‏ Daniel 10

Summary for Dan 10:1-12:13: 10:1–12:13  ^a This final vision reaches historically from 536 BC to a distant future when Daniel would be raised from the dead and receive his inheritance. All earthly kingdoms would be destroyed, the eternal kingdom of the Son of Man would arise, God’s people would finally be rescued, and death—the ultimate enemy—would be defeated. 10:1  ^b The third year of the reign of King Cyrus was 536 BC, not long after Cyrus issued his decree for the peoples and nations to return to their ancestral homes (2 Chr 36:22-23  ^c; Ezra 1:1-2  ^d). Daniel’s prayer (Dan 9:4-19  ^e) had been answered—the Exile had ended.

• Belteshazzar: See 1:7  ^f.
Summary for Dan 10:2-3: 10:2-3  ^g Daniel was apparently in mourning because of his previous visions (10:14  ^h, 16  ⁱ).
Summary for Dan 10:5-6: 10:5-6  ^j The man dressed in linen clothing is an unidentified messenger of the Lord (cp. 10:16  ^k, 18  ^l; 12:6-7  ^m; see also Ezek 9:3  ⁿ).
Summary for Dan 10:7-9: 10:7-9  ^o Daniel’s response was typical for humans in the presence of heavenly beings (cp. Josh 5:14  ^p; Isa 6:5  ^q; Acts 9:7-9  ^r; Rev 1:17  ^s).
10:11  ^t very precious to God: See also 9:23  ^u; 10:19  ^v.
10:13  ^w the spirit prince: The spiritual forces behind the various nations, such as the spirit prince of Persia or the spirit prince of Greece, blocked the way of God’s messenger who responded to the prayers of God’s people (see 10:20–11:1  ^x).

• one of the archangels: An archangel was a chief among God’s heavenly messengers.

• Daniel’s world, and ours, is populated by more than meets the human eye. Daniel is shown the great events of history enacted against the background of a real spiritual world where spiritual beings support or hinder God’s people, where the conflicts of the ages are also carried out. Behind all of this, the Ancient One sovereignly guides all things and sits in judgment upon the process and its conclusion. God’s covenant with his people, and their relationship with him through prayer, are central to this process—the world is not ultimately governed by angels and spirit princes, but by the Ancient One, who hears the prayers of his people.
10:16  ^y touched my lips: Cp. Exod 4:11-12  ^z; Isa 6:5-7  ^aa.
10:19  ^ab God’s word gives strength to his servants (cp. Pss 29:11  ^ac; 68:35  ^ad).
10:20  ^ae The messenger described empires in terms of the spirit prince representing each of them. The Persian Empire had just begun and would later be replaced by the Greek Empire (cp. 8:3-7  ^af, 19-21  ^ag).
10:21  ^ah Book of Truth (literally writing of truth): The messenger was not speaking of himself, but from what was written in God’s Book of Truth. Compare God’s book in 7:9-10  ^ai; Exod 32:32-33  ^aj. See also Dan 12:1  ^ak; Ps 139:16  ^al. The Book of Truth contains what is revealed in Dan 11:2–12:7  ^am.

• against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince: God divided up the nations, partitioning out the nations and their princes (Deut 32:8  ^an). God was over Israel, and Michael was Israel’s spirit prince.

‏ Daniel 11

11:1  ^ao Darius the Mede: See study note on 5:31; the first year was probably 539 BC.
Summary for Dan 11:2-12:7: 11:2–12:7  ^ap The messenger provided a grand sweep of history, from the time of Persia, through the break-up of Greece, the rise and defeat of a wicked king or series of kings (11:21-45  ^aq), and the final resurrection and triumph of God’s people. 11:2  ^ar Three more Persian kings: These Persian kings who followed Cyrus II were most likely Cambyses (530–522 BC), Gaumata (522 BC, a usurper), and Darius I (521–486 BC). The fourth was probably Xerxes I (486–465 BC; see study note on Esth 1:1), whose riches were legendary, as were his army of 1,700,000 soldiers and his huge navy (see Herodotus, Histories 7.6), which he used to fight against the kingdom of Greece. He was unsuccessful, as the Persians failed to defeat the growing power of Greece. God’s sovereign hand was at work behind the historical events of this chapter.
11:3  ^as The mighty king was Alexander the Great (see study note on 8:21, 336–323 BC), who conquered much of the known world in thirteen years, from Greece to India and from far into the north to Egypt in the south.
11:4  ^at Alexander died on June 10, 323 BC, in Babylon at the age of thirty-three. He was at the height of his power and willing to be worshiped as a god.

• Alexander’s descendants were not capable of governing, and his brother Philip was incompetent.

• For his empire will be ... given to others: Several of Alexander’s generals divided his empire; by 301 BC, their conflicts had resulted in four parts (see 7:4-7  ^au; 8:8-12  ^av and corresponding study notes). God orchestrates history, and its end belongs to him.
Summary for Dan 11:5-45: 11:5-45  ^aw Throughout this passage, the king of the south describes Alexander’s general Ptolemy and his descendants, who ruled Egypt; the king of the north describes Alexander’s general Seleucus and his descendants, who ruled Syria and Mesopotamia. In the period following Alexander’s death, the kings of Egypt and Syria vied for control of the strategically located land of Palestine. The holy city and the holy people lay between these two powers. These battles continued until their appointed end (11:27  ^ax, 35  ^ay, 40  ^az, 45  ^ba; 12:1  ^bb, 7  ^bc). These events are described historically in 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees and by Herodotus, Livy, Polybius, Porphyry, and Josephus. 11:5  ^bd The first king of the south was Ptolemy I Soter (323–285 BC). One of his own officials was Seleucus I Nicator (321–281 BC), who took over the rule of Syria. Both men were military commanders under Alexander the Great. Initially (320–198 BC), Palestine was under the control of the Ptolemies.
11:6  ^be An alliance was formed between Antiochus II Theos, the king of the north (261–246 BC), and Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the king of the south (284–246 BC). Antiochus married Ptolemy’s daughter Berenice Syra in 250 BC, then abandoned her in 246 BC. She and Antiochus were then murdered.
Summary for Dan 11:7-8: 11:7-8  ^bf one of her relatives: Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes, became king of the south (246–221 BC), invaded Syria with his army, defeated the king of the north (Seleucus II Callinicus, 246–226 BC), occupied the fortress cities of Antioch and Seleucia, and built the Ptolemaic kingdom to its greatest extent. When he returned to Egypt, he took their idols with him, but left Seleucus II on the throne.
11:9  ^bg Seleucus II, still the king of the north, tried to invade Egypt in 242 BC but was defeated by Ptolemy III.
Summary for Dan 11:10-12: 11:10-12  ^bh The sons of Seleucus II were Seleucus III Ceraunus (226–223 BC) and Antiochus III the Great (223–187 BC).

• a mighty army that will advance like a flood: Antiochus III aggressively sought to regain lost territory, including Palestine.

• as far as the enemy’s fortress: Antiochus III advanced to Raphia on the border of Egypt in 217 BC. In the ensuing battle, the king of the south—Ptolemy IV Philopater (221–203 BC)—defeated Antiochus III and retained control of Palestine.
Summary for Dan 11:12-13: 11:12-13  ^bi Ptolemy IV’s success was short lived. In 198 BC, the king of the north—Antiochus III—returned.

• Antiochus III had been conquering lands to the north and east, from which he raised a fully equipped army far greater than before (cp. 3 Maccabees 1:1-5).
11:14  ^bj A general uprising of Jews and rebel Egyptians who favored Antiochus III arose. The king of the south was Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203–181 BC).

• they will not succeed: The Egyptian commander, Scopas, quelled the rebellion (200 BC).
11:15  ^bk At Paneas in 198 BC, the king of the north (Antiochus III) defeated the Egyptian general Scopas, besieged and captured Sidon, a fortified city, and took control of Palestine.
11:16  ^bl intent on destroying it: Antiochus III sought to hellenize the Jews and destroy their ancient customs, but he was flattered by Jews who received him well, and he granted them special privileges. They were allowed to live according to their own laws. His son Antiochus IV was not so accommodating (11:21-39  ^bm).
11:17  ^bn Antiochus III formed an alliance with Ptolemy V by giving his daughter, Cleopatra I, to Ptolemy V in marriage. Antiochus hoped to overthrow Egypt from within, but his plan failed when his daughter became loyal to Egypt, and Egypt formed an alliance with Rome.
11:18  ^bo Antiochus III extended his holdings into the coastland—including Anatolia, Macedonia, and Greece—but he was defeated by the Romans in 191 and 190 BC. The prince was the famous Roman general Scipio, who put a stop to Antiochus III’s expansionist policies and caused him to retreat in shame from his western acquisitions.
11:19  ^bp Antiochus III thereafter remained within his own fortresses, where he was assassinated in 187 BC.
11:20  ^bq Antiochus III’s successor was his son Seleucus IV Philopater (187–175 BC), who was known for his infamous act of sending Heliodorus, a tax collector, to exact large sums of money to maintain the royal splendor (but also to pay the ruinous tribute imposed on the Seleucids by Rome). Heliodorus attempted to plunder the Temple in Jerusalem but was divinely thwarted (see 2 Maccabees 3:1-40). Seleucus was murdered by Heliodorus after a very brief reign of seven years.
Summary for Dan 11:21-39: 11:21-39  ^br The next to come to power was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 BC). He is also the “small horn” of Dan 8:9-14  ^bs, 23-26  ^bt. He is described vividly in 1 Maccabees 1:7–6:16; 2 Maccabees 1:1–10:5; 4 Maccabees 4:15–18:5. Antiochus was despicable both because he had usurped the kingship and for his deeds as king. He was not in line for royal succession but usurped the throne from his brother’s son.
11:22  ^bu The covenant prince was Onias III, the high priest (cp. study notes on 9:25-26). He was removed by Antiochus IV in 175 BC and replaced by his brother Jason (2 Maccabees 4:7-10). In 171 BC, Onias was murdered by Menelaus, who then became high priest (171–162 BC). Menelaus supported Antiochus IV’s program of hellenization (see study note on 9:27).
11:23  ^bv deceitful promises: Antiochus IV introduced Greek religion into Judea, helped by lawless followers who supported his policies (see 1 Maccabees 1:11-15).
11:24  ^bw richest areas of the land: Antiochus IV seized the riches of the Temple, took large tributes from Jerusalem, and stationed troops there (1 Maccabees 1:29-40).
Summary for Dan 11:25-27: 11:25-27  ^bx The king of the south was Ptolemy VI Philometor (181–146 BC). Antiochus IV attacked Egypt twice between 170 and 168 BC (1 Maccabees 1:17-19).
11:28  ^by Antiochus IV plundered Jerusalem and the Temple in 170 BC, killing thousands and enslaving others (1 Maccabees 1:20-42; 2 Maccabees 5:1-23). His arrogance was unbounded (1 Maccabees 1:24-25; cp. Dan 7:28  ^bz; 8:9  ^ca).
Summary for Dan 11:29-35: 11:29-35  ^cb Antiochus IV invaded the south [Egypt] ... once again (see Polybius, Histories 29.1).

• The warships from western coastlands refers to the Romans. The Roman general Popilius Laenas drew a circle in the sand, forced Antiochus to stand inside it, and made him decide whether to return home or prepare for war with Rome before exiting the circle. Fearing the Roman fleet, Antiochus chose to withdraw and return home. He then vented his anger and humiliation against the Jews, the people of the holy covenant. He took Jerusalem in 167 BC and rewarded those who would come over to him. He polluted the altar (see Dan 8:9-14  ^cc, 23-26  ^cd), stopped the sacrifices, set up a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the Temple, and harassed and killed whoever refused to forsake the covenant (see 1 Maccabees 1:62-64; cp. Dan 9:27  ^ce; Matt 24:15  ^cf).
11:31  ^cg the sacrilegious object that causes desecration: See study note on 9:27.
Summary for Dan 11:32-35: 11:32-35  ^ch The wise are those who know their God and his laws and follow them, even in a hostile and deceptive environment. Many were martyred for their faithfulness to God and his laws during this time (1 Maccabees 1:11; 7:19  ^ci; 2 Maccabees 6–7).
11:34  ^cj A little help came when the family of Mattathias and those around them, who were called Maccabees, instigated a national revolt which Antiochus, occupied elsewhere, could not put down. In 164 BC, three years after the Temple had been desecrated, the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem, removed the sacrilegious object (the statue of Zeus), cleansed the altar, and restored the daily sacrifices (8:11-14  ^ck, 26  ^cl; 1 Maccabees 1:59). This event is commemorated at Hanukkah (see John 10:22  ^cm).
Summary for Dan 11:36-40: 11:36-40  ^cn Some interpreters see these verses as a transition from the earthly Antiochus IV to a character larger than history (7:8  ^co). 11:36  ^cp Antiochus IV thought himself equal to God (2 Maccabees 9:1–10:12), but God would hem him in until the time of wrath was completed.

• what has been determined will surely take place: Antiochus suddenly contracted a painful disease and died in 163 BC in the mountains of Persia (see 8:25  ^cq; 1 Maccabees 4:52-53; 6:16; 2 Maccabees 9:4, 28; 10:5).
Summary for Dan 11:37-38: 11:37-38  ^cr no respect for the gods of his ancestors: Antiochus IV forsook the Syrian gods in order to worship Greek gods.

• The god loved by women might be one of the Canaanite or Egyptian fertility deities.

• No god of fortresses is known from history, but this description might be fulfilled by the lavish gifts that Antiochus gave to cities and to Greek temples, perhaps to increase his reputation and power (see Livy, History 41.20).
Summary for Dan 11:40-45: 11:40-45  ^cs Most commentators believe these verses describe the time of the end of history (cp. Mark 13:14  ^ct; 2 Thes 2:3-12  ^cu; Rev 19:19-21  ^cv). These verses echo the career of Antiochus IV, but we have no historical record of the events described here. Antiochus was a paradigm for future rulers who set themselves against the God of gods. 11:40  ^cw No known king of the south or king of the north did these things.
11:41  ^cx the glorious land of Israel: Israel (cp. 8:9  ^cy; 11:16  ^cz) is again the center of attack by an evil king.

• Moab, Edom, and Ammon were nations surrounding ancient Israel and Judah.
11:45  ^da The glorious holy mountain includes Zion, Jerusalem, and the Temple—the place God chose for his name to dwell.

• The sea probably refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

‏ Daniel 12

Summary for Dan 12:1-7: 12:1-7  ^db At that time, the time of the end, God will rescue his people and defeat every enemy—even death. 12:1  ^dc Michael was Israel’s patron angel (cp. 10:13  ^dd, 21  ^de; Rev 2:1  ^df, 8  ^dg, 12  ^dh).

• the book: This is possibly the Book of Truth (Dan 10:21  ^di; cp. 7:10  ^dj).

• will be rescued: All previous rescues of God’s people in Daniel (e.g., 3:28  ^dk; 6:27  ^dl) had foreshadowed, and now culminated in, the resurrection from the dead (12:2-3  ^dm).
12:2  ^dn Everlasting life is completely without shame or disgrace (cp. Gen 2:25  ^do; 3:7  ^dp).
12:3  ^dq Those who are wise know their God (cp. 1:4  ^dr, 17  ^ds; 8:25  ^dt; 9:22  ^du, 25  ^dv; 11:32-35  ^dw; 12:10  ^dx).

• To shine is a familiar metaphor for life, purity, righteousness, and glory.
12:4  ^dy Daniel was to keep the prophecy a secret (cp. 7:28  ^dz; 8:26  ^ea); it would be unveiled at God’s proper time, the time of the end.
12:5  ^eb The river was the Tigris River (10:4  ^ec).

• The two others witnessed to God’s promises (see Num 35:30  ^ed; Deut 19:15  ^ee).
12:7  ^ef time, times, and half a time: God appoints times for all things as he rules the flow of earthly and heavenly events (see study note on 7:24-25).

• The shattering of the holy people was part of God’s purpose to purify them (12:10  ^eg).
Summary for Dan 12:8-10: 12:8-10  ^eh God withheld exactly how and when all this would finally end. Daniel would not see the end (12:13  ^ei); his job was to finish out his life in faith.

• purified, cleansed, and refined: God would use violent and terrifying times to improve the moral and religious character of his people (cp. 11:35  ^ej).

• Being wise includes having insight into God’s ways and walking accordingly. The wicked will not understand or change their wickedness even if the vision is explained to them.
Summary for Dan 12:11-12: 12:11-12  ^ek the sacrilegious object that causes desecration: See 8:13-14  ^el, 23-26  ^em; 11:29-35  ^en. See also study note on 9:27.

• God’s people must wait and remain faithful when the events of the end come.

• 1,290 days ... 1,335 days: Some interpreters see these numbers as relating to specific events in the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Others see them as purely symbolic. The number 1,290 equals 43 lunar months of 30 days each, which is approximately 3½ years in the solar calendar. This might represent the final half of the final “set of seven” (9:27  ^eo). The number 1,335 might represent simply an extra 45 days of waiting until the end. Those who endure the whole time, and then some, will see God act on behalf of his people.
12:13  ^ep Daniel died before the final end, but he knew that he would rise again! Here, the end refers to that time when even the dead rise (12:1-3  ^eq) and the everlasting Kingdom of God Most High is established.