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.

Daniel 11:25-31

We continue following the war between the king of Egypt, Ptolemy Philometer, and the king of Syria, the infamous Antiochus Ephiphanes.

Daniel 11:25  And 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 be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

26  Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

Antiochus stirred up his power and courage against Ptolemy, the king of the south, with a great army. 1Maccabees 1:17 says Antiochus “entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy.” Hearing of Antiochus’ preparations to enter Egypt, Ptolemy was stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army. But Ptolemy was not able to stand (but he shall not stand) because he was betrayed by his own counsellors who forecast devices against him. Verse 26 further expounds the betrayal of Ptolemy’s counsellors who fed of the portion of his meat. They were bribed by Antiochus and, therefore, betrayed Ptolemy to destruction. The army of Antiochus was like an overflowing water that carries away everything before it. Many of Ptolemy’s army fell down slain. Antiochus thus seized control of all of Egypt with the exception of Alexandria.

Daniel 11:27  And both these kings' 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.

Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolemy Philometer then drew up a treaty of peace at one table. But neither was sincere. In their hearts they plotted to do mischief to one another. Antiochus pretended to want to protect Ptolemy from his brother Euergetes, who had been declared king of Alexandria. Ptolemy pretended to be satisfied with Antiochus’ protection when he really intended to form an alliance with his brother to overthrow Antiochus. The treaty, of course, did not prosper. The end of that peace and of both kingdoms would be at the time appointed by God. No efforts of kings to secure their power be it by war or treaty can change the times appointed by God. “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD” (PRO 21:30).

Daniel 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.

So having made “the peace agreement” with the Ptolemy, Antiochus returned to Syria with the great riches of his conquest of Egypt. On returning he entered the land of Israel and proceeded to take away the vessels of the temple. Thus, his heart was against the holy covenant. His rage against Jerusalem was provoked by a false rumour that he was dead. Upon hearing this rumour Jason retook possession of the high priesthood and ousted Menelaus, whom Antiochus had installed in that office. Jason also slew many. From this Antiochus concluded that the whole nation was in revolt. In revenge, he ordered his soldiers to slay without mercy. 80,000 were slain, 40,000 were taken prisoner, and as many sold so that he did exploits, as prophesied. After this he returned to Antioch in his own land.

Daniel 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

At the time appointed by God, Antiochus returned to Egypt ostensibly to restore the kingdom to Ptolemy Philometer since the Alexandrians had declared his brother king. However, this expedition did not succeed as the former, or as the latter, that is, as had his two former expeditions mentioned in verses 24-25.

Daniel 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

Antiochus’ expedition to Egypt was thwarted because Ptolemy Philometer was in alliance with the Romans, called here Chittim, and sought their aid against Antiochus. The Roman senate sent ambassadors in ships against Antiochus, thus the ships of Chittim came against him. The Roman ambassadors demanded that Antiochus end his siege against Egypt. One of the ambassadors, Popilius, drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus demanding that he give a positive answer before stepping out of that circle. Fearing the power of Rome, Antiochus gave orders to immediately end the siege. This obviously caused the vile Antiochus Epiphanes to be grieved. Returning from this expedition into Egypt, Antiochus wreaked his revenge upon the Jews. Thus he had indignation against the holy covenant that set the Jews apart from the heathen. He had intelligence with the apostate Jews that forsook the holy covenant and gave “them license to do after the ordinances of the heathen.” 1Maccabees 1:11-15 gives an account of these Jews that forsook the holy covenant.

1 Maccabees 1:11  In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

12  So this device pleased them well.

13  Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:

14  Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

15  And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

The next verse of Daniel 11 further describes Antiochus’ indignation against the holy covenant.

Daniel 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Arms stood on Antiochus’ part when he sent Apollonius to Jerusalem with an army of 22,000 ordering him to kill the men and sell the women and children. Antiochus’ soldiers polluted the temple, called here the sanctuary of strength, by entering it and filling it with revelry and whoredom. An image of Jupiter Olympius was set upon the altar and swine’s flesh was offered upon the altar. The temple was even called the temple of Jupiter Olympius. The daily sacrifice commanded by Moses was taken away. Sabbath observance and circumcision were forbidden. The Jews who attempted to observe the law of Moses were put to death. Thus was placed the abomination that maketh the desolate. This heathen army had made desolate God’s house.

Alas, history repeats itself in that the enemy has set up abominations in many New Testament churches because their members have forsaken the holy covenant of the New Testament. How Satan hates the house of God!