Dan 11:29-35 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Dan 11:29-35: 11:29-35 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 , 23-26 ), 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 ; Matt 24:15 ).

a11:29-35►

bDan 8:9-14►

c23-26►

dDan 9:27►

eMatt 24:15►

f11:31►

g11:32-35►

h7:19►

i11:34►

j8:11-14►

k26►

lJohn 10:22►

‏ Daniel 11:29-35

Summary for Dan 11:29-35: 11:29-35 ^a 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 ^b, 23-26 ^c), 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 ^d; Matt 24:15 ^e).
11:31 ^f the sacrilegious object that causes desecration: See study note on 9:27.
Summary for Dan 11:32-35: 11:32-35 ^g 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 ^h; 2 Maccabees 6–7).
11:34 ⁱ 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 ^j, 26 ^k; 1 Maccabees 1:59). This event is commemorated at Hanukkah (see John 10:22 ^l).