Daniel 11:39

39. R.V., “And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a strange god.” If this is a correct interpretation of this dark text our first suggestion of Daniel 11:38 is excluded. Bevan, by a slight change, reads, “And he shall procure for the strong fortresses the people of a strange god” referring to the foreign colonists which he settled in Jerusalem and elsewhere ( 1Ma 3:36-45 ). Meinhold reads, “together with the strange gods;” that is, he dealt with the fortresses as he did with their gods. Instead of “by the help of,” Prince ventures to translate, “in aid of a strange god;” that is, Antiochus looted the most impregnable strongholds for the sake of the one deity he loved to honor (Daniel 11:38). This latter construction of the Hebrew seems, however, too strained to be correct. The ancient versions understood the text as little as we do. Whom he shall acknowledge, etc. Rather, with R.V., “whosoever acknowledgeth him he will increase with glory.” Antiochus only promoted those who exalted himself; and even of the Jews, those who were willing to give up their religion and live like Greeks (Jason, and Menelaus, and many more), he advanced in office as long as they did as he directed and no one else outbid them for the place.

And shall divide the land for gain R.V., “for a price.” Offices were given to the man who offered the biggest bribe, and governors were appointed over provinces according to the amount of revenue they were able to promise to the crown. Or it may perhaps mean that when unable to properly compensate his court favorites with silver and gold, he would give them territory instead “for a reward.”