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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Daniel 11:5–20. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here are foretold,
I.The rise and power of two great kingdoms out of the remains of Alexander's conquests, Dan 11:5.
1.The kingdom of Egypt, which was made considerable by Ptolemaeus Lagus, one of Alexander's captains, whose successors were, from him, called the Lagidae. He is called the king of the south, that is, Egypt, named here, Dan 11:8, Dan 11:42, Dan 11:43. The countries that at first belonged to Ptolemy are reckoned to be Egypt, Phoenicia, Arabia, Libya, Ethiopia, etc. Theocr. Idyl. 17.
2.The kingdom of Syria, which was set up by Seleucus Nicanor, or the conqueror; he was one of Alexander's princes, and became stronger than the other, and had the greatest dominion of all, was the most powerful of all Alexander's successors. It was said that he had no fewer than seventy-two kingdoms under him. Both these were strong against Judah (the affairs of which are particularly eyed in this prediction); Ptolemy, soon after he gained Egypt, invaded Judea, and took Jerusalem on a sabbath, pretending a friendly visit. Seleucus also gave disturbance to Judea.
II.The fruitless attempt to unite these two kingdoms as iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar's image (Dan 11:6):
"At the end of certain years, about seventy after Alexander's death, the Lagidae and the Seleucidae shall associate, but not in sincerity. Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, shall marry his daughter Berenice to Antiochus Theos, king of Syria," who had already a wife called Laodice. "Berenice shall come to the king of the north, to make an agreement, but it shall not hold: She shall not retain the power of the arm; neither she nor her posterity shall establish themselves in the kingdom of the north, neither shall Ptolemy her father, nor Antiochus her husband (between whom there was to be a great alliance), stand, nor their arm, but she shall be given up and those that brought her," all that projected that unhappy marriage between her and Antiochus, which occasioned so much mischief, instead of producing a coalition between the northern and southern crowns, as was hoped. Antiochus divorced Berenice, took his former wife Laodice again, who soon after poisoned him, procured Berenice and her son to be murdered, and set up her own son by Antiochus to be king, who was called Seleucus Callinicus.
III.A war between the two kingdoms, Dan 11:7, Dan 11:8.
A branch from the same root with Berenice shall stand up in his estate. Ptolemaeus Euergetes, the son and successor of Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, shall come with an army against Seleucus Callinicus, king of Syria, to avenge his sister's quarrel, and shall prevail; and he shall carry away a rich booty both of persons and goods into Egypt, and shall continue more years than the king of the north. This Ptolemy reigned forty-six years; and Justin says that if his own affairs had not called him home he would, in this war, have made himself master of the whole kingdom of Syria. But (Dan 11:9) he shall be forced to come into his kingdom and return into his own land, to keep peace there, so that he can no longer carry on the war abroad. Note, It is very common for a treacherous peace to end in a bloody war.
IV.The long and busy reign of Antiochus the Great, king of Syria.
Seleucus Callinicus, that king of the north that was overcome (Dan 11:7) and died miserably, left two sons, Seleucus and Antiochus; these are his sons, the sons of the king of the north, that shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, to recover what their father had lost, Dan 11:10. But Seleucus the elder, being weak, and unable to rule his army, was poisoned by his friends, and reigned only two years; and his brother Antiochus succeeded him, who reigned thirty-seven years, and was called the Great. And therefore the angel, though he speaks of sons at first, goes on with the account of one only, who was but fifteen years old when he began to reign, and he shall certainly come, and overflow, and over-run, and shall be restored at length to what his father lost.
1.The king of the south, in this war, shall at first have very great success. Ptolemaeus Philopater, moved with indignation at the indignities done by Antiochus the Great, shall (though otherwise a slothful prince) come forth, and fight with him, and shall bring a vast army into the field of 70,000 foot, and 5000 horse, and seventy-three elephants. And the other multitude (the army of Antiochus, consisting of 62,000 foot, and 6000 horse, and 102 elephants) shall be given into his hand. Polybius, who lived with Scipio, has given a particular account of this battle of Raphia. Ptolemaeus Philopater, having gained this victory, grew very insolent; his heart was lifted up; then he went into the temple of God at Jerusalem, and, in defiance of the law, entered the most holy place, for which God has a controversy with him, so that, though he shall cast down many myriads, yet he shall not be strengthened by it, so as to secure his interest. For,
2.The king of the north, Antiochus the Great, shall return with a greater army than the former; and, at the end of times (that is, years) he shall come with a mighty army, and great riches, against the king of the south, that is, Ptolemaeus Epiphanes, who succeeded Ptolemaeus Philopater his father, when he was a child, which gave advantage to Antiochus the Great. In this expedition he had some powerful allies (Dan 11:14): Many shall stand up against the king of the south. Philip of Macedon was confederate with Antiochus against the king of Egypt, and Scopas his general, whom he sent into Syria; Antiochus routed him, destroyed a great part of his army; whereupon the Jews willingly yielded to Antiochus, joined with him, helped him to besiege Ptolemaeus's garrisons. They the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, to help forward the accomplishment of this prophecy; but they shall fall, and shall come to nothing, Dan 11:14. Hereupon (Dan 11:15) the king of the north, this same Antiochus Magnus, shall carry on his design against the king of the south another way.
(1.)He shall surprise his strong-holds; all that he has got in Syria and Samaria, and the arms of the south, all the power of the king of Egypt, shall not be able to withstand him. See how dubious and variable the turns of the scale of war are; like buying and selling, it is winning and losing; sometimes one side gets the better and sometimes the other; yet neither by chance; it is not, as they call it, the fortune of war, but according to the will and counsel of God, who brings some low and raises others up.
(2.)He shall make himself master of the land of Judea (Dan 11:16): He that comes against him (that is, the king of the north) shall carry all before him and do what he pleases, and he shall stand and get footing in the glorious land; so the land of Israel was, and by his hand it was wasted and consumed, for with the spoil of that good land he victualled his vast army. The land of Judea lay between these two potent kingdoms of Egypt and Syria, so that in all the struggles between them that was sure to suffer, for to it they both bore ill will. Yet some read this, By his hand it shall be perfected; as if it intimated that the land of Judea, being taken under the protection of this Antiochus, shall flourish, and be in better condition than it had been.
(3.)He shall still push on his war against the king of Egypt, and set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, taking advantage of the infancy of Ptolemy Epiphanes, and the upright ones, many of the pious Israelites, siding with him, Dan 11:17. In prosecution of his design, he shall give him his daughter Cleopatra to wife, designing, as Saul in giving his daughter Cleopatra to David, that she should be a snare to him, and do him a mischief; but she shall not stand on her father's side, nor be for him, but for her husband, and so that plot failed him.
(4.)His war with the Romans is here foretold (Dan 11:18): He shall turn his face to the isles (Dan 11:18), the isles of the Gentiles (Gen 10:5), Greece and Italy. He took many of the isles about the Hellespont-Rhodes, Samos, Delos, etc., which by war or treaty he made himself master of; but a prince, or state (so some), even the Roman senate, or a leader, even the Roman general, shall return his reproach with which he abused the Romans upon himself, or shall make his shame rest on himself, and without his own shame, or any disgrace to himself, shall pay him again. This was fulfilled when the two Scipios were sent with an army against Antiochus. Hannibal was then with him, and advised him to invade Italy and waste it as he had done; but he did not take hid advice; and Scipio joined battle with him, and gave him a total defeat, though Antiochus had 70,000 men and the Romans but 30,000. Thus he caused the reproach offered by him to cease.
(5.)His fall. When he was totally routed by the Romans, and was forced to abandon to them all he had in Europe, and had a very heavy tribute exacted from him, he turned to his own land, and, not knowing which way to raise money to pay his tribute, he plundered a temple of Jupiter, which so incensed his own subjects against him that they set upon him, and killed him; so he was overthrown, and fell, and was no more found, Dan 11:19.
(6.)His next successor, Dan 11:20. There rose up one in his place, a raiser of taxes, a sender forth of the extortioner, or extorter. This character was remarkably answered in Seleucus Philopater, the elder son of Antiochus the Great, who was a great oppressor of his own subjects, and exacted abundance of money from them; and, when he was told he would thereby lose his friends, he said he knew no better friend he had then money. He likewise attempted to rob the temple at Jerusalem, which this seems especially to refer to. But within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle, but poisoned by Heliodorus, one of his own servants, when he had reigned but twelve years, and done nothing remarkable.
V.From all this let us learn,
1.That God in his providence sets up one, and pulls down another, as he pleases, advances some from low beginnings and depresses others that were very high. Some have called great men the foot-balls of fortune; or, rather, they are the tools of Providence.
2.This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts, and make it a theatre of sin and misery.
3.All the changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, even the most minute and contingent, were plainly and perfectly foreseen by the God of heaven, and to him nothing is new.
4.No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shall infallibly come to pass; and even the sins of men shall be made to serve his purpose, and contribute to the b ringing of his counsels to birth in their season; and yet God is not the author of sin.
5.That, for the right understanding of some parts of scripture, it is necessary that heathen authors be consulted, which give light to the scripture, and show the accomplishment of what is there foretold; we have therefore reason to bless God for the human learning with which many have done great service to divine truths.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
Verse 20. "And there shall stand up in his place one most vile and unworthy of kingly honor, and in a few days he shall be destroyed, not in rage nor in a battle." The reference is to the Seleucus surnamed Philopator, the son of Antiochus the Great, who during his reign performed no deeds worthy of Syria or of his father, but perished ingloriously without fighting a single battle. Porphyry, however, claims that it was not this Seleucus who is referred to, but rather Ptolemy Epiphanes, who contrived a plot against Seleucus and prepared an army to fight against him, with the result that Seleucus was poisoned by his own generals. They did this because when someone asked Seleucus where he was going to get the financial resources for the great enterprises he was planning, he answered that his financial resources consisted in his friends. When this remark was publicly noised abroad, the generals became apprehensive that he would deprive them of their property and for that reason did him to death by nefarious means. Yet how could Ptolemy be said to rise up in the place of Antiochus the Great, since he did nothing of the sort? This is especially improbable since the Septuagint translated: "And there shall stand up a plant from his root," that is, "of his issue and seed," who should deal a severe blow to the prestige of the empire; "and within a few days he shall be destroyed without wrath or battle." The Hebrews claim that it is Trypho who was intended by the man who was most vile and unworthy of kingly honor, for as the boy-king's guardian he seized the throne for himself.
He was in fact not glorious, seeming instead to be an insignificant figure, because he was kept under guard in Rome. “And he will return, and he will gain mastery over a kingdom by his cunning.” But, nonetheless, especially since he had been brought down to nothing, he will come with great advantage and a very large army, and he will overpower the kingdom with deceit as its helper, and he will use gross deceit all the more. The blessed Daniel saw this fact also in the second vision, and he heard holy Gabriel saying, “Guile is in his hand, and he will become arrogant in his heart. He will destroy many, and he will prevail as many are destroyed.” Thus, he says here words to the same effect: “He will gain mastery over a kingdom by his cunning.”
He is talking about Antiochus Epiphanes, who on his return from Rome succeeded his brother Seleucus. Seleucus (called Philopator) succeeded Antiochus the Great, since he was his son. When Seleucus died, Antiochus Epiphanes received the throne. He says about the latter, “From his root kingship will sprout, and he will put aside his readiness.” That is to say, he will imitate his father’s power and will be adequate to lay hold of the kingdom readied by his father.
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Summary
Daniel 11:20 presents a precise prophetic glimpse into the reign of a king who would succeed Antiochus III, characterized primarily by his role as a "raiser of taxes" and an ignominious end. This verse, widely understood to refer to Seleucus IV Philopator, details his brief, financially driven rule and his unexpected demise, underscoring God's meticulous sovereignty over the rise and fall of earthly powers and the intricate unfolding of historical events according to His divine plan.
Context
Literary Context
Daniel 11 unfolds as a highly detailed prophetic vision, often referred to as the "Apocalypse of History," which meticulously outlines the conflicts and successions among the Hellenistic empires, particularly the Ptolemaic (King of the South) and Seleucid (King of the North) dynasties. Verse 20 immediately follows the description of Antiochus III the Great (the "king of the North" in Daniel 11:18-19), whose military ambitions ultimately led to his defeat by the Romans and the imposition of a massive war indemnity. This verse, therefore, introduces his direct successor, whose primary challenge would be managing the financial burden inherited from his father's reign, setting the stage for the dramatic and oppressive reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, described in subsequent verses.
Historical & Cultural Context
Scholars overwhelmingly identify the king in Daniel 11:20 as Seleucus IV Philopator, who reigned over the Seleucid Empire from 187 to 175 BC. His father, Antiochus III, had suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Magnesia (190 BC) against the Roman Republic, resulting in the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC). This treaty imposed a staggering indemnity of 15,000 talents of silver, payable over 12 years, and severe restrictions on the Seleucid military. Consequently, Seleucus IV's reign was dominated by the urgent need to raise this immense tribute. This financial burden led him to implement aggressive taxation policies throughout his empire, including the plundering of temple treasuries, a practice that would become even more pronounced under his successor. His death, by assassination at the hands of his chief minister Heliodorus, was indeed "neither in anger, nor in battle," reflecting the treacherous political climate of the Hellenistic courts.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Daniel. Foremost is the theme of Divine Sovereignty, demonstrating God's absolute control over human history, including the precise details of imperial successions and the fates of individual rulers. This echoes the broader message of Daniel 2:21 and Daniel 4:17, where God is declared the one who "removes kings and sets up kings." Another key theme is the Fleeting Nature of Earthly Power and Glory. Despite inheriting a "glory of the kingdom," Seleucus IV's reign was relatively short and ended ignominiously, highlighting the transience and ultimate vulnerability of worldly authority when compared to God's eternal dominion. The focus on "raising taxes" also subtly introduces the theme of Oppression and Exploitation, foreshadowing the greater tyranny to come under Antiochus IV, and implicitly contrasting such earthly rule with the just and righteous reign of God's Messiah.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
The KJV phrase "a raiser of taxes" translates a Hebrew idiom. The primary root H5065 (nâgas) means "to drive," "to exact," "to oppress," or "to tax." It conveys the idea of a taskmaster or an exactor of tribute, highlighting the oppressive nature of his financial policies. H5674 (ʻâbar) means "to cross over" or "to pass over," and in this context, it contributes to the idiom of causing tribute to "pass over" into the royal treasury. Together, they paint a vivid picture of a ruler whose primary, and perhaps most defining, activity was the forceful collection of revenue, often through burdensome means.
Derived from a root meaning "to honor," heder signifies honor, splendor, or majesty. Here, it refers to the inherited prestige and magnificence of the Seleucid kingdom, which, despite its recent military setbacks and financial strain, still retained a reputation for power and grandeur. The phrase "in the glory of the kingdom" suggests that this king would ascend to a position of existing splendor, even if his own actions would be less glorious.
This verb means "to burst," "to break," "to shatter," or "to crush." It implies a decisive and often violent end, not merely a natural death or a defeat in battle. The use of shâbar perfectly captures the sudden, unexpected, and violent assassination of Seleucus IV, who was indeed "broken" or "shattered" by treachery rather than by open warfare or a public uprising.
Verse Breakdown
"Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes"
This clause introduces the successor to Antiochus III, emphasizing his ascension to the throne ("stand up in his estate"). The defining characteristic of his reign is immediately highlighted: he will be "a raiser of taxes," indicating that his rule will be largely preoccupied with financial exaction and tribute collection, a direct consequence of the heavy Roman indemnity imposed on his predecessor.
"[in] the glory of the kingdom"
Despite his primary focus on taxation, this king inherits a kingdom that still possesses considerable "glory" or splendor. This suggests that he ascends to a position of established power and prestige, even if his own reign will be marked more by fiscal administration than by military conquest or grand achievements.
"but within few days he shall be destroyed"
This segment prophesies the brevity and abrupt end of his reign. The phrase "within few days" (literally "in one day" or "in few days") denotes a short duration, and the passive verb "shall be destroyed" indicates a violent and decisive demise, not a natural death or a gradual decline.
"neither in anger, nor in battle."
This final phrase specifies the unusual circumstances of his destruction. He will not fall due to a popular revolt driven by public "anger" or wrath, nor will he perish in the heat of a military "battle." This points to a more insidious end, such as an assassination or a conspiracy, which accurately reflects the historical account of Seleucus IV's death by his own minister.
Literary Devices
Daniel 11:20 employs several potent literary devices. Prophetic Foreshadowing is the overarching device, as the verse precisely predicts the character and demise of Seleucus IV Philopator centuries before his birth. The description of him as "a raiser of taxes" serves as a form of Metonymy, where a defining characteristic (his fiscal policy) stands in for the entire person and his reign. There is also a subtle Irony in the phrase "in the glory of the kingdom," as the king who inherits such splendor is primarily remembered for his ignominious role as a tax collector and his inglorious end, rather than for military victories or grand achievements. The specific negation "neither in anger, nor in battle" serves as a form of Negative Definition, precisely delineating the manner of his death by excluding common causes, thereby heightening the mystery and pointing to a unique form of demise.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly reinforces the biblical theme of God's meticulous sovereignty over all human affairs, even the seemingly mundane or ignoble details of pagan kings' reigns. It demonstrates that history is not a random sequence of events but an unfolding of God's predetermined plan, where every ruler, every policy, and every downfall serves His ultimate purposes. The brevity and ignominious end of this "raiser of taxes" highlight the transient nature of earthly power and the futility of placing ultimate trust in human systems or material wealth. God orchestrates the rise and fall of nations to prepare the way for His eternal kingdom, which will never be destroyed.
Reflection and Application
Daniel 11:20 offers a powerful lens through which to view contemporary events and our own lives. It reminds us that behind the headlines of political shifts, economic policies, and the rise and fall of leaders, there is a sovereign God meticulously working out His divine purposes. For believers, this should cultivate a deep sense of trust and peace, knowing that God is ultimately in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic or oppressive. It also challenges us to evaluate our own pursuits: are we, like the king described, primarily focused on accumulating earthly "glory" or resources, which are fleeting and subject to sudden destruction? Or are we investing in the eternal, seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness, knowing that true security and lasting glory are found only in Him? This passage calls us to look beyond the temporal and anchor our hope in the unshakeable kingdom of God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who is the "raiser of taxes" mentioned in Daniel 11:20?
Scholars widely agree that the "raiser of taxes" in Daniel 11:20 refers to Seleucus IV Philopator, the son and successor of Antiochus III the Great. He ruled the Seleucid Empire from 187 BC to 175 BC. His reign was largely defined by the immense financial burden inherited from his father's defeat by the Romans, which necessitated aggressive taxation and tribute collection to pay off the war indemnity.
What does "in the glory of the kingdom" mean in this context?
The phrase "in the glory of the kingdom" indicates that Seleucus IV ascended to a position of significant power and prestige, inheriting a vast and renowned empire. Despite the financial strain and recent military setbacks, the Seleucid kingdom still possessed considerable "glory" or splendor in the eyes of the world. His reign, though focused on taxation, was not one that began in obscurity but from a position of established imperial might.
How was the king "destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle"?
This phrase accurately describes the historical circumstances of Seleucus IV's death. He was not overthrown by a popular uprising ("in anger") nor did he die in military conflict ("in battle"). Instead, he was assassinated in 175 BC by his chief minister, Heliodorus. This specific detail in the prophecy highlights the treacherous political climate of the Hellenistic period and the unexpected, non-conventional nature of his demise. The precision of this prophecy further underscores the divine authorship of Daniel's visions, as seen in the detailed historical accuracy of Daniel 11.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Daniel 11:20, like all of Scripture, ultimately points to the Lord Jesus Christ, though not in a direct typological sense. The transient reign of the "raiser of taxes" and his ignominious end serve as a stark contrast to the eternal, unshakable kingdom of God established by Christ. While earthly kings, like Seleucus IV, are consumed by the fleeting concerns of taxation and power, Christ's mission was to establish a spiritual kingdom founded on righteousness and peace, not on earthly wealth or military might. The detailed prophecy of this king's rise and fall powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all human history, demonstrating that every earthly ruler, every empire, and every event is meticulously orchestrated to prepare the way for the coming of the ultimate King. Christ is the true and eternal King, whose kingdom "shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44) and whose reign will not end in treachery or battle, but in glorious triumph over sin and death, as foretold in passages like Revelation 11:15. The failure and fleeting nature of earthly power, exemplified by the "raiser of taxes," magnify the enduring, perfect, and redemptive reign of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).