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Syria
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Egypt
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323
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Ptolemy I Soter |
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312
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Seleucus Nicator |
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283
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Ptolemy II Philadelphus |
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280
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Antiochus I Soter |
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261
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Antiochus II Theos |
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247
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Ptolemy III Euergetes |
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246
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Seleucus Callinicus II |
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226
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Seleucus III Ceraunus |
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223
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Antiochus III, the Great |
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222
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Ptolemy IV Philopator |
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205
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Ptolemy V Epiphanes |
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187
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Seleucus IV Philopator |
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181
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Ptolemy VI Eupator |
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175
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Antiochus IV Epiphanes |
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169
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Ptolemy VI with Physcon
(brother) |
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164
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Death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes |
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146
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Physcon alone. |
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1 |
Runs on from ch.10. Yet contrast 11:1 and 10:1.
This suggests reading "strengthen thee", and then allusion to
9:1. |
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2 |
There shall stand up (after Cyrus; 10:1) three
kings—Cambyses 529-522, Pseudo-Smerdis (a few months), Darius
Hystaspes 522-485, Xerxes 485-465. Xerxes was the richest. Against Grecia. Salamis 489. |
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3 |
There comes a big historic gap of about 50 years.
Why? Mighty king Alexander 336-323. See 8.21. Great dominion. His empire, from Macedonia to India. This passage was shown to Alexander by the high priest, and gained his favour for the Jews. |
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4 |
His kingdom broken: i.e. empire broken up
as soon as established; 8.8. Four winds of heaven. The four parts of Alexander’s empire divided to his four generals. Not to his posterity. His two sons were assassinated. |
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5-39. |
All about the Seleucids (king of the north,
ruling Syria to India)? And the Ptolemies (king of the south, ruling Egypt,
Israel and Arabia). |
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5 |
King of the south: Ptolemy
I RVm. But one of his (king of the north’s?) princes shall be strong. Seleucus helped by Ptolemy to gain Syria, and then became greater than Ptolemy. |
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6 |
End of Years: Antiochus I (280-261)
omitted. Why? Join together: Ptolemy 11 and Antiochus 11 in alliance Daughter of king of the south: Berenice, married Antiochus 11. Not retain power: She was divorced. Neither shall he stand: Poisoned by Laodice, his first wife, who also had Berenice murdered. Read: he whom she begat (her son) and he that strengthened her (her father). |
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7 |
Out of the branch of her roots: Ptolemy
III was the brother of Berenice. The fortress Selcucia. The empire of
Seleucus III was almost captured. |
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8 |
Their gods: i.e. Egyptian gods, which
Cambyses had seized 280 years earlier. RV: refrain some years from the king of the north. |
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9 |
RV: he shall come into the realm of the king
of the south but he shall return. Seleucus II failed in an invasion of
Egypt. |
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10 |
His son’s—Seleucus III and
Antiochus III. And he (Antiochus III) shall come on. His invasion of Palestine. His fortress. Gaza captured. |
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11 |
King of the south. Ptolemy
IV and he. Antiochus III Multitude given into his hand. Ptolemy’s. Antiochus III invasion of Egypt failed. |
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12 |
His (Ptolemy’s) heart lifted
up...But he shall not be strengthened by it. Ptolemy did not push his
advantage. |
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13 |
Antiochus III, the Great, was now very strong,
and invaded Ptolemy V. His campaign made only limited gains. |
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14 |
Many: Philip of Macedonia and others
helped Antiochus III. The robbers of thy people.. Jewish gangsters also joined in. |
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15 |
Antiochus III had a successful campaign in
Palestine, and captured Jerusalem (RV). |
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16 |
But he (Antiochus) that cometh against him
(Ptolemy)...which by his hand shall be consumed. Antiochus spared the
temple, but the Land was plundered. |
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17 |
Give him the daughter of women. Because of
the growing power of Rome, Antiochus sought friendship with Egypt, and married
his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy. “But it (the alliance) shall not
stand.” |
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18 |
Antiochus expanded into the coasts and islands of
Asia Minor and Greece. A prince. Rome repulsed this expansion. Battle of Magnesia 190 ended the greatness of Antiochus III. |
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19 |
Final defeat of Antiochus by
Rome. |
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20 |
Seleucus IV sent his minion to plunder the temple
treasury. This man turned against him and had him poisoned. |
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21 |
A vile person. Vile in every
respect, insane, persecutor of the Jews. Had no right to the throne.
By flatteries. Insincere friendship was one of his stock methods. |
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22 |
They swept away. RV—the opposers of
Antiochus IV succession. The prince of the covenant. Probably Ptolemy VI. |
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23 |
Work deceitfully. Ptolemy taken in by
insincere friendship. Strong with a small people. Strong from weak beginnings. |
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24 |
Describes extraordinary generosity of Antiochus
IV to his army, people, and Egypt. Against the strongholds (of Egypt). He held Pelusium for quite a while. |
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25 |
Two campaigns against Egypt 170, 169.
He shall not stand i.e. Ptolemy VI. |
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26 |
Plots against Ptolemy VI. Result: Physcon joined
him in rule over Egypt. |
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27 |
Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI both pretended to
believe each other, but each was set on deceiving the other. |
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28 |
Return with great riches. Much spoil from
Egypt. Antiochus then defiled the temple in Jerusalem, plundered temple
treasury, and massacred many Jews. |
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29 |
His third Egyptian expedition. Not as the former—not so successful. |
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30 |
Ships of Chittim. LXX: And the
Romans shall come. Indignation against holy covenant. Worse persecution of Jewry. From this point on, Daniel 11 is closely parallel to the record in 1 Maccabees. Them that forsake the holy covenant, accepting his Hellenising of Jewry. |
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31 |
Temple defiled (altar to Zeus): Jewish religion
forbidden. |
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32 |
Flatteries. Cajolery and deceitful
promises used to persuade Jews to forsake their religion. But Mattathias and his
5 sons (called the Maccabees) resisted and fought for
independence. |
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33-35 |
A very tough struggle against Antiochus IV, led
by Judas and Simon Maccabeus. |
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36 |
Antiochus claimed to be God—Epiphanes. (In
Eureka 3.70 Dr. Thomas applies v.36-39 either to the Pope or to Constantine.
Very obscure!). Against the God of gods. Antiochus campaign against the religion of Israel. |
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37 |
The desire of women—probably the
worship of Adonis. |
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38 |
A god whom his fathers knew
not—Zeus. |
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39 |
RV: And he shall deal with the strongest
fortresses by the help (people?) of a strange god. His use of mercenaries in
Jerusalem? |
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40-45 |
40-45. These verses seem to re-capitulate the
events covered already. |
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40 |
Same king of north and king of
south. Chariots and horsemen and many ships—echoes 1 Mac. 1.17 description of Antiochus’s invasion of Egypt. |
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41 |
The glorious land. Threatened by the
Romans, Antiochus broke off his Egyptian campaign, and took it out of the Jews
instead. Many people (not, countries) overthrown Edom, Moab, Ammon escape, because these joined in hostility to Israel. |
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42 |
Egypt not escape. |
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43 |
Precious things of Egypt. Plenty of
plunder in Egyptian cities before the retreat. 1 Mac.1.19. |
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44 |
Tidings—of defeats suffered by his army operating against Maccabees. 2
Mac.9.3.
Great fury. 2 Mac.9.4. |
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45 |
Tabernacles of his palace. Ancient city of
David re-fortified as, Syrian headquarters, for a long time. Come to his end. Antiochus hoped to restore his fortunes with a great campaign in Persia. It failed. He went (more) mad, and no respite from his malady. He died. |
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