Daniel 11:40-43

Daniel’s prophecy takes us nearer the time of the end in the prophecies that follow.

Daniel 11:40  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at 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 over.

The time of the end refers to the time of the end of the national existence of Daniel’s people which took place in the dynasty of Herod under consideration.

The king of the south refers to Cleopatra who was the last to occupy the throne of Egypt with the help of her lover, Mark Anthony, who was a Roman. She urged Anthony to get for her the kingdoms of Judea and Arabia. Thus, the king of the south pushed at him, that is, at Herod the king of Judea. Anthony thinking it unjust to kill Herod ended up only seizing parts of Judea for Cleopatra. At the urging of Cleopatra, Anthony launched an attack against Syria, which was a province of Rome. At this time Herod, who was a friend to Anthony, supplied his legions.

In retaliation for the attack against the Roman province of Syria, the Roman senate declared war on Cleopatra, ignoring Anthony. Thus the king of the north, the Roman empire under Octavius Caesar called Augustus, came against him, the kingdom of Egypt under Cleopatra. The Romans came against the Egyptians with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. At this time wars were usually decided by the infantry. But in this case Cleopatra wanted to engage her large navy and Mark Anthony complied. The entire Egyptian navy was defeated at the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Anthony’s army deserted him leaving him only some chariots and cavalry units. Only a few cavalry skirmishes took place after the battle Actium, which sealed the fate of Egypt. The entire battle was waged with only cavalry and navy with no infantry, exactly as this verse states! As a result of Caesar’s victory, all the countries that supported Mark Anthony went over to Caesar. Caesar’s advance was like an overflowing flood passing over and taking with it all in its path. Hence it was written: he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

Daniel 11:41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

In route to Egypt, Caesar entered also into the glorious land, which was the land of Judea (see verse 16). There Herod feasted him and his army, thus switching his loyalty from Anthony to Caesar. On this same expedition Caesar also overthrew regions of upper Africa, upper Cilicia, Paphlogonia, Thrace, Pontus, Galatia, and other provinces form Illyria to Armenia. Thus many countries were overthrown. At this time he sent Aelius Gallus on a campaign to overthrow Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon, lands adjacent to Judea. But this campaign failed and Caesar abandoned it. So it was fulfilled that these shall escape out of his hand.

Caesar stretched forth his hand also upon the countries that were under the control of Mark Anthony including Egypt so that the land of Egypt did not escape.

Daniel 11:43  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.

After the defeat of Egypt at the battle of Actium, Cleopatra devised plans to escape with all her vast treasure that had been accumulated over the reign of the Ptolemies. By means of clever stratagems Caesar managed to forestall Cleopatra’s plans and was able to secure the treasures of gold and of silver, and…all the precious things of Egypt for himself. By invading and occupying the land of Egypt as he did, the Libyans and the Ethiopians were at his steps. Shortly after, they were also conquered by Rome. Thus the last major power competing with Rome fell marking the end of what remained of the Grecian empire that had been divided amongst Alexander’s generals. Rome had now become the next world empire. Octavius Caesar returned to Rome in triumph and assumed the title of Augustus (the exalted). He was the Caesar spoken of in LUK 2:1: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus….”

Daniel 11:37-39

Today we look a little further into the sordid history of this man who was called “Herod the Great.”

Daniel 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

Herod was an Idumean by birth. The Idumeans were conquered by John Hyrcanus in 125 B.C. and compelled to be circumcised thus becoming Jews. Hence it was that Herod was considered a Jew and thus the fathers of the Jews would have been considered his fathers. Also, the Idumeans descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham so that he shared these same fathers as the Jews. Therefore, in introducing the worship of Caesar he did not regard the God of his fathers. Neither did he regard the desire of women when he had the young children slain in Bethlehem leaving their mothers to grieve the loss (Matthew 2:16-18). Herod had those young children slain in an attempt to kill Israel’s Messiah, and what woman in Israel would not have desired to be the mother of the Messiah? Hence, he had no regard for the desire of women. He even had three of his own sons murdered when he thought they were a threat to his power. Neither did he regard any god, but sought only to magnify himself above all. To promote his own political ambitions he first aligned with Julius Caesar, then switched to Anthony, and then to Anthony’s conqueror Octavius Caesar. Any god he paid tribute to was really not out of regard for that god, but rather out of regard for his own political ambitions. Perhaps he is called Herod “the Great” because he was such a great politician. Would to God we had statesmen, men of principle, rather than politicians, men of ambition, in office!

Daniel 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

In his estate, that is in his position as king, Herod honoured the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not. This was a new and strange god introduced into Israel. This God of forces refers to the Caesars, who claimed divine worship for themselves. The Caesars extended their power by military forces and the erection of fortifications throughout their empire. Hence, they were honoured as the God of forces. Herod honoured the Caesars with lavish gifts such as gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things, as the verse lists.

Herod honoured this strange god, the Caesars, in the most strong holds and built temples and cities to acknowledge and increase them with glory. When he rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem he built a stronghold on the north side and named it the Tower of Antonius after Mark Anthony, his friend and then ruler of Rome. When he rebuilt Samaria and fortified it for himself, he named it Sebaste from Sebastos or Augustus. Josephus recounts:

“To say all at once, there was not any place of his kingdom fit for the purpose, that was permitted to be without somewhat that was for Caesar’s honour; and when he had filled his own country with temples, he poured out the like plentiful marks of his esteem into his province, and built many cities which he called Caesareas.”

He even went so far as to place a huge, golden eagle, the emblem of Rome, over the gate of the temple. Thus he caused the strong holds to rule over many in that he promoted the rule of Rome from the strong holds, the most strong hold being the magnificent temple he built in Jerusalem. And in order to secure his power he parceled out portions to persons favourable to himself. Josephus reports: “Moreover he parted the adjoining country, which was excellent in kind, among the inhabitants of Samaria, that they might be in a happy condition, upon their first coming to inhabit.” Thus he divided the land for gain.