Dan 11:11-35 | TNotes

Summary for Dan 11:12-13: 11:12-13 ^a 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 ^b 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 ^c 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 ^d 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 ^e).
11:17 ^f 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 ^g 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 ^h Antiochus III thereafter remained within his own fortresses, where he was assassinated in 187 BC.
11:20 ⁱ 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 ^j The next to come to power was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 BC). He is also the “small horn” of Dan 8:9-14 ^k, 23-26 ^l. 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 ^m 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 ⁿ 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 ^o 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 ^p 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 ^q 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 ^r; 8:9 ^s).
Summary for Dan 11:29-35: 11:29-35 ^t 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 ^u, 23-26 ^v), 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 ^w; Matt 24:15 ^x).
11:31 ^y the sacrilegious object that causes desecration: See study note on 9:27.
Summary for Dan 11:32-35: 11:32-35 ^z 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 ^aa; 2 Maccabees 6–7).
11:34 ^ab 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 ^ac, 26 ^ad; 1 Maccabees 1:59). This event is commemorated at Hanukkah (see John 10:22 ^ae).