Bible Commentaries
Daniel 11

Verse 2

The spirit of prophecy here returns to that which more immediately concerned Daniel and his royal masters--the near future of the empire in which he was so great a personage. Four kings were yet to follow in Media-Persia. Then will come Alexander the "mighty king" of Grecia (v.3). The division of Alexander's empire into four parts (v.4) as already predicted Daniel 8:22 is foretold. The troublous course of affairs in two parts of the disintegrated Alexandrian empire, Syria and Egypt, is then traced down to verse 20. Here Antiochus Epiphanes, the "little horn" of Chapter 8., occupies the vision down to verse 36. His pollution of the sanctuary is again mentioned. (Cf) (See Scofield "Daniel 8:22- :") . From verse 36 the interpretation is of the final "little horn" Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:24-26 See Scofield "Daniel 7:24-27.7.26- :".

three kings Ahasuerus, Ezra 4:6; Ezra 4:6 Artaxerxes, Ezra 4:7; Ezra 4:7 and Darius called "Hystaspes" Ezra 4:24.

fourth Xerxes, who invaded Greece BC 483-480.

Verse 3

king Alexander the Great, B.C. 332. See Daniel 8:5-8; Daniel 8:21; Daniel 8:22.

Verse 5

south i.e. "south" of Palestine. Egypt is meant.

his princes i.e. One of Alexander's princes; historically Ptolemy Lagidae.

he shall Not the "king of the south" (Ptolemy Lagidae, to whom Egypt was given), but the "king of the north" Daniel 11:6; Daniel 11:6 Seleucus, to whom Syria was given:

Verse 6

they shall

i.e. the descendants and successors of Ptolemy Lagidae and Seleucus, not those very personages. The prediction was fulfilled in the marriage of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, to Antiochus Theos, third king of Syria, B.C. 285-247.

Verse 7

branch of her roots

Ptolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice, who invaded Syria as described in Daniel 11:7-9.

Verse 10

but his sons

Matthew 11:10-19; Matthew 11:10-19 prophetic foreview of the wars of Egypt and Syria, Palestine, Daniel 11:17; Daniel 11:17 the battleground, B.C. 284-175.

Verse 15

king of the north

Antiochus the Great, B.C. 198.

Verse 17

daughter of women

Probably a reference to the marriage of Cleopatra to an Egyptian king, Ptolemy Philometor.

Verse 18

isles i.e. of Greece.

prince for his own

i.e. Historically on of the Scipios: the power of Rome felt in the East for the first time.

Verse 20

a raiser of taxes

A reference to the tribute exacted of the son of Antiochus the Great by the Romans.

Verse 25

south

Egypt.

Verse 29

come toward the south

Antiochus Epiphanes' second expedition against Egypt. Stopped by the mandate of Rome, Daniel 11:30; Daniel 11:30 he turns against the Jews:

Verse 31

abomination

This is historic -- the act of Antiochus Epiphanes. Matthew 24:15 refers to Daniel 12:11; Daniel 12:11 (See Scofield "Daniel 12:11- :") .

Verse 32

strong

e.g. the Maccabees. B.C. 168 and following.

Verse 35

the time of the end

Here the prophetic foreview, having traced the history of the two parts of Alexander's empire which had to do with Palestine and the Jews, viz. Syria and Egypt, to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and having described his career, overleaps the centuries to "the time of the end," when he of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was a type, the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8 the "Beast out of the sea" of Revelation 13:4-10 shall appear (cf) (See Scofield "Revelation 13:4-66.13.10- :") . Prophecy does not concern itself with history as such, but only with history as it affects Israel and the Holy Land. Antiochus Epiphanes was insignificant as compared with historical personages whom the Bible does not mention, but he scourged the covenant people and defiled God's altar, thus coming into prophetic light. From verse 36 the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:24-26 fills the scene. His prosperity lasts until "the indignation" (the "time of trouble" of ; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21 is accomplished (Daniel 11:36). This is parallel with ; Revelation 17:10-14; Revelation 19:19-21.Daniel 11:37-45 supply details not mentioned in the N.T. The expression "God of his fathers" (Daniel 11:37) has been held to indicate that the "king" is an apostate Jew, but this does not accord with Daniel 9:26 which was fulfilled by the Gentile armies of Rome. The "little horn" is an apostate, but from Christianity, not Judaism (cf) 1 John 2:18; 1 John 2:19. Daniel 11:38-45 describe his career. Substituting "the god of forces" (i.e. forces of nature) for the true God (Daniel 11:38; Daniel 11:39), he soon presents himself as that god (cf) 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:4. While his career lasts he is an irresistible conqueror Daniel 11:40-44). He established his palace in Jerusalem, probably at the time of his supreme act of blasphemous impiety ; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4. From this time begins the great tribulation ; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21 which runs its course during the last half of Daniel's seventieth week, viz. three and one half years ; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7; Daniel 12:11; Revelation 13:5. Scofield "Revelation 19:20".

Verse 36

he shall exalt

The Beast. Daniel 11:36-45; Daniel 12:11; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20.

Verse 45

palace

(See Scofield " :-") .