Daniel 11:35

Romanian Cornilescu Translation

Chiar şi din cei înţelepţi, mulţi vor cădea, ca să fie încercaţi, curăţiţi şi albiţi, pînă la vremea sfîrşitului, căci sfîrşitul nu va fi decît la vremea hotărîtă.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

some: Daniel 11:33, Daniel 8:10, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 26:56, Matthew 26:69-75, John 20:25, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:37-39

to try: Daniel 12:10, Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 8:16, 2 Chronicles 32:31, Proverbs 17:3, Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:2-4, Malachi 4:1-3, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6, 1 Peter 1:7, Revelation 2:10

them: or, by them

even: Daniel 11:29, Daniel 11:40, Daniel 8:17, Daniel 8:19, Daniel 9:27, Daniel 10:1, Daniel 12:4, Daniel 12:11, Habakkuk 2:3, Revelation 14:15, Revelation 17:17

Reciprocal: Isaiah 27:9 - this therefore Isaiah 40:2 - warfare Daniel 11:27 - yet Daniel 12:3 - they that be Acts 17:26 - hath determined 1 Timothy 4:1 - depart Hebrews 11:17 - when 1 Peter 4:12 - the fiery

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And some of them of understanding shall fall,.... Not into sin, or from the religion they profess; and the doctrines they have an understanding of, and have instructed others in; but into distresses and calamities for their steadfast adherence to the word, worship, and ordinances of God:

to try them, and purge and make them white; to try their faith, patience, and other graces, and whether they would hold fast their profession, and persevere in the good ways of God; and to purge and separate them from others, that were like chaff, hypocrites, that so they might be manifest, both the one and the other; and these good men appear to be sincere and upright: moreover, the best of men have their dross, and chaff, and spots, to be removed from them; and this is one way of doing it, even by afflictions: the allusion, in the first word, is to the melting, purifying, and refining of metals, gold and silver; the second to the winnowing of a grain floor, and separating the chaff from the wheat; and the third to the cleansing and whitening of cloths, and taking the spots out of them by the fuller. Afflictions are the furnace in which the Lord refines and purifies his people; the fan with which he purges his floor; and the fuller's soap with which he makes his people white; by all this the iniquity of Jacob is purged, and the fruit of it is to take away sin, Isaiah 27:9, so that afflictions are not hurtful, but beneficial to the saints, even those more violent ones, severe persecutions.

Even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed; these distresses, calamities, and persecutions, would have an end, and the time for it was appointed of God; as yet it was not come, but quickly would, and then an end would be put to the third or Grecian monarchy; a hint of the Roman power over that being given, Daniel 11:30, hence we have no further account of Antiochus or his sons. Very remarkable are the words of Aemilius Sara m,

"the Assyrians first were possessors of monarchy; then the Medes; afterwards the Persians; then the Macedonians; from that time the kings, Philip and Antiochus, who sprung from the Macedonians, being conquered, not long after Carthage was subdued, the supreme power of empire came to the Roman people;''

of whom, under one character or another, the following part of the prophecy is chiefly to be understood. So another historian says n, Antiochus being drove out of Asia, the Romans first set footing there; and another o observes, that Antiochus being defeated by L. Cornelius Scipio, he took the name of Asiaticus, because he had conquered Asia; as his brother was called Africanus, from his subduing Africa: wherefore Asia and Africa being now in the hands of the Romans, the supreme power might well be said to be with them; and therefore, henceforward, are only spoken of, and particularly the Roman antichrist.

m De annis populi Romani apud Velleii Paterculi Hist. Roman. l. 1. c. 6. n "Festi Breviarium, prope initium". o Eutropii Hist. Rom. l. 4. So Plutarch. in Vita Scipionis Africani.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And some of them understanding shall fall - Some of those who have a correct understanding of religion, and who have joined the army from pure motives. The idea seems to be that on some occasion they would meet with a temporary defeat, in order that the sincerity of the others might be tested, or that it might be seen who adhered to the cause from principle, and who from selfish purposes. If they should not always be successful; if they should be temporarily defeated; if some of the most eminent among them should fall among the slain; and if the cause should at any time look dark, this would serve to try the sin cerity of the remainder of the army, and would be likely to “thin it off” of those who had joined it only from mercenary motives.

To try them - Margin, “or, by them.” So the Hebrew - בהם bâhem. The meaning perhaps is, that it would be “by” them, as it were, that the army would be tried. As they would fall in battle, and as the cause would seem to be doubtful, this would test the fidelity of others. The word “try” here (צרף tsâraph) means, properly, “to melt, to smelt” - as metals; then to prove anyone; and then to purify.

And to purge - To purify; to test the army and to make it pure.

And to make them white - To wit, by thus allowing those who had joined the army from mercenary motives to withdraw. Compare 2 Macc. 12:39-41.

Even to the time of the end - The end of the war or the conflict. There would be an end of these persecutions and trials, and this process had reference to that, or tended to bring it about. The act of freeing the army from false friends - from those who had joined it from mercenary motives, would have a tendency to accomplish the result in the best way possible, and in the speediest manner.

Because it is yet for a time appointed - See the notes at Daniel 11:27. This seems to be designed for an assurance that the calamity would come to an end, or that there was a limit beyond which it could not pass. Thus it would be an encouragement to those who were engaged in the struggle, for they would see that success must ultimately crown their labors.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 35. And some of them of understanding — Disputes on certain points of religion soon agitated the Christian Church; and now, having no outward persecution, they began to persecute each other. And many excellent men, men of understanding, fell victims because they would not embrace erroneous doctrines, when professed by the state. But this was permitted,-

To try them, and to purge, and to make them white] To bring all to the pure profession, possession, and practice of Christianity.

To the time of the end — To the time that God shall cause pure and undefiled religion every where to prevail. But when is the time appointed for this?