Daniel 11:36-45

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 11:21-45

All this is a prophecy of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn spoken of before (Dan. 8:9) a sworn enemy to the Jewish religion, and a bitter persecutor of those that adhered to it. What troubles the Jews m 8000 et with in the reigns of the Persian kings were not so particularly foretold to Daniel as these, because then they had living prophets with them, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage them; but these troubles in the days of Antiochus were foretold, because, before that time,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:36

And the king shall do according to his will ,.... Not Antiochus, for he could not do as he would, being curbed by the Romans, as has been observed; and there are many things which follow that cannot be applied to him; rather the Roman people, under the name of a king or kingdom, rising up to universal monarchy, upon the decline of the Grecian empire, are meant; and who did what they would, subdued kingdoms at pleasure, and gave laws to the whole world; and particularly in the little horn, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:37

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers ,.... Of the apostles of Christ, from whom he pretends to descend, and whose successor he would be thought to be: now their God was the Lord Jesus Christ, whom they worshipped and adored, believed in, embraced, professed, and preached; but whom antichrist disregards, though he would be thought to be his vicar on earth; yet slights him, yea, opposes and acts contrary to him, in his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, and therefore is rightly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:38

But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces ,.... Or god Mahuzzim F17 ולאלהוה מעזים "deum Mahuzim", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus. ; departed saints and their images, whom the Papists make their protectors, defenders, and guardians: the word signifies towers, strong holds, fortresses; and by these titles the martyrs, saints departed, are called by the ancient fathers, who first introduced the worship of them: So Basil F18 Homil. in 40. Martyr. p. 151. , speaking of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:39

Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god ,.... Or, "in the strong holds of Mahuzzim" F23 למבצרי מעזים "munitionibus Mahuzim", Pagninus, Montanus. that is, in the temples, churches, and chapels, dedicated to angels and departed saints; deck and adorn their images with gold, silver, precious stones, and with desirable things, which is notorious; as well as commit the grossest idolatries with this strange breaden god; which they hold up in such places, cringe and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:40

And at the time of the end ,.... At the end of the time appointed of God, when antichrist is arrived to the height of his power and authority: shall the king of the south push at him ; not Philometor king of Egypt; nor is Antiochus meant in the next clause by the king of the north; for, after he was required by the Romans to quit the land of Egypt, there was no more war between him and the king of Egypt; rather therefore the Saracens are meant by the king of the south, as Mr. Mede F25 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:41

He shall enter also into the glorious land ,.... The land of Israel, as the Syriac version expresses it; or the land of Judea, which the Turk entered into, and got possession of, and still retains, notwithstanding all the attempts made by the European princes to get it out of his hand: and many countries shall be overthrown ; of which the eastern empire listed as Bithynia, Mysia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, and Carlo, and to the Hellesport and the Euxine sea, conquered by Ottoman and his son... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:42

He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries ,.... Before mentioned, and take possession of them and rule over them, as the Turk does to this day: and the land of Egypt shall not escape ; the hands of the Turk by whom it was taken from the Mamalucs; and is now a province of the Turkish empire, and governed by a Turkish basha, with twenty four princes under him F1 Ibid. (See Dr. Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies) p. 394. . This was not true of Antiochus, who, after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:43

But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt ,.... The land of Egypt, as it is a very large, so a very rich country, abounding with gold, silver, and precious things; all which came into the hands of the Turk along with it; for when Selim, the ninth emperor of the Turks, conquered the Mamalucs he caused five hundred of the chiefest Egyptian families to be transported to Constantinople; as likewise a great number of Mamalucs' wives... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 11:44

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him ,.... This and the following verse respect times and things yet to come, and the interpretation of them is not so certain: perhaps this clause may have a regard to the news brought to the Turk, of the Jews, upon their conversion, being about to return to their own land, from the eastern and northern parts of the world, where they chiefly are at this day; which will greatly alarm him, since their land is part of his dominions:... read more

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