Dan 11:1-35 | TNotes | STEP | 11:1 Darius the Mede: See study note on 5:31; the first year was probably 539 BC .

11:1 ^a 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 ^b 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 ^c), and the final resurrection and triumph of God’s people. 11:2 ^d 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 ^e 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 ^f 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 ^g; 8:8-12 ^h and corresponding study notes). God orchestrates history, and its end belongs to him.
Summary for Dan 11:5-45: 11:5-45 ⁱ 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 ^j, 35 ^k, 40 ^l, 45 ^m; 12:1 ⁿ, 7 ^o). These events are described historically in 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees and by Herodotus, Livy, Polybius, Porphyry, and Josephus. 11:5 ^p 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 ^q 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 ^r 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 ^s 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 ^t 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 ^u 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 ^v 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 ^w 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 ^x 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 ^y).
11:17 ^z 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 ^aa 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 ^ab Antiochus III thereafter remained within his own fortresses, where he was assassinated in 187 BC.
11:20 ^ac 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 ^ad The next to come to power was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 BC). He is also the “small horn” of Dan 8:9-14 ^ae, 23-26 ^af. 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 ^ag 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 ^ah 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 ^ai 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 ^aj 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 ^ak 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 ^al; 8:9 ^am).
Summary for Dan 11:29-35: 11:29-35 ^an 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 ^ao, 23-26 ^ap), 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 ^aq; Matt 24:15 ^ar).
11:31 ^as the sacrilegious object that causes desecration: See study note on 9:27.
Summary for Dan 11:32-35: 11:32-35 ^at 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 ^au; 2 Maccabees 6–7).
11:34 ^av 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 ^aw, 26 ^ax; 1 Maccabees 1:59). This event is commemorated at Hanukkah (see John 10:22 ^ay).