20 “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 24 Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers' fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. 26 Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
29 “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. Daniel 11: 20-35 ESV
Daniel 11: 20-35
One who shall send an exactor of tribute - When you messed with Rome and lost you were required to pay for the expense of the war, but tribute like that never ends, once people have the power to tax they will reach deeper, especially rather than fixing their own wasteful spending or ineptness in managing. People that buy votes use other people's money to do so. The dynasties that came from the Greek power structure are teetering and giving way to Rome. It is difficult too because you have the local Seleucid king already receiving taxes, and now on top of that he will exact even more from the people to pay his tax to Rome.
Walvoord explains the reason for the taxation "Because of the rising power of Rome, he (Seleucus IV Philopator) was forced to pay tribute to the Romans of a thousand talents annually. In order to raise this large amount of money, Seleucus had to tax all the lands under his domain, including special taxes from the Jews secured by a tax collector named Heliodorus (2Macc 3:7) who took treasures from the temple at Jerusalem (Ed: But read the record from Second Maccabees). - Precept Austin
…34Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died. 35So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco, but to meet Pharaoh’s demand he taxed the land and exacted the silver and the gold from the people, each according to his wealth. 2 Kings 23: 34-35
A contemptible person - So now from the Seleucid dynasty, the kings of the north, that were part of the 4 horns that came up to replace Alexander, here comes the little horn of the Greeks. This is none other than Antiochus Epiphanes, or as the people liked to call him, Epimanes, which means maniac, mad one, in other words an egotistical, psycho mess. He didn't come to power by normal means, was not the direct heir to the throne, but gained it by craftiness, and even killing his own kin. It says he obtained the kingdom by flatteries.
…8Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. 9From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them.… Daniel 8: 8-10
As the son and a potential successor of King Antiochus III, Antiochus became a political hostage of the Roman Republic following the Peace of Apamea in 188 BC. When his older brother, Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175BC) followed his father onto the throne in 187BC, Antiochus was exchanged for his nephew Demetrius I Soter (the son and rightful heir of Seleucus). After King Seleucus was assassinated by Heliodorus, a usurper, in 175BC, Antiochus in turn ousted him. Since Seleucus' true heir, Demetrius I Soter, was still a hostage in Rome, Antiochus, with the help of King Eumenes II of Pergamum, seized the throne for himself, proclaiming himself co-regent for another son of Seleucus, an infant named Antiochus (whom he then murdered a few years later). (Reference)
Matthew Henry comments that Antiochus Epiphanes…
was a cruel and violent persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God, in His providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as He pleases. This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what He has designed, what He has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in Him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict. - Precept Austin
Even the prince of the covenant - With the use of the word "covenant" I tend to see this more in favor of Onias, but I am not sure.
Prince of the covenant - The identity of this individual is debated. Some commentaries favor this as reference to the "shattering" (murder) of the high priest Onias III who Antiochus Epiphanes ordered in 172BC. Others feel this represents Ptolemy VI Philometor who was defeated by Antiochus' forces.
He shall act deceitfully - Remember, a transition is coming soon and this Antiochus is a prototype to the final antichrist of the latter days. This guy is a talker, in love with himself, quick to make promises and use these to take opponents off guard.
…17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward. 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.… Proverbs 11: 17-19
Scattering among them plunder - Antiochus used mercenaries and this was sometimes probably based on the booty from raids. Men are greedy, whether poor or rich, and where they have fewer resources, in lands that were being ravished by wars, then they would be inclined to take more risk. It is sad how little people will sell out others for, 30 pieces of silver, 200 dollars worth of drugs I remember one time, that led to 2 men entering an apartment with guns and battling with the man in the apartment. The prophet Muhammad started out with caravan raids, the mob in our country has long used fear to tax "protection money", which amounts to protection from the so called protectors. As mentioned before, people will pay people for their votes and loyalty, everyone and everything is for sale. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.
4So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. 5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.… Judges 9: 4-5
30 He feared that he might not have such funds as he had before for his expenses and for the gifts which he used to give more lavishly than preceding kings. 1 Maccabees 3: 30
Plots shall be devised against him - Ptolemy, the king of the south, had traitors in his midst, men that could be bought, men that eat at his table, close to him.
They shall speak lies at the same table - The kings talk peace, but no one can be trusted, there is no honor or integrity.
1For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. 2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. 3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.… Psalm 12: 1-3
His heart shall be set against - Remember, he is an egotist. He brings back much wealth from Egypt, but it is not enough, it eats at his pride that people speak against him, at his narcissistic image that they do not see him the way he sees himself. They call him a mad man, a play on his name, Epiphanes to Epimanes. They wished him dead.
Gaebelein - In 168BC he returned from his expedition and had great riches. Then he marched through Judea and did his awful deeds. A report had come to his ears that the Jewish people had reported him dead. In the first and second book of the Maccabees we read of his atrocities. Then he retired to Antioch. (The Prophet Daniel: Key to the Visions & Prophecies of the Book of Daniel) - Precept Austin
It shall not be this time as it was before - He comes to ravage Egypt again, but his conquest is cut short, for Egypt has requested help from Rome. Gaius Polillius Laenus, the Roman diplomat, confronts Antiochus iv Epiphanes about 4 miles outside of Alexandria Egypt, where Epimanes was headed with intent to pillage. At this meeting, he, Antiochus is basically neutered in front of his army and sent back home. When men of great arrogance are spanked like this, especially those that perceive themselves as gods, well, we all know it rolls down hill.
Take action against the holy covenant - Leaving the south, heading back north he passes through Israel on his way to Syria, and he is seething, his ego just can't handle the reality of what just happened, it doesn't match his perception of himself. He is delusional, and now rabid with anger, he takes out his temper tantrum on the Jews. You can read about this in the link above for Daniel 8 Hellenizers.
Pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant - He shows favor to the apostate Jews, those willing to come over to his side, forsake their God.
The abomination that makes desolate - He profanes the temple, the only true God, forces the priests to eat pork and kills many. He also sets up an altar to Zeus, this makes desolate in the sense that it is no longer a holy place for the Jews, it has been defiled. Remember, he is the prototype for the last antichrist, this will happen again. Christ makes reference to this very thing as an example for the end of the time of the gentiles, the last half of the 70th week.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who has been labeled the "Antichrist of the Old Testament", caused an altar to be set up in the Jewish Temple and on this altar he placed an idolatrous image of Zeus (cf 2Macc 6:2). In addition, he turned the priest's chambers into brothels, creating the "abomination that causes desolation". In other words, the Temple was desolate to pious Jews because of the desecration of the altar which destroyed its true purpose. They had no desire to worship in such a polluted environment and thus the Temple was deprived of Jewish worshippers. Just so will the Antichrist establish an abomination in the sanctuary, a demonic counterfeit worship (Da 9:27-note; Da 12:11-note). Even more blatantly defiant of God, the Antichrist will command worship of himself and his image! (2Th 2:3,4, Rev 13:14-note, Rev 13:15-note) God will allow this gross evil because He is using this devilish man to fulfill His purging and purifying purpose in the nation of Israel. While the infinitely good and holy God does not cause evil, in His infinite wisdom and omnipotence is able to bring good out of what others mean for evil. (cf Ge 50:20, Ro 8:28-note)
Henry Morris adds "It is believed that Epiphanes, aided by traitorous Jews, sacrificed a sow on the altar and erected a statue of Zeus in the temple at Jerusalem. The motive behind this act was his ambition to unify the great empire extending all the way to India, left him by his father, by compelling all people in the empire to adopt the Greco/Roman system of culture and pantheistic religion." - Precept Austin
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.… Matthew 24: 14-16
He shall seduce with flattery - "Oh, how enlightened you all are, how much greater we are together as one mind, one world, trust the science and so on", there will be a great falling away like this again, and people now are primed for it.
1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.… 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3
But the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action - They don't bow to the idol, they go back to the book and help others understand. They read this in Daniel, just like Daniel read Jeremiah, they study and know the times, they pray and know their God, they won't follow another.
They shall receive a little help - They have a rebellion and this time it works; they drive out the wicked, this time.
Have you ever heard of a Hasidic Jew? That’s a term that came out of the Maccabean period. This group of Hasideans, they stood for the law. They’re talked about in the Maccabees, 1 Maccabees chapter 2. They had a leader, and their leader was Judas Maccabeus. This is a time of history that is not spoken of in the Bible; it occurred in the four hundred years between the Old and the New Testament.
But Judas Maccabeus was able to lead a successful revolt, and he is the one who helped with a little help. It was just temporary relief from persecution. And by the way, Judas Maccabeus got all those apostate Jews and he treated them bloody severity. But like many revolutions, it says at the end of verse 34 it had a lot of folks hanging on just for what they could gain. Some people went with the revolution to gain their own ends.
Verse 35: “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to test them, and to purge, and to make them white.” Now wait a minute. Why is all this happening? Why are You doing this, God? Here it is: to test, to purge, to make them white. What does that mean? To burn off the sin, right? To burn off the dross.
Nothing is as effective in driving people to God as suffering. You understand that? When you stand in the face of inevitable destruction, your thoughts go straight up. - J Mac
Until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time - Here is a transition and when we pick up in verse 36 it will no longer be the little horn from Greece, but the one Christ talks about in Matthew 24 above, and the Apostle John in Revelation, the little horn that comes from Rome.
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