Daniel 11

Chapter Overview

What happens in Daniel 11

The angel gives Daniel an incredibly detailed prophecy about future wars between kingdoms of the north and south. It traces events from the Persian Empire through the Greek Empire and its divisions. The chapter ends with a description of a proud king who opposes God but comes to his end.

Scripture

Persia and Greece

Study note

The angel describes three more Persian kings followed by a fourth who will be very rich. Then a mighty king (Alexander the Great) will rule with great power but his kingdom will be divided into four parts after his death. None of his descendants will receive his kingdom.

1 "I myself stood up to support and protect Darius the Mede during his very first year as king." Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

2 "Now let me share with you what is certain to happen. Three more kings will reign in Persia. Then a fourth will come who will be wealthier than all the others. Once he gains enough power through his riches, he will stir up everyone to go after the kingdom of Greece." And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

3 "A powerful warrior king will appear. He will reign with enormous strength and do anything he pleases." And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

4 "But just as he reaches the peak of his power, his kingdom will crack apart and be divided in four directions. It will not pass down to his children, and none of the four parts will be as strong as his original kingdom. His empire will be ripped up and given to outsiders." And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

Wars Between North and South

Study note

The kings of the south are the Ptolemies who ruled Egypt. The kings of the north are the Seleucids who ruled Syria and the lands to the north of Israel. These prophecies describe generations of wars, alliances, and betrayals between these two kingdoms, with Israel caught in the middle.

5 "The king who rules the south will grow strong. But one of his own military commanders will become even stronger and will build his own powerful kingdom." And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 "Years later, they will form an alliance. The southern king's daughter will marry the northern king to seal a peace deal. But she will lose her power, and the northern king will not hold on to his either. She, her attendants, her father, and her supporter will all be betrayed." And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

7 "Later, someone from her family line will rise up to take her place. He will march against the northern king's army, break into his stronghold, and win." But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:

8 "He will haul their gods, their metal statues, and their priceless silver and gold treasures back to Egypt. Then he will leave the northern king alone for several years." And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

9 "Eventually the northern king will try to attack the south, but he will fail and retreat back home." So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

10 "His sons will gear up for war and raise an enormous fighting force. One of them will charge through enemy territory like a flood, pushing all the way to the opponent's fortress." But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

11 "Furious, the southern king will march out and go to war against the northern king and his massive army. But despite its size, that army will be defeated." And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12 "After crushing that huge force, the southern king will swell with pride. He will slaughter tens of thousands, but his victory will not last." And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

13 "Years later, the northern king will build another army. It will be even bigger and better armed than before. He will launch a new attack." For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

14 "During this time, many people will rebel against the southern king. Some violent troublemakers from your own people, Daniel, will also revolt. They will try to make a vision come true, but they will fail." And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

15 "Then the northern king will arrive and build siege ramps against a heavily defended city. The southern forces will not be able to hold out — not even their best soldiers will have enough fight left in them." So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16 "The invading king will do whatever he wants with no one stopping him. He will set himself up in the beautiful land of Israel, holding enough power to destroy it completely." But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

17 "He will decide to bring his whole kingdom's strength and forge an alliance with the southern king. He will offer his own daughter in marriage, hoping to destroy the kingdom from the inside. But his scheme will backfire." He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

18 "Then he will turn his eyes toward the coastlands and capture many of them. But a foreign commander will put a stop to his arrogance and throw his own insults right back at him." After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.

19 "After that, he will head back to his own fortresses. But he will stumble and fall, and that will be the end of him." Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

20 "His replacement will send out a tax collector to keep the treasury full. But within just a few days, that ruler will be killed — not in battle and not in a public uprising." Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

The Wicked King of the North

Study note

This section describes a despised person who takes the throne through deception. Many scholars identify this as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who polluted the temple and persecuted the Jews. He set up the 'abomination that causes desolation' in the temple. But the people who know their God will stand firm.

21 "Next, a truly despicable man will take the throne — someone nobody chose or wanted. He will slip in quietly and grab the kingdom through scheming and deception." And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

22 "Whole armies will be washed away before him and wiped out, including the prince of the covenant." And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

23 "After making treaties, he will play dirty. He will climb to power even though he only has a small following." And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

24 "When the richest provinces feel safe, he will sweep in and do what none of his ancestors ever dared. He will hand out plunder and stolen wealth to his supporters. He will plot against fortified cities — but only for a limited time." He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

25 "He will work up his nerve and march against the southern king with a massive army. The southern king will fight back hard with a great and powerful force, but he will be beaten because of the conspiracies plotted against him." 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 "His own trusted advisors will betray him. His army will be swept away, and many of his soldiers will die in battle." Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

27 "The two kings will sit across the table from each other, both lying through their teeth. Nothing they plan will work, because the end is already scheduled." 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.

28 "The northern king will head home loaded with treasure. Along the way, he will set his heart against the holy covenant. He will strike against it and then return to his own country." 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.

29 "At the appointed time, he will invade the south again. But this time, things will go very differently." At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

30 "Ships from the western coast will confront him, and he will lose his courage. He will turn around in a rage and lash out at the holy covenant, partnering with those who have already abandoned it." 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.

31 "His soldiers will march into the temple fortress and defile it. They will put a stop to the daily sacrifices and set up the horrible thing that brings total ruin." 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.

32 "Through smooth-talking flattery, he will win over the people who broke the covenant. But those who truly know their God will stand their ground and fight back." 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.

33 "The wisest among the people will teach many others. But for a while, some of them will be killed by swords and flames, or be captured and have their possessions stolen." 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.

34 "When they are being attacked, they will get a little bit of help. But many who join their cause will not truly be on their side." Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

35 "Some of the wisest will stumble and fall. This is meant to refine and purify and cleanse them until the end comes, because the scheduled time has not arrived yet." 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.

The King Who Exalts Himself

Study note

This section describes a king who exalts himself above every god and speaks against the God of gods. Many believe this looks beyond Antiochus to a final end-time ruler. He will invade many countries, including the beautiful land of Israel, but will come to his end with no one to help him.

36 "The king will do anything he feels like doing. He will put himself above every god that exists and will say shocking, blasphemous things against the God of gods. He will keep getting away with it until the time of God's anger runs its course, because what has been decided must play out." 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.

37 "He will show zero respect for the gods his ancestors worshiped or for the god that women love. He will not honor any god at all, because he considers himself greater than all of them." 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.

38 "Instead, he will worship the god of military power — a god his ancestors never even knew. He will pour gold, silver, gemstones, and lavish gifts into honoring this god." 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 "He will use this foreign god to attack the strongest forts. He will richly reward those who go along with him. He will give them power over many people and hand out land to them as payment." 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.

40 "At the very end, the southern king will attack him. But the northern king will storm back like a hurricane with chariots, cavalry, and a fleet of ships. He will tear through many countries like a wall of floodwater." 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.

41 "He will also bulldoze through the beautiful land of Israel. Many nations will collapse, though Edom, Moab, and the top leaders of Ammon will slip out of his grasp." 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 will stretch his power over country after country. Even Egypt will not be spared." He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 "He will seize Egypt's gold, silver, and all its treasures. The Libyans and Ethiopians will be dragged along behind him." 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.

44 "But then news from the east and the north will rattle him. He will storm out in a murderous rage, determined to wipe out as many as he can." But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45 "He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. But he will meet his end there, with nobody to save him." And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Key Themes

Themes in Daniel 11

Detailed prophecy fulfilledWars between kingdomsThe king who exalts himselfGod knows the future in detailFaithfulness in persecution

Apply This Today

Living Daniel 11

The remarkable detail of Daniel's prophecy — much of which was fulfilled with precision in the centuries that followed — demonstrates that God knows the future completely. In a world full of uncertainty, we can anchor our confidence in a God who sees the end from the beginning. History is not random; it is moving toward God's appointed conclusion.

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