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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 11:5-20

Here are foretold, I. The rise and power of two great kingdoms out of the remains of Alexander's conquests, Dan. 11:5. 1. The kingdom of Egypt, which was made considerable by Ptolemaeus Lagus, one of Alexander's captains, whose successors were, from him, called the Lagidae. He is called the king of the south, that is, Egypt, named here, Dan. 11:8, 42, 43. The countries that at first belonged to Ptolemy are reckoned to be Egypt, Phoenicia, Arabia, Libya, Ethiopia, etc. Theocr. Idyl. 17. 2. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:18

After this he shall turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many ,.... Finding himself disappointed in his design on the kingdom of Egypt, he turned his face, and steered his course another way, and with a large fleet sailed into the Aegean sea; and, as Jerom relates, took Rhodes, Samos, Colophon, and Phocea, and many other islands; and also several cities of Greece and Asia, which lay on the sea coasts; it being usual with the Jews to call such maritime places islands: but a prince... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:19

Then he shall turn his face towards the fort of his own land ,.... After his defeat he fled with a few to Sardis, and from thence to Apamea, so Livy; and to Susa, and to the further parts of his dominions, as Jerom; or rather he betook himself to Antioch his capital city, called here "the fort of his own land", where he was obliged to continue: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found ; the expenses of the war which Antiochus agreed to pay being reckoned at fifteen thousand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 11:18

Shall he turn his face unto the isles - Antiochus had fitted out a great fleet of one hundred large ships and two hundred smaller, and with this fleet subdued most of the maritime places on the coast of the Mediterranean, and took many of the isles, Rhodes, Samos, Euboea, Colophon, and others. But a prince for his own behalf - Or, a captain. The consul Acilius Glabrio caused the reproach to cease; beat and routed his army at the straits of Thermopylae, and expelled him from Greece. So he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 11:19

Be shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land - After this shameful defeat, Antiochus fled to Sardis, thence to Apamea, and the next day got into Syria, and to Antioch, his own fort, whence he sent ambassadors to treat for peace; and was obliged to engage to pay the immense sum of money mentioned above. But he shall stumble and fall - Being under the greatest difficulties how to raise the stipulated sums, he marched into his eastern provinces to exact the arrears of taxes; and,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 11:18

Verse 18 There is some obscurity in these words, but the history will afterwards determine the angel’s meaning. First, as to the word “islands,” he doubtless means Asia Minor and the maritime coasts; also Greece, Cyprus, and all the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a Jewish custom to call all places beyond the sea “islands,” as they were not very well skilled in navigation. Therefore he says, He will turn his face to the islands; that is, he shall turn to the opposite regions of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 11:19

Verse 19 Here either the base end of Antiochus is denoted, who was slain in a popular tumult while spoiling the temple of Belus, or else the event of the war between him and the Romans is described. This war was conducted under the auspices of Lucius Scipio, because Cneius Scipio, the conqueror of Africa, had offered himself as his brother’s lieutenant-general, and after his death that province was committed to him. But, as we have said, the resources of Antiochus had been cut off before this.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 11:1-45

EXPOSITION THE KINGS OF THE NORTH AND THE KINGS OF THE SOUTH . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 11:5-20

The chequered fortunes of earthly empire. There is but one condition of permanence in any kingdom, viz. righteousness. Success, founded on military power, collapses as quickly as it rose. As night succeeds to day, so misfortune succeeds to fortune. If God be not recognized, the one element of durability is a-wanting. I. GOD GOVERNS OUR WORLD BY IMPERFECT HUMAN AGENCIES . If men express their astonishment at this, our reply is that it is the best on the whole, and if he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 11:18

After this he shall 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. The rendering of the LXX . is nearly unintelligible, "And he shall set ( δώσει ) his face against the sea, and shall take many ( πολλοῦς ), and shall turn the wrath of their reproach in an oath against his reproach." The translator had read לים instead of לאיים .... read more

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