason’s revolt, but also continued these pollutions including sacrificing a pig on the altar after being turned back from Egypt by the Romans. At this time he also sprinkled all their sacred writings with pig broth, extinguished the ever-burning lamp in the temple, and the high priest and other Jews were forced to eat pig flesh.
The pollutions triggered the Maccabean Revolt (commenced by the revolt of the priest Mattathias who refused to eat unclean food. (The actual timing of these pollutions is uncertain, and it is likely that these refer to more than one event or period. Much of the pollutions commenced after Jason’s revolt, but were continued even more savagely after Antiochus was ordered by Rome to turn away from Egypt.)
shall take away the daily (sacrifice) – Antiochus IV decreed that the daily sacrifices and other temple rites be banned. (Daniel 8:13-14 says that the daily sacrifices would be banned for 1150 days; that is, 2300 sacrifices at 2 per day: morning and evening.) The banning of temple rites including sacrifices probably commenced around 167 BC and continued until 164 BC when the Maccabees took the temple back again, cleansed it, and restored their daily sacrifices. (Mattathias is said to have died in the fighting during 166-165 BC.)
the sanctuary of strength – the sanctuary (the consecrated holy place of the temple) of strength (stronghold; refuge). The temple was very much like a fortified castle, a place which could literally be used to take refuge in. For this reason Antiochus had had sections of the temple wall torn down and a fortress built overlooking the temple (see notes for Vs 30 above).
the abomination – the detestable thing; abomination. Jesus talked about the abomination of Daniel in Matthew 24:15 (“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place”), He was talking of a similar abomination that was then still yet in the future. While Antiochus IV also placed the abomination in the temple. it was already in Jesus’ past and could not have been what he was referring to. It was, however, a type of behaviour of the future antichrist, just as Antiochus IV is a type of the future antichrist.
Some commentaries say that the abomination about which Jesus talked referred to the Romans committing sacrilege in the destroyed temple in 70 AD. However, this would have been after Jerusalem had already been taken and after all the people had been besieged for some time within the city walls with no opportunity to escape even if they had wanted to.
In Antiochus’ day, while the pig flesh was considered pollution of the sanctuary, the abomination would most likely have been the statue of Zeus itself placed in the temple as if it were God. Note the antichrist will do the same himself, “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
that maketh desolate – make desolate; stun, appal or
stupefy one; make one awestruck. It would cause the devout Jews to be greatly
appalled at this ultimate sacrilege of their holy sanctuary.
they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate – Antiochus IV would place the abomination (detestable thing) – the statue of Zeus – in the temple to be worshipped as God. This would cause great appalment among those Jews still faithful to Godly worship. It is likely that this is the final straw that triggers the Maccabean Revolt that was to succeed in getting the temple cleansed in 164 BC.
“The rebellion started as a guerrilla movement in the Judean countryside, raiding towns and terrorizing Greek officials far from direct Seleucid control, but it eventually developed a proper army capable of attacking the fortified Seleucid cities. In 164 BCE, the Maccabees captured Jerusalem, a significant early victory. The subsequent cleansing of the temple and rededication of the altar on 25 Kislev is the source of the festival of Hanukkah. The Seleucids eventually relented and unbanned Judaism, but the more radical Maccabees, not content with merely reestablishing Jewish practices under Seleucid rule, continued to fight, pushing for a more direct break with the Seleucids. Judas Maccabeus died in 160 BCE at the Battle of Elasa against the Greek general Bacchides, and the Seleucids reestablished direct control for a time, but remnants of the Maccabees under Judas's brother Jonathan Apphus continued to resist from the countryside.” (Wikipedia)
Daniel 11:32 – And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].
such as do wickedly against the covenant – This refers to “them that forsake the holy covenant” in Vs 30 above. The ones with whom Antiochus IV has “intelligence” with in Vs 30 above, those who aid and support his plans to Hellenise Judaea; that is, those Jews who would love Judaea to become Greek in culture and religious views. They are rebelling against the covenant that they were born into as Jews. Many of Israel before the captivity at least pretended to be covenantal Jews, but were really hypocrites; note Isaiah’s description of such people in Isaiah Ch.1.
Once Israel had been given God’s law, they were forbidden free will to worship any other god (or else suffer God’s indignation against them). The law was meant to be a blessing to them but it required obedience to gain that blessing. If they obeyed the law, then Israel would be blessed above every other nation. But it was a two-edged sword; that which could bless them more abundantly could also curse them more abundantly also (if the disobeyed the law!).
Deuteronomy 12:29-32 – 29When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 30Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Israel now belonged to God by covenant and by the law, but had to make a choice: obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. They couldn’t seek after any other god at all now, or else!
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 – 26Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Thus, by turning away from the God of their fathers, those Hellenising Jews were effectively exchanging their promised blessing into a promised curse!
shall …. corrupt – chaneph (make profane; cause to be defiled; pollute; corrupt; make godless) A similar word in meaning to “shall pollute” (chalal) in Vs 31 above. They will be defiled (corrupted; polluted) by flatteries.
flatteries – chalaqqah (smooth talk; insincere praise; beguile with pleasing words; obsequiousness) Derived from the same word as “flatteries” (chalaqlaqqah) in Daniel 11:21. (Both are derived from chalaq – to flatter.)
Antichus IV will make these people profane by flatteries (smooth talk; obsequiousness). His intention is to make them feel-good by “sweet-talking” them. David describes such a “friend” of his, an hypocrite who was far from what he promised to be.
Psalm 55:12-13; 21 – 12For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me;
then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that]
did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13But [it was] thou,
a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
21[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.
Some commentaries say that this refers to Absalom’s
rebellion against David (2 Samuel Chs 15-18)
and that the trusted friend is Ahithophel who was King David’s counsellor and
friend. It is said that Psalm 41:9 (Yea, mine own
familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.)
was also referring to Ahithophel. However, this is opinion only, and might not
be correct.
shall be strong – shall display strength; shall prevail; shall keep hold of; shall
retain.
However, those people who know their God (well and
personally) shall keep hold of (what they believe; they shall not be swayed by
hypocritical talk). They will stand their ground, not just talking about it,
but doing it; that is, they will not give in to the tempting words of Antiochus
but they will do whatever it takes to stand up for their God. Because of this,
many will be martyred for their faith rather than renounce their faith.
Antiochus was enraged at those who dared stand up against his profanity (including sacrificing pigs on the altar and placing a statue of Zeus in the temple to be worshipped. Those who opposed him were forced to leave their sons uncircumcised and to personally sacrifice pigs as their offerings; disobedience meant death. In 167 BC, a priest (Mattathias) was ordered to offer a sacrifice to the Greek gods. He refused, and another Jew stepped forward to make the sacrifice instead. Mattathias killed this Jew and then killed the government official who had ordered the sacrifice. He and his five sons (one of whom was Judas Maccabeus) fled into the wilderness, with people joining them in support of their actions. This became known as the Maccabean Revolt. Thus they did exploits in rebellion against the orders of Antiochus IV.
Daniel 11:33 – And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.
understand – act prudently; are wise; wisely understand; act wisely; have comprehension; have discernment. This wisdom is associated with God’s truth; note its use (same word) in Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:13 – As [it is] written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
shall instruct many – shall cause many to have (this) understanding and discernment.
Yet, in spite of this understanding (this wisdom and discernment), they will suffer persecution and martyrdom by the sword, by being burned (either their houses were burned with them inside, or they were burned singly or in groups when they were captured), by captivity (Jewish history records that women and children were imprisoned), and by spoil (whatever possessions they held sacred or personal were destroyed as a punishment for daring to oppose Antiochus IV).
(many) days – While this term simply means “days”, it has the idea here of not being completed quickly, but instead would drag on for some considerable time. Daniel 8:11-14 says that 2300 morning-evening sacrifices would be taken away; and as each day had a morning and an evening sacrifice, this equated to 1150 days (a bit more than 3 years). (See notes for Daniel 8:14 and also notes for Vs 35 below). The revolt occurred after the proper sacrifices were removed, and the temple was taken back and cleansed in 164 BC. We may assume that this revolt occurred soon after the daily sacrifices were banned; therefore the revolt probably lasted from about 167 to 164 BC.
Therefore, this savage persecution of devout Jews would continue for at least three years, during which the Maccabeans would destroy many Greek altars, forcibly circumcised Jewish boys, and forced Hellenistic sympathisers out of the land.
Daniel 11:34 – Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Now, even though many shall fall in this revolt, they shall be helped by small numbers coming over to join their cause. However, there will be many who will join them when they appear to be gaining the upper hand. (There are always those who will support the “winning” side; if their side appears to be losing, then they’ll swap to what then seems to be the “winning” side.)
flatteries – smooth talking; obsequiousness; beguile with pleasing words. This is the same word used of Antiochus in Daniel 11:21 where he uses “flatteries” to gain the kingdom by stealth. It is also translated “slippery” in Psalm 35:6 (“Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.”) and Jeremiah 23:12 (“Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery [ways] in the darkness: ….”)
All religious persecutions tend to have those who will change sides according to whoever has the kindest words for them at the time. Some might even join merely because of the promise of gaining the spoils of winning a war.
Daniel 11:35 – And [some] of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the end: because [it is] yet for a time appointed.
And some of those with true wisdom and discernment
shall fall, in order to try (refine; test) them and purge (purify) them and to
make them white (to make white; purify).
Psalm 51:7 – Purge me with
hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (written by David after his sin with
Bathsheba)
“the time of the end” primarily appears to refer to the time when
their struggles against Antiochus IV and his persecutions are over, but is also
could refer as well to the final righteousness of Israel when Christ their
Messiah returns to be their king in His millennial reign which follows after
the defeat of the antichrist and his armies at Armageddon.
Revelation 3:18 – I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
1 Peter 1:7 – That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
This testing and purging will continue until the end of this
process (in order to cleanse the temple) and that time is set by the
appointment of God. That is, 2300 morning and evenings, or 1150 days. Note that
Daniel
8:13-14 says “13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said
unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the
daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14And he said unto
me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Note that “days”
here is not yowm, but 2 words: ‘ereb
+ boqer which translates literally
“evening-mornings”. Thus, 2300 evening-mornings or actually
1150 days with 2 sacrifices each day!
God never promises a life without trials and suffering. In fact, it’s the good Christians who suffer according to 2 Timothy 3:12, and we are called to suffer 1 Peter 2:19-23. It doesn’t mean that we should go out and cause ourselves to suffer (as some do, calling it “penance”) but we should expect that it will happen if we are serving God faithfully, knowing that all things that are permitted into our lives (independently of our own decisions) will work together for good (Romans 8:28). Therefore, give thanks always for all things as per Ephesians 5:20. (That includes trials and sufferings!)
Too many churches today teach that suffering is the consequence of sin and therefore victorious Christians shouldn’t suffer as long as they resist sin in their lives. They teach that God blesses his children with health and wealth (the prosperity gospel) and that your witness as a Christian depends upon your material success and bodily health. Of course, some suffering is caused by sin and therefore we do need discipling as God’s children – note Hebrews 12:2-11 – but extreme teaching on wealth (such as “You need more money” by B Houston, now the disgraced former pastor of Hillsong), and health (most people who are allegedly miraculously healed are not actually healed at all) is totally unbiblical, and more in support of satan’s world than it is of God’s world.
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