Daniel11

Daniel 11 details a long series of conflicts between the "King of the North" and the "King of the South," representing the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires. It prophesies the rise of a "vile person" (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) who will desecrate the temple and persecute God's people. The chapter concludes with a prophecy of a future king who exalts himself above all gods, leading to a final conflict and his ultimate demise.

The Angel's Confirmation

1
“As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. ​

Persia and the Rise of Greece

2
Now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. ​
3
A mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. ​
4
When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these. ​

The Kings of the South and North

5
The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. ​
6
At the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times. ​
7
But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come to the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail. ​
8
Also their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. ​
9
He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land.
10
His sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress. ​
11
The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come out and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall send out a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. ​
12
The multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. ​
13
The king of the north shall return, and shall send out a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance. ​
14
In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. ​
15
So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. ​
16
But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction. ​
17
He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him. ​
18
After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him. ​
19
Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
20
Then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. ​

The Rise of the Vile Person (Antiochus IV)

21
In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. ​
22
The overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. ​
23
After the treaty made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people.
24
In time of security shall he come even on the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and plunder, and substance: yes, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. ​
25
He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.
26
Yes, they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
27
As for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. ​
28
Then he will return into his land with great substance; and his heart will be against the holy covenant; and he will take action, and return to his own land. ​
29
At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
30
For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall take action: he shall even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. ​

The Abomination of Desolation

31
Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. ​
32
Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and take action. ​
33
Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many days. ​
34
Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries.
35
Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. ​

The King of the End Times

36
The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. ​
37
Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. ​
38
But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers didn’t know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. ​
39
He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.

The Final Campaign

40
At the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. ​
41
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ​
42
He shall stretch out his hand also on the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44
But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. ​
45
He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one shall help him. ​

Study Notes for Daniel 11

Verse 1

This verse links the current vision (begun in Dan. 10) to the previous reign of Darius the Mede, affirming the angel’s role as a divine messenger supporting God’s appointed rulers. The angel provides strength and confirmation for the unfolding prophetic history.

Verse 2

The three kings are generally identified as Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius I. The fourth, 'far richer,' is Xerxes I, who launched a massive, unsuccessful invasion against Greece (c. 480 BC), fulfilling the prophecy to 'stir up all against the realm of Grecia.'

Verse 3

This 'mighty king' is universally understood to be Alexander the Great (336–323 BC), who conquered the Persian Empire rapidly and ruled with absolute authority.

Verse 4

Alexander’s kingdom was broken immediately upon his death, divided among his generals (the Diadochi) rather than inherited by his own lineage, fulfilling the prophecy of division 'toward the four winds of heaven.'

Verse 5

This verse begins the detailed account of the wars between the two most significant successor kingdoms: the King of the South (the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt) and the King of the North (the Seleucid dynasty in Syria and Mesopotamia). The king of the south here is Ptolemy I Soter; the strong prince is Seleucus I Nicator.

Verse 6

This refers to the political marriage (c. 252 BC) of Berenice (Ptolemaic princess, King of the South’s daughter) to Antiochus II (Seleucid King of the North). The alliance failed quickly; Berenice, her child, and her attendants were murdered, leading to the Third Syrian War.

Verse 7

The 'branch of her roots' is Ptolemy III Euergetes, Berenice’s brother, who successfully invaded the Seleucid territory (the fortress of the King of the North) to avenge his sister’s death.

Verse 8

Ptolemy III returned to Egypt with immense booty, including idols and vessels taken from the Seleucid Empire, and outlived Seleucus II Callinicus.

Verse 10

The sons of the King of the North (Seleucus III and Antiochus III 'the Great') assembled massive forces to retaliate against the Ptolemies, leading to the Fourth Syrian War.

Verse 11

This describes the Battle of Raphia (217 BC), where Ptolemy IV Philopator (King of the South) defeated Antiochus III (King of the North), despite the Seleucid army being larger.

Verse 12

Ptolemy IV’s victory led to arrogance and internal weakness in Egypt, preventing him from capitalizing on his success and ultimately setting the stage for Antiochus III's later return.

Verse 13

Antiochus III returned with a greater force (the Fifth Syrian War) 14 years after Raphia, seeking to recover lost territories.

Verse 14

The 'robbers of thy people' are Jewish factions who sided with Antiochus III against the Ptolemies, believing that supporting the Seleucids would fulfill God's vision of national restoration, but they were ultimately disappointed.

Verse 15

Antiochus III’s victory at the Battle of Paneas (200 BC) allowed him to permanently annex Judea (the 'glorious land') from the Ptolemies.

Verse 16

Antiochus III now controlled Judea ('the glorious land'), which suffered from the continuous warfare between the major powers.

Verse 17

Antiochus III attempted to neutralize Egypt by offering his daughter, Cleopatra I, in marriage to Ptolemy V. He intended for her to be a spy, but she sided with her husband, frustrating her father’s plans.

Verse 18

Antiochus III then turned to expansion in the Mediterranean ('the isles'), but his advance was checked by the rising Roman power ('a prince'), specifically Scipio Asiaticus, who defeated Antiochus at Magnesia (190 BC).

Verse 20

This successor is Seleucus IV Philopator, who ruled under the heavy financial burden imposed by the Romans (the 'raiser of taxes'). He was assassinated by his minister Heliodorus, 'neither in anger, nor in battle.'

Verse 21

This verse introduces Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the most notorious historical figure in the prophecy. He gained the throne through trickery and flattery, circumventing the legitimate heir (his nephew Demetrius).

Verse 22

Antiochus IV overcame all opposition. The 'prince of the covenant' likely refers to the legitimate High Priest Onias III, whom Antiochus removed and later had murdered (2 Maccabees 4:33-35).

Verse 24

Antiochus IV was known for his extravagant generosity and lavish gifts, using plunder to buy loyalty—a tactic unseen in previous Seleucid kings.

Verse 27

This describes a peace conference between Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI, where both parties deceitfully negotiated while plotting against the other. The outcome was fixed by God's timetable: 'the end shall be at the time appointed.'

Verse 28

Returning from his first Egyptian campaign (170 BC), Antiochus IV vented his frustration over the inconclusive war by attacking Jerusalem, slaughtering many, and plundering the Temple treasures.

Verse 30

During his second Egyptian campaign (168 BC), Antiochus IV was confronted by the 'ships of Chittim' (Roman envoys led by Gaius Popillius Laenas). Rome demanded his immediate withdrawal, forcing him to retreat in humiliation.

Verse 31

Furious over the Roman humiliation, Antiochus IV unleashed his wrath on Judea. He sent forces to defile the Temple, stop the daily sacrifices, and install a pagan altar (the 'abomination that maketh desolate'), fulfilling the great persecution.

Verse 32

This highlights the contrast: those who abandon the covenant were corrupted, while the loyal Jews (the Maccabees and their followers) resisted and performed 'exploits' of faithfulness and courage.

Verse 33

The faithful teachers suffered martyrdom during the persecution, but their suffering served the greater purpose of instructing and strengthening others during the 'many days' of tribulation.

Verse 35

The suffering and falling of the faithful served a refining purpose ('to try them, and to purge, and to make them white'), continuing until the predetermined 'time of the end' for that specific period of trial.

Verse 36

The prophecy now shifts focus from the historical Antiochus IV to an ultimate, eschatological figure (often identified as the Antichrist). This 'King' will exhibit the same hubris as Antiochus, magnifying himself above all gods, until God’s final judgment arrives.

Verse 37

This king will reject both ancestral religion and any deity honored by others. The phrase 'desire of women' is difficult, possibly referring to marriage (family continuity), the goddess Ishtar, or even the promised Messiah, who is the 'desire' of Israel.

Verse 38

Instead of traditional gods, this king will worship 'the God of forces' (or 'fortresses' / 'might'), suggesting the deification of military power, strength, and conquest.

Verse 40

The 'time of the end' marks the beginning of the final global conflict. The imagery of the King of the North’s massive invasion describes a swift, overwhelming military action against the King of the South.

Verse 41

The Glorious Land (Israel) will be invaded, but certain surrounding nations—Edom, Moab, and Ammon—are prophetically marked as escaping his immediate control, perhaps indicating their geographical position or a specific role in the final events.

Verse 44

News from the east and north (possibly other world powers) interrupts the King’s control over the captured territories, provoking him to launch a final, destructive campaign against many nations.

Verse 45

The King establishes his headquarters in Jerusalem, between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. This act of ultimate defiance precedes his swift and final destruction, marking the end of human tyranny.

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