Dan 11:29-45 | 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 ).

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).
Summary for Dan 11:36-40: 11:36-40 ^m Some interpreters see these verses as a transition from the earthly Antiochus IV to a character larger than history (7:8 ⁿ). 11:36 ^o 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 ^p; 1 Maccabees 4:52-53; 6:16; 2 Maccabees 9:4, 28; 10:5).
Summary for Dan 11:37-38: 11:37-38 ^q 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 ^r Most commentators believe these verses describe the time of the end of history (cp. Mark 13:14 ^s; 2 Thes 2:3-12 ^t; Rev 19:19-21 ^u). 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 ^v No known king of the south or king of the north did these things.
11:41 ^w the glorious land of Israel: Israel (cp. 8:9 ^x; 11:16 ^y) is again the center of attack by an evil king.

• Moab, Edom, and Ammon were nations surrounding ancient Israel and Judah.
11:45 ^z 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.