Daniel 11:20

20. Estate Rather, place (as in Daniel 11:7; Daniel 11:21; Daniel 11:38). A raiser of taxes, etc. Or, one that shall cause an exactor to pass over ( through) the glory of the kingdom. The various versions greatly differ. The Vulgate renders, “in his stead shall stand a vile person and unworthy of royal dignity.” The reference is either to Heliodorus, the chancellor of Seleucus Philopator, who was sent by this king at the suggestion of Apollonius, governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, to rob the temple of Jerusalem being interrupted super-naturally in his purpose and scourged by divine agents, according to 2 Macc. iii or to Seleucus IV, Philopator himself, who as the son and successor of Antiochus III fell heir to terrible financial embarrassments, which compelled him to exact heavy taxes, and may perhaps have induced him to countenance such robberies as that of Heliodorus. Palestine would most naturally be called by a Hebrew writer the glory of the [Syrian] kingdom; though Dr. Terry understands this to refer not to Palestine specifically, but generally to all of the most beautiful and productive portions of the kingdom.

Within few days Seleucus IV only reigned in all a few days compared with his father (twelve years), and certainly only reigned a “few days” after the bootless mission of Heliodorus, mentioned above; for, according to the ancient account of his death, this courtier poisoned him, 176-175 B.C. Probably the method of his death explains why it can be said that he was “broken” neither in anger [that is, in a quarrel or insurrection, as was his father], nor in battle.