Daniel 11:32-33

As we continue making our way through the prophecy of Daniel 11, we are considering the reign of the infamous Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of Syria, or as our passage calls him, the king of the north. In our last installment we encountered Antiochus taking revenge on the Jews and corrupting the temple. Our next verse, verse 32, sets forth two classes of Jews at this time.

Daniel 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

There were those aligned with Antiochus who were corrupted by his flatteries. For example, 1Maccabees 2:18 records that the officers of Antiochus tried to seduce the faithful Jew Mattathias by promising that if he would fulfill the king’s commandment “like as all the heathen,” he would be “in the number of the king’s friends,” and he and his children would “be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.” Those who were corrupted by such flatteries were such as did wickedly against the covenant, that is, they broke the law of Moses.

Then there were those that knew their God who were strong, and did exploits. A particular family of these faithful Jews was the family of Mattathias, a priest who dwelt in Modin. He had five sons named John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan. They refused to bend to Antiochus’ commandments and mounted a resistance against him and his forces. This family came to be known as the Asmoneans, named so after Mattathias’ great grandfather, Asamoneus (according to Josephus). This family ruled Israel as governors and priests for 130 years, from 167 B.C. to 37 B.C., when Herod came to power. Mattathias’ son Judas was especially courageous against Antiochus and his forces and came to be called Judas Maccabeus, which means Judas the Hammer of God. Hence, the books that recount the exploits of this family are called The Maccabees.

The next verse tells us more about the Maccabees.

Daniel 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

Those that had understanding among the people did instruct many. Examples of such were Mattathias and his sons, who were faithful priests, and, therefore, instructors of the people. Another example was Eleazar, a faithful scribe, who when compelled to eat pork spit it out of his mouth choosing death rather than to break the law of his God. Eleazar’s death set “an example of noble courage” to the young and to all his nation thereby instructing many.

2 Maccabees 6:31  And thus this man (Eleazar) died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.

Yet they, who understood and instructed many, fell by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Judas Maccabeus and many of his army fell in battle.

1 Maccabees 9:17  Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.

18  Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

19  Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

In another battle Jonathan, the brother of Judas Maccabeus, and a thousand men with him were slain by the sword.

1 Maccabees 12:47  And with himself (Jonathan) he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

48  Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew with the sword.

Antiochus’ chief collector of tribute was sent against Jerusalem with a great multitude and “destroyed much people of Israel.” The next citation records this event and shows how the people of Israel fell by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, exactly as Daniel 11:33 predicted.

1 Maccabees 1:29  And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

30  And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.

31  And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

32  But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

2 Maccabees 7 records the valiant death of a woman and her seven sons who were tormented to death rather than submit to the king’s commandment to defy the law of God. The chapter recounts that two of the sons were fried in frying pans thus falling by flame.

As you can see from these examples, this persecution of the people that knew their God lasted many days, as Daniel prophesied. Thank God that throughout the history of this world He has not left Himself without a witness of faithful souls for whom His truth is more dear than life itself.