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.

Daniel 11:36

After the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar took control of the land of Judea, the Jews were never again an independent state until 1948 A.D. In Daniel 11 we have traced their history under the domination of Medo-Persia, then Greece, and now we move ahead to the time of the Roman empire when Rome dominated the land of Judea.

Daniel 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

The king in this verse refers to the dynasty of Herod under Rome. Recall that this vision pertains to the history of Daniel’s people in the latter days (Daniel 10:14). All the things in this vision of Daniel 11 were “finished” when “the power of the holy people” was scattered, which happened with the final overthrow of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Daniel 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Therefore, those latter days ended with the destruction of Jerusalem. So the vision of Daniel 11 takes us from the rule of the Persians and then the Grecians over Israel through to the rule of the Romans, who finally destroyed their nation. The dynasty of Herod prospered in Palestine till the indignation was accomplished. This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, which was that that is determined that would be done. The following prophecy of Daniel specifically refers to the destruction of Jerusalem as something determined to be accomplished.

Daniel 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Herod the Great, who ruled Judea from 37 B.C. to 4 A.D. is the particular king referred to in Daniel 11:36, which we consider today. Herod is the only earthly monarch the writers of the gospels call the king.

Luke 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Herod the Great did according to his will. Commenting on this Philip Mauro wrote:

“This is what distinguished Herod the Great in a remarkable degree. For history records nothing of his nature was more notable than Herod’s success in rising up from a lowly origin to the rank and authority of king, in securing for himself despotic power and retaining it through all the political changes of the times, and in the way he used power for the accomplishment of all his designs, however stupendous in magnitude (as the rebuilding of the temple) or atrocious in character (as condemning to death his own wife and children). For Herod contrived to secure the favor and confidence, first of Julius Caesar, then of Mark Antony, and then of Octavius Caesar, though he assisted Antony and Cleopatra against him. All things considered, there is nothing more wonderful in the career of Herod than his extraordinary success in doing ‘according to his will.’ ¶But, taking the expression in the other sense, we may say that it would be difficult to find in history one who so ruthlessly executed the designs of his own tyrannical and cruel heart, even upon those of his own flesh and blood, as Herod the king. His murder of his best-loved wife, the beautiful Mariamne, who was a princess of the Asmonean family, is, in its special circumstances, without parallel in history. He put to death also three of his own sons (two of them by his favorite wife) because he suspected them of aspiring to his throne; and similar deeds of willfulness characterized his entire reign. Josephus gives many examples of this (Antiquities of the Jews XII 9, 4).”

In Moses’ law, God-appointed rulers in Israel were called gods in that they partook of divinely appointed authority.

Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Now Herod exalted and magnified himself above every god or authority in Israel, even taking upon himself to appoint the office of the high priest. He spake marvellous things against the God of gods when he promoted in Israel the worship of Caesar. He also spake marvellous things against the God of gods when he issued the decree to have all the young children in Bethlehem two years old and under slain in an attempt to kill the child Jesus, Who is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 2:16-18).

Daniel 11:34-35

We continue tracing Daniel’s prophecy of those Jews who knew their God, were strong, and did exploits. This is what I wrote about these Jews in the last installment: “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).”

Daniel 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

When the Asmoneans or Maccabees fell, they were holpen with a little help. For example, when Mattathias the priest died, his son Judas “rose up in his stead” and mounted a successful campaign against the army of Syria “with a small company.” That is, they were holpen with a little help. Here is the account from the book of Maccabees showing the fulfillment of this prophecy.

1 Maccabees 3:1  Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead.

1 Maccabees 3:13  Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to go out with him to war;

14  He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king's commandment.

15  So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel.

16  And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company:

17  Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day?

18  Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company:

19  For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.

20  They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us:

21  But we fight for our lives and our laws.

22  Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them.

23  Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before him.

However, Daniel prophesied that many clave to them with flatteries. We find a fulfillment of this prophecy also recorded in the book of the Maccabees. Two men by the name of Joseph and Azarias, captains of garrisons, upon hearing of the valiant acts of Judas Maccabeus decided to fight against the heathen as did he. But their motive was to get themselves a name.

1 Maccabees 5:55  Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

56  Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.

57  Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.

After one battle Judas and his companions came to bury their slain kinsmen and discovered in their coats “things consecrated to the idols.”

2 Maccabees 12:39  And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers' graves.

40  Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.

And so we see that all that clave to Judas were not sincere, but were pretending allegiance to his cause. That is, they clave to them with flatteries.

Daniel goes on to predict what happened to some of the noble souls that knew their God and did exploits.

Daniel 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Some of the people that knew their God and had understanding fell in battle and into captivity. Eleazar, was crushed by an elephant in battle (1Maccabees 6:46). Judas was killed in battle (1Maccabees 9:18). John, a captain of the Jews, was taken captive (1Maccabees 9:36). Tryphon, who attempted to seize the crown of Syria for himself, deceived Jonathan into accepting a truce promising him the stronghold of Ptolemais. But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the gates were shut about him and he was taken captive and killed (1Maccabees 12:42-48). Now all this was to try them, and to purge, and to make them white. God allows tribulation, even martyrdom, to come upon His faithful people to make them white, that is, to make them better because the best of men have that about them that requires purging and cleansing (2Timothy 2:20-21; John 15:2; James 1:2-3; 1Peter 1:7; 4:12; Revelation 2:10).

The rule of the noble family of the Maccabees extended to 37 B.C., the time of King Herod. The last Asmonean high priest was Aristobulus III, whom Herod elevated to high priest at a very young age only then to have him drowned while bathing in a pool in Jericho in 36 B.C. The Dynasty of Herod continued from that point to the destruction of Jerusalem. Hence, the dynasty of Herod brings us to the last stage of Jewish history that Daniel prophesied of, that is, the time of the end. There was yet a time appointed for these events prophesied by Daniel to transpire.

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.