Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11 · Argument method – Questions
1. The Argument and Method.
IN this chapter are described, what things should happen vnderunder three Monarchies, 1. of the Persians. 2. of the Grecians vnited, v. 4. 3. of the kingdome of the Grecians diuided, v. 5. vntounto the ende.
1. For the Persian Monarchie, 1. the rising of it is described vnderunder Darius by the helpe of the Angel, v. 1. 2. the flourishing estate thereof, v. 2. 3. the fall, v. 3.
2. In the second Monarchie, 1. the rising thereof is shewed. 2. the decaying. 3. the euent afterwards, how it should be dispersed to the foure winds.
3. In the third Monarchie of the Grecians: the acts and exploits of two kings are foreshewed, the kings of the North, and the South with their successors: but chiefly of the kings of the North.
This Propheticall narration is briefe and compendious to v. 10. then more large to the ende of the chapter.
In the compendious narration, 1. the power of the two first kings, of Ptolomeus Lagi of the South, and of Seleucus Nicanor of the North is set forth, but the one is mightier then the other, v. 5.
2. The combination by mariage betweene Ptolome Philadelphus, and Antiochus Theos, with the euill successe thereof is foreshewed, v. 6.
3. Then Ptolome Euergetes victorie against Callinicus is declared to v. 10. see the seuerall parts, qu. 23.
In the larger description, the exploits of two kings of the North are rehearsed, of Antiochus Megas to v. 20. then of his two sonnes, Seleucus Philopator, and Antiochus Epiphanes.
The exploits of Antiochus the great are either against the king of the South, to v. 18. or against other nations, v. 18.
The kings of the South, against whom Antiochus dealeth with his brother Ceraunus, was first Ptolome Philopator, who ouercommeth Antiochus Megas, v. 10. 11. 12. see quest. 24. Then Ptolome Epiphanes against whom Antiochus maketh three seuerall expeditions: the first, v. 13. 14. see quest. 25. the second, v. 15. see quest. 26. the third, v. 16. 17. which endeth with an intendement of mariage, but with euill successe.
Then Antiochus goeth against other forren nations, but is discomfited by the Romanes, returneth with shame, and dieth, v. 18. 19. see quest. 28. 29.
The rest of the chapter is spent in set…ing forth the exploits of Antiochus Megas his sonnes: first of Seleucus Philopator, v. 20. see qu. 30. then of Antiochus Epiphanes, whose historie is set forth at large.
In Antiochus Epiphanes historie, 1. his manner of entring into the kingdome is described: see the particulars qu. 32. 2. his exploits to v. 44. 3. his end, v. 44, 45.
His acts and exploits are, 1. against Egypt: where three expeditions and voyages of his are set forth. The first, v. 22, 23, 24. see qu. 33. the second, v. 25. to v. 28. see qu. 34. the third with his repulse, v. 30. qu. 35.
2. Against the people of God: where it is shewed, 1. what meanes he shall vse against them, v. 32, 33. see qu. 40. 2. what they shall suffer, v. 33. and how they shall be comforted, v. 34, 35. see qu. 41, 42.
3. What Antiochus himselfe shall doe: where, 1. his acts concerning religion are described, in abrogating of all religion both true, v. 34. and false, v. 37. qu. 43, 44. and bringing in a new god, v. 38. qu. 46. 2. his ciuill and politike acts, v. 39. qu. 47.
3. His exploits are against Egypt, Iudea, and other countries, v. 40 to 44. see the particulars, qu. 48.
Lastly, the death and destruction of Antiochus is set forth, with the signes precedent, and manner thereof: see qu. 50.
2. The text with the diuers readings.
v. 1 And I in the first yeare (from the first yeare. V.) of Darius the Mede, euen I stood (stand. V.) to encourage and strengthen him.
2 And now I will shew thee the truth: there shall stand vp yet three Kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be farre richer (enriched with riches. H.) then they all: and when he is growne mightie in wealth (hath strengthened him in his riches. H.) he shall stirre vp all against the kingdome of Grecia. (Iavan. H.)
3 But a mightie king shall stand vp, and shall rule with great dominion, and doe according to his pleasure.
4 And when he shall stand vp, his kingdome shall be broken, and shall be diuided toward the foure winds of heauen: and not to his posteritie, nor according to his dominion, which he ruled: for his kingdome shall be plucked vp, and be for other beside those.
5 And the king of the South shall be mightie, and one of his Princes, and shall preuaile against him, and beare rule: his dominion shall be a great dominion.
6. And in the ende of the yeares they shall be ioyned together: for the kings daughter of the South shall come vntounto the king of the North, to make an indifferent peace, (to make an agreement. B. C. friendship. L. league. S. to make equitie. H. that is, peace with equall conditions) but she (not he. B.) shall not reteine the power of the arme: (shall effect nothing. V.) neither shall be continue, nor his arme: (not his seede. L. S. zeroagh signifieth an arme) but she shall be deliuered vp, and they that brought her, and he that is borne of her (her young man. L. S. not he that begate her. V.B.G. for this agreeth not with the storie, see qu. 21. following: the word ioledah signifieth a birth or generation.)
7 But out of a sprigge (budde. G.B. of her rootes shall one stand in his stead (shall succeed in the kingdome. V. the sense, not the words▪ his plant▪ L. his base. A. or foote. Polan, rather in his stead. B.G.I.) which shall come with an armie (to the armie. A.) and shall enter into the fottresse (province. L.) of the king of the North, and shall doe with them as he list, (B.G. doe so that. I. abuse them. L. doe great matters. V.) and shall preuaile:
8 And he shall also carrie into captiuitie (captiues. L.B.G.) into Egypt their gods with their Princes (A.V.I. not, with their molten images. L.B.G.S. the word is nasich with iod, a Prince, but nesech, is a molten image) and with their pretious vessels of siluer and of gold: and he shall continue more yeares then the king of the North. (shall preuaile against. L. but here the word (shanim) yeares, is not translated.)
9 So the king of the South shall come into his kingdome, (not into the kingdome of the king of the South V. S.) and shall returne into his owne land.
10 Then shall his sonnes be stirred vp, (mooue battell. I. Br. Pol. but then an other word is ioyned with garah, as lamilcamah, to battell, v. 25.) and shall assemble a mightie great armie, (a companie of many armies. H.) and one shall come and ouerflow, and passe through: then shal he returne, & mooue battell (be stirred. L.V.) euen vntounto the fortres, (at the fortres. B.G.)
11 Then the king of the South shall be angrie, and shall come forth and fight with (against. L. I. but (ghim) signifieth more properly, with) him, euen with the king of the North: for he shall set forth (cause to stand vp. H.) a great multitude, and the multitude shall be giuen into his hand.
12 Then the multitude shall be lifted vp (not he shall take the multitude. L. or the multitude shall be taken away. I. the word (nissa) may be either in niphal, or piel, and so may be translated actiuely or passiuely, but the first rather, because it followeth) and he shall lift vp his heart: for he shall cast downe thousands: but he shall not still preuaile.
13 For the king of the North shall returne, and shall set forth a greater multitude then the former, and shall come forth after certaine yeares (in the ende of the time of those yeares. H.) with a mightie armie, and much riches.
14 And at the same time shall many stand vp against the king of the South, and the seditious children (the violent. V. pestilent. S. offenders. L. rebellious. G. the word is pharatze, breakers, violaters, that is of the peace, such as the factious and seditious are) shall exalt themselues (be lifted vp. H. better then be taken away. I. Pol. as before v. 12.) to establish the vision, but they shall fall.
15 So the king of the North shall come, and cast vp a mount (cast forth with slings, Pol. the first rather, for the word shaphach, to poure out, or s…ed forth, is more fi…ly vsed of the casting vp of earth, then of casting out of a sling: and the other word sallelah, is taken for a mount, rather then a sling, as Iunius there readeth, 2. king. 19. 32.) and take the strong citie: and the armes of the South shall not resist, (stand. H.) nor his chosen people, (people of his chosen. H.) neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
16 And in comming against him (vntounto him. H.) he shall doe as he list, (according to his will. H.) and none shall stand against him: and he shall stand in the pleasant (or excellent. V. famous. L. sebi. S. but it is no proper name) land, and his hand shall finish (consummation in his hand. H. Pol. better then, he shall consume it with his hand. L.S.I.B.G. see qu. 26. in the end.)
17 Againe he shall set his face to enter with the power of the whole kingdome, and he shall make equall peace with him (L. V. and equitie he shall doe with him. H. better then his confederates with him. B.G. or he shall pretend right. I. the same phrase signifieth before v. 6. to make peace) and he shall giuegive him the daughter of women (a virgin. Fr. I. see qu. 27.) to corrupt her (I.S. that is, craftily to vse her against her husband: not to destroy her. G.B.V. or it, for the pronoune affix is of the feminine gender) but shee shall not stand on his side, nor be for him.
18 After, he shall turne his face vntounto the Isles, and shall take many: but a Prince shall cause his reproach to cease to him (that is, shall make him leaue his reproaching: not he shall cause to cease the Prince of his reproach. L.S. for Prince, is put in the accusatiue, which should be in the nominatiue) beside that he shall cause his owne shame to returne vponupon himselfe: (he shall both cause him to leaue his reprochfull words and deedes, and returne them on himselfe. Some doe read thus, he shall cause his shame to light vponupon him, beside that he shall cause his owne shame to turne vponupon himselfe. B.G. but here the same thing should be expressed twice.)
19 So he shall turne his face toward the forts of his owne land, but he shall be ouerthrowne (or stumble. V.L.I.) and fall, and be no more found.
20 Then shall stand vp in his place, a raiser of taxes (a sender forth of exacters. H. that is, to gather tribute, not a vile person. L.) in the glorie of the kingdome (not the glorie of the kingdome, that is tribute. V. the preposition in is better supplied. G.B.I. nor, vnworthie the glorie of the kingdome. L. ad) but after a few daies he shall be destroied, neither in wrath, not in battell.
21 And in his place shall stand vp a vile person, to whome they shall not giuegive the honour of the kingdome: but he shall come in peaceably, (not secretly. L. or with riches, V. or abundance. S. shalvah signifieth peace) and obtaine the kingdome by flatteries.
22 And the ouerflowing armes (armes of the ouerflowing. H.) shall be ouerflowne before him: (the armes shall be ouerflowne with a flood, or inundation. A.B.G. but (inundation) is better referred to the former word, armes: they shall be ouerflowne by ouerflowing armes. I. but, armes, is better put in the nominatiue, see qu. 33.) and shall be broken: and also the Prince of the couenant.
23 And after the league made (consecration. H.) with him, he shall worke deceitfully: for he shall come vp, and strengthen himselfe (ouercome, B.G. preuaile. V.) with a small people.
24 He shall enter into the quiet and plentifull Prouince, and he shall do that which his fathers hauehave not done, nor his fathers fathers: and he shall diuide among them the pray and the spoile, and the substance, yea and against the strong holds he shall forecast his deuises (deuise his deuises. H.) euen for a time.
25 Also he shall stirre vp his power and his courage (heart. H.) against the king of the South with a great armie, and the king of the South shall stirre himselfe to battell with a great and mightie armie: but he shall not stand, for they shall forecast deuises against him.
26 Yea, they that feede of the portion of his meate (they that eate bread with him. L. his domesticals. V.) shall destroy him: and his armie shall ouerflow, and many shall fall and be slaine.
27 And both these kings hearts shall be to doe mischiefe: they shall talke of deceit (a lie. II.) at one table: but it shall not prosper: for yet the ende shall be at the time appointed. (the ende shall be put off to an other time. L.)
28 Then shall he returne into his land with great substance: for his heart shall be against the holy couenant: so shall he doe, and returne to his owne land.
29 At the time appointed he shall returne, and come toward the South: but it shall not be, as at the first, and at the last (not the last shall not be as the first. L.V.B.G. for he made more then two expeditions against Egypt, see qu. 35. following.)
30 For the shippes of Chittim (the shippes of the Romanes. L. the Citians. S. shippes of Cyprus. V. see qu. 36.) shall come (they shall come in shippes of Chittim. Pol.) against him: therefore he shall be sorie (or grieued) and returne, and fret against the holy couenant, and practise: (and doe H.) for he shall returne (hauing finished his busines he shall returne. V. so shall he doe, euen he shall returne. B.G. but the distinction (athnah) at (ghasah, doe) doth seuer it from the clause following) and hauehave intelligence with (B.G. or set his minde towards. I. vnderstand towards. H. not against. L. shall vnderstand those, &c. S. but here the preposition ghal, is not translated) them, that breake the holy couenant.
31 And armes shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the Sanctuarie, and strong hold (I.V. better then the Sanctuarie of strength. caeter. see qu. 39. 2.) and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and shall set vp the abomination (detestation. I. Pol.) bringing desolation (making desolate. H. the abominable desolation. G.B. or abomination for desolation. L. but the word is a participle, and signifieth desolating, or making desolate.)
32 And such as wickedly breake the couenant, shall he cause to dissemble (V. Pol. better then shall dissemble, for the word is in hiphil, which signifieth to cause to dissemble: shall cause to sinne. B.G. chanaph signifieth to dissemble, to play the hypocrite) by flatterie: but the people, that know their God, shall preuaile and prosper. B.G. shall lay hold and prosper. H. A. shall doe couragiously. V. Br. not they shall apprehend the people of God and prosper. I. Pol. see qu. 40.)
33 And they which vnderstand among the people, shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, by fire, (by the flame. H.) by captiuitie, and by spoile many daies.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little helpe: but many shall cleaue vntounto them fainedly.
35 And some of them of vnderstanding shall fall to trie them, and to purge, and to make white, till the time determined: (time of the end. H. til the time be out. G.B.) for it is yet for an appointed time, (A. P. Pol. better then, yet a tearme remaineth to the appointed time. I. ad. or there is an other time limited. L. V. other is not in the originall: for there is a time appointed. B.G. but here the preposition is omitted.)
36 And this king (I. the king. caeter. but the article set before noteth some speciall king) shall doe what he list: (according to his will. H.) he shall exalt himselfe, and magnifie himselfe aboue (against L.B.G.) all that is God, yea aboue the God of gods: he shall speake maruelous things, (he shall speake maruelous things against the God of gods. B.G.L.V. but the distinction rebia comming betweene, doth distinguish the sentences) and shall prosper, till the wrath be accomplished: for the determination is made. (in the decree of God. B.G.A. the determination shall be effected. I. but the verb is in the pretreperfect tence: the definition is perpetrated, that is, effected. L. but the thing decreed and defined was not yet come to passe: when impietie is come to the extremitie. V. but, impietie, is not in the text.
37 He shall not hauehave any minde (vnderstand. H.) vntounto the gods (not god. L. the word …lohee, is in the plural) of his fathers, nor to the desires of women: (not he shall be in the desires of women. L. for the negatiue lo, must be supplied) nor to any god shall hauehave any minde: for he shall magnifie himselfe aboue all.
38 But in his place (that is, of the true God) shall he honour the god of munitions (that is, whome he set vp in his strong holds: the God of strength. V. to whome he ascribeth his power: the god Mauzzim. B. G. L. S. but it is no proper name, as the next verse sheweth: as for the God of strength he shall worship in his place. I. Pol. Br. they vnderstand Mauzzim here to be the true God, which can not be, see qu. 46. 10.) euen the god, whome his fathers knew not, shall he honour with gold, and with siluer, and with pretious stones, and with pleasant things.
39 And he shall make to be for holds (or places of defence) strong places (or places of munition. S. he shall make for the munition of the god Mauzzim. V. or he shall doe this to defend Mauzzim. L. or this shal he do in the holds of Mauzzim. B. G. but, Mauzzim is here no proper name: he shall commit the munitions of the God of strength to a straunge god. I. but Mauzzim here is not taken for the true God, see qu. 47. 7.) with a strange god: whome he that acknowledgeth (V. …. better then whome he shall acknowledge. B. G. I. whom he shall not acknowledge. L. but there is no negatiue in the originall) he shall encrease with glorie, and shall cause them to rule ouer many, and shall diuide the land for a price. (V. for gaine. B. G. gifts. S. not freely. L. or in stead of a price. I. see 47. qu. 7.)
40 And about the time of the ende (not, and of time. B. G. S. or appointed time. L. at the last. V. that is toward the ende of his daies) shall the king of the South push at him, and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlewind, with charets, and with horsemen, and with many shippes, and he shall enter into the countries, and ouerflow, and passe through.
41 And he shall enter also into the pleasant land (or glorious. L. excellent. V. beautifull. I. tzebi. H. into the land of Sebain. S. but it is here no proper name) and many countries shall be ouerthrowne: but these shall escape out of his hand, euen Edom, and Moab, and the chiefe of the children of Ammon.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also vponupon the countries (lands. H.) and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 But he shall hauehave power ouer the hid treasures of gold, and of siluer, and ouer all the pretious things of Egypt: and the Lybians, and the Ethiopians (blacke Mores. G.) shall follow him (I. at his footesteppes. H. not in their munitions. S. or the Lybians and Ethiopians shall be in his passage. L.V.G. see qu. 48. in the ende)
44 But the tidings out of the East, and North shall trouble him: therefore he shall goe forth with great wrath (not with a great multitude. L.) to destroy and slay V. (or bequeath to slaughter. I. roote out. G. B.) many.
45 And he shall plant (pitch. L.) the tabernacles of his palace (his tabernacle Apadno. L. or Aphadano. S. see qu. 50.) betweene the two seas, in the glorious and holy mountaine (mountaine of glorie and holines. H.) yet he shall come to his ende (or when he is come to his ende. I. V. and none shall helpe him.