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Daniel 11
New English Translation

11 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I[a] stood to strengthen him and to provide protection for him.) 2 Now I will tell you the truth.

The Angel Gives a Message to Daniel

“Three[b] more kings will arise for Persia. Then a fourth[c] king will be unusually rich,[d] more so than all who preceded him. When he has amassed power through his riches, he will stir up everyone against[e] the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a powerful king[f] will arise, exercising great authority and doing as he pleases. 4 Shortly after his rise to power,[g] his kingdom will be broken up and distributed toward the four winds of the sky[h]—but not to his posterity or with the authority he exercised, for his kingdom will be uprooted and distributed to others besides these.

5 “Then the king of the south[i] and one of his subordinates[j] will grow strong. His subordinate[k] will resist[l] him and will rule a kingdom greater than his.[m] 6 After some years have passed, they[n] will form an alliance. Then the daughter[o] of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she will not retain her power,[p] nor will he continue[q] in his strength.[r] She, together with the one who brought her, her child,[s] and her benefactor will all be delivered over at that time.[t]

7 “There will arise in his[u] place one from her family line[v] who will come against their army and will enter the stronghold of the king of the north and will move against them successfully.[w] 8 He will also take their gods into captivity to Egypt, along with their cast images and prized utensils of silver and gold. Then he will withdraw for some years from[x] the king of the north. 9 Then the king of the north[y] will advance against the empire of the king of the south, but will withdraw to his own land. 10 His sons[z] will wage war, mustering a large army that will advance like an overflowing river and carrying the battle all the way to the enemy’s[aa] fortress.[ab]

11 “Then the king of the south[ac] will be enraged and will march out to fight against the king of the north, who will also muster a large army, but that army will be delivered into his hand. 12 When the army is taken away, the king of the south will become arrogant.[ad] He will be responsible for the death[ae] of thousands and thousands of people,[af] but he will not continue to prevail. 13 For the king of the north will again muster an army, one larger than before. At the end of some years he will advance with a huge army and enormous supplies.

14 “In those times many will oppose[ag] the king of the south.[ah] Those who are violent[ai] among your own people will rise up in confirmation of[aj] the vision, but they will falter. 15 Then the king of the north will advance and will build siege mounds and capture a well-fortified city.[ak] The forces of the south will not prevail, not even his finest contingents.[al] They will have no strength to prevail. 16 The one advancing against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand before him. He will prevail in the beautiful land, and its annihilation will be within his power.[am] 17 His intention[an] will be to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, and he will form alliances.[ao] He will give the king of the south[ap] a daughter[aq] in marriage in order to destroy the kingdom, but it will not turn out to his advantage. 18 Then he will turn his attention[ar] to the coastal regions and will capture many of them. But a commander[as] will bring his shameful conduct to a halt; in addition,[at] he will make him pay for his shameful conduct.[au] 19 He will then turn his attention to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, not to be found again. 20 There will arise after him[av] one[aw] who will send out an exactor[ax] of tribute to enhance the splendor of the kingdom, but after a few days he will be destroyed,[ay] though not in anger or battle.

21 “Then there will arise in his place a despicable person[az] to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will come on the scene in a time of prosperity and will seize the kingdom through deceit. 22 Armies[ba] will be suddenly[bb] swept away in defeat[bc] before him; both they and a covenant leader[bd] will be destroyed.[be] 23 After[bf] entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously; he will ascend to power with only a small force.[bg] 24 In a time of prosperity for the most productive areas of the province he will come and accomplish what neither his fathers nor their fathers accomplished. He will distribute loot, spoils, and property to his followers, and he will devise plans against fortified cities, but not for long.[bh] 25 He will rouse his strength and enthusiasm[bi] against the king of the south[bj] with a large army. The king of the south will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to prevail because of the plans devised against him. 26 Those who share the king’s fine food will attempt to destroy him, and his army will be swept away;[bk] many will be killed in battle. 27 These two kings, their minds[bl] filled with evil intentions, will trade[bm] lies with one another at the same table. But it will not succeed, for there is still an end at the appointed time. 28 Then the king of the north[bn] will return to his own land with much property. His mind will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action, and then return to his own land. 29 At an appointed time he will again invade the south, but this latter visit will not turn out the way the former one did. 30 The ships of Kittim[bo] will come against him, leaving him disheartened.[bp] He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor[bq] those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 His forces[br] will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary,[bs] stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up[bt] the abomination that causes desolation. 32 Then with smooth words he will defile[bu] those who have rejected[bv] the covenant. But the people who are loyal to[bw] their God will act valiantly.[bx] 33 These who are wise among the people will teach the masses.[by] However, they will fall[bz] by the sword and by the flame,[ca] and they will be imprisoned and plundered for some time.[cb] 34 When they stumble, they will be granted some help. But many will unite with them deceitfully. 35 Even some of the wise will stumble, resulting in their refinement, purification, and cleansing until the time of the end, for it is still for the appointed time.

36 “Then the king[cc] will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every deity and he will utter presumptuous things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of[cd] wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must occur.[ce] 37 He will not respect[cf] the gods of his fathers—not even the god loved by women.[cg] He will not respect any god; he will elevate himself above them all. 38 What he will honor is a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, valuable stones, and treasured commodities. 39 He will attack[ch] mighty fortresses, aided by[ci] a foreign deity. To those who recognize him he will grant considerable honor. He will place them in authority over many people, and he will parcel out land for a price.[cj]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the south will attack[ck] him. Then the king of the north will storm against him[cl] with chariots, horsemen, and a large armada of ships.[cm] He[cn] will invade lands, passing through them like an overflowing river.[co] 41 Then he will enter the beautiful land.[cp] Many[cq] will fall, but these will escape:[cr] Edom, Moab, and the Ammonite leadership. 42 He will extend his power[cs] against other lands; the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 He will have control over the hidden stores of gold and silver, as well as all the treasures of Egypt. Libyans and Ethiopians[ct] will submit to him.[cu] 44 But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas[cv] toward the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, with no one to help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:1 sn The antecedent of the pronoun “I” is the angel, not Daniel. The traditional chapter division at this point, and the presence of a chronological note in the verse similar to ones used elsewhere in the book to position Daniel’s activities in relation to imperial affairs, sometimes lead to confusion on this matter.
  2. Daniel 11:2 sn Perhaps these three more kings are Cambyses (ca. 530-522 b.c.), Pseudo-Smerdis (ca. 522 b.c.), and Darius I Hystaspes (ca. 522-486 b.c.).
  3. Daniel 11:2 sn This fourth king is Xerxes I (ca. 486-465 b.c.).
  4. Daniel 11:2 tn Heb “rich with great riches.”
  5. Daniel 11:2 tn Or “All [of it] will arouse the kingdom of Greece.” The text is difficult. The text is traditionally taken to have the fourth king as the subject of the verb, making the relationship between הַכֹּל (hakkol, “all, the whole, everyone, everything”) and the kingdom of Greece difficult. Presumably “everyone” is the direct object, but the “kingdom” has the direct object marker אֶת (ʾet). This is very unlikely to be the preposition אֶת (ʾet, “with”) because the verb עוּר (ʿur, “to arouse”) uses the preposition עַל (ʿal) to mean “stir up against.” Nevertheless the meaning “against” is typically supplied or assumed from context. An alternative is to take הַכֹּל as the subject, meaning “all of it,” that is the power and wealth, will arouse [the interest] of the kingdom of Greece. This makes sense of the articular use of הַכֹּל, the parsing of the verb, and the direct object indicator, and also fits the context where in the next verse the Greek king rises up.
  6. Daniel 11:3 sn The powerful king mentioned here is Alexander the Great (ca. 336-323 b.c.).
  7. Daniel 11:4 tn Heb “and when he stands.”
  8. Daniel 11:4 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
  9. Daniel 11:5 sn The king of the south is Ptolemy I Soter (ca. 323-285 b.c.). The following reference to one of his subordinates apparently has in view Seleucus I Nicator (ca. 311-280 b.c.). Throughout the remainder of chap. 11 the expressions “king of the south” and “king of the north” repeatedly occur. It is clear, however, that these terms are being used generically to describe the Ptolemaic king (i.e., “of the south”) or the Seleucid king (i.e., “of the north”) who happens to be in power at any particular time. The specific identity of these kings can be established more or less successfully by a comparison of this chapter with the available extra-biblical records that discuss the history of the intertestamental period. In the following notes the generally accepted identifications are briefly mentioned.
  10. Daniel 11:5 tn Heb “princes.”
  11. Daniel 11:5 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the subordinate prince mentioned in the previous clause) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  12. Daniel 11:5 tn Heb “be strong against.”
  13. Daniel 11:5 tn Heb “greater than his kingdom.”
  14. Daniel 11:6 sn Here they refers to Ptolemy II Philadelphus (ca. 285-246 b.c.) and Antiochus II Theos (ca. 262-246 b.c.).
  15. Daniel 11:6 sn The daughter refers to Berenice, who was given in marriage to Antiochus II Theos.
  16. Daniel 11:6 tn Heb “the strength of the arm.”
  17. Daniel 11:6 tn Heb “stand,” as also in vv. 7, 8, 11, 13.
  18. Daniel 11:6 tn Heb “and his arm.” Some understand this to refer to the descendants of the king of the north.
  19. Daniel 11:6 tc The present translation reads יַלְדָּה (yaldah, “her child”) rather than the MT יֹלְדָהּ (yoledah, “the one who begot her”). Cf. Theodotion, the Syriac, and the Vulgate.
  20. Daniel 11:6 sn Antiochus II eventually divorced Berenice and remarried his former wife Laodice, who then poisoned her husband, had Berenice put to death, and installed her own son, Seleucus II Callinicus (ca. 246-227 b.c.), as the Seleucid king.
  21. Daniel 11:7 sn The reference is to the king of Egypt.
  22. Daniel 11:7 tn Heb “the stock of her roots.”sn The reference to one from her family line is probably to Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes (ca. 246-221 b.c.).
  23. Daniel 11:7 tn Heb “will deal with them and prevail.”
  24. Daniel 11:8 tn The Hebrew preposition מִן (min) is used here with the verb עָמַד (ʿamad, “to stand”). It probably has a sense of separation (“stand away from”), although it may also be understood in an adversative sense (“stand against”).
  25. Daniel 11:9 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  26. Daniel 11:10 sn The sons of Seleucus II Callinicus were Seleucus III Ceraunus (ca. 227-223 b.c.) and Antiochus III the Great (ca. 223-187 b.c.).
  27. Daniel 11:10 tn Heb “his”; the referent (the enemy of the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  28. Daniel 11:10 tn Heb “and he will certainly come and overflow and cross over and return and be aroused unto a fortress.” The translation has attempted to simplify the syntax of this difficult sequence.
  29. Daniel 11:11 sn This king of the south refers to Ptolemy IV Philopator (ca. 221-204 b.c.).
  30. Daniel 11:12 tn Heb “his heart will be lifted up.” The referent (the king of the south) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  31. Daniel 11:12 tn Heb “cause to fall.”
  32. Daniel 11:12 tn Heb “of myriads.”
  33. Daniel 11:14 tn Heb “stand against.”
  34. Daniel 11:14 sn This was Ptolemy V Epiphanes (ca. 203-181 b.c.).
  35. Daniel 11:14 tn Heb “sons of violence.” “Son(s)” is sometimes used idiomatically in Hebrew to indicate that someone is characterized by a certain quality. So the expression “sons of violence” means that these individuals will be characterized by violent deeds.
  36. Daniel 11:14 tn Heb “to cause to stand.”
  37. Daniel 11:15 sn This well-fortified city is apparently Sidon. Its capture from the Ptolemies by Antiochus the Great was a strategic victory for the Seleucid kingdom.
  38. Daniel 11:15 tn Or “choice troops” (BDB 104 s.v. מִבְחָר), or “elite troops” (HALOT 542 s.v. מִבְחָר).
  39. Daniel 11:16 tn Heb “hand.”
  40. Daniel 11:17 tn Heb “and he will set his face” (cf. vv. 18, 19).
  41. Daniel 11:17 tc The present translation reads מֵישָׁרִים (mesharim, “alliances”) for the MT וִישָׁרִים (viysharim, “uprightness”).
  42. Daniel 11:17 tn Heb “him”; the referent (the king of the south) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  43. Daniel 11:17 tn Heb “the daughter of the women.”sn The daughter refers to Cleopatra, the daughter of Antiochus, who was given in marriage to Ptolemy V.
  44. Daniel 11:18 tn Heb “his face,” as also in v. 19.
  45. Daniel 11:18 sn The commander is probably the Roman commander, Lucius Cornelius Scipio.
  46. Daniel 11:18 tn The Hebrew here is difficult in that the negative בִּלְתִּי (bilti, “not”) is used in an unusual way. The sense is not entirely clear.
  47. Daniel 11:18 tn Heb “his shameful conduct he will return to him.”
  48. Daniel 11:20 tn Heb “on his place.”
  49. Daniel 11:20 sn The one who will send out an exactor of tribute was Seleucus IV Philopator (ca. 187-176 b.c.).
  50. Daniel 11:20 sn Perhaps this exactor of tribute was Heliodorus (cf. 2 Macc 3).
  51. Daniel 11:20 tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
  52. Daniel 11:21 sn This despicable person to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred is Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ca. 175-164 b.c.).
  53. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “arms.”
  54. Daniel 11:22 tc The present translation reads הִשָּׁטֹף (hishatof), Niphal infinitive absolute of שָׁטַף (shataf, “to overflow”), for the MT הַשֶּׁטֶף (hashetef, “flood”).
  55. Daniel 11:22 tn The words “in defeat” are added in the translation for clarification.
  56. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “a prince of the covenant.”
  57. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
  58. Daniel 11:23 tn The preposition מִן (min) is probably temporal here (so BDB 583 s.v. 7.c; cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV), although it could also be understood here as indicating means (so J. Goldingay, Daniel [WBC], 279, n. 23a; cf. TEV, NLT).
  59. Daniel 11:23 tn Heb “nation.”
  60. Daniel 11:24 tn Heb “and unto a time.”
  61. Daniel 11:25 tn Heb “heart.”
  62. Daniel 11:25 sn This king of the south was Ptolemy Philometer (ca. 181-145 b.c.).
  63. Daniel 11:26 tc The present translation reads יִשָׁטֵף (yishatef, passive) rather than the MT יִשְׁטוֹף (yishtof, active).
  64. Daniel 11:27 tn Heb “heart,” as also in v. 28.
  65. Daniel 11:27 tn Heb “speak.”
  66. Daniel 11:28 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  67. Daniel 11:30 sn The name Kittim has various designations in extra-biblical literature. It can refer to a location on the island of Cyprus, or more generally to the island itself, or it can be an inclusive term to refer to parts of the Mediterranean world that lay west of the Middle East (e.g., Rome). For ships of Kittim the Greek OT (LXX) has “Romans,” an interpretation followed by a few English versions (e.g., TEV). A number of times in the Dead Sea Scrolls the word is used in reference to the Romans. Other English versions are more generic: “[ships] of the western coastlands” (NIV, NLT); “from the west” (NCV, CEV).
  68. Daniel 11:30 sn This is apparently a reference to the Roman forces, led by Gaius Popilius Laenas, which confronted Antiochus when he came to Egypt and demanded that he withdraw or face the wrath of Rome. Antiochus wisely withdrew from Egypt, albeit in a state of bitter frustration.
  69. Daniel 11:30 tn Heb “show regard for.”
  70. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “arms.”
  71. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “the sanctuary, the fortress.”
  72. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “will give.”
  73. Daniel 11:32 tn Or “corrupt.”
  74. Daniel 11:32 tn Heb “acted wickedly toward.”
  75. Daniel 11:32 tn Heb “know.” The term “know” sometimes means “to recognize.” In relational contexts it can have the connotation “recognize the authority of, be loyal to,” as it does here.
  76. Daniel 11:32 sn This is an allusion to the Maccabean revolt, which struggled to bring about Jewish independence in the second century b.c.
  77. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “the many.”
  78. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “stumble.”
  79. Daniel 11:33 tn Or “by burning.”
  80. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “days.”
  81. Daniel 11:36 sn The identity of this king is problematic. If vv. 36-45 continue the description of Antiochus Epiphanes, the account must be viewed as erroneous, since the details do not match what is known of Antiochus’ latter days. Most modern scholars take this view, concluding that this section was written just shortly before the death of Antiochus and that the writer erred on several key points as he tried to predict what would follow the events of his own day. Conservative scholars, however, usually understand the reference to shift at this point to an eschatological figure, viz., the Antichrist. The chronological gap that this would presuppose to be in the narrative is not necessarily a problem, since by all accounts there are many chronological gaps throughout the chapter, as the historical figures intended by such expressions as “king of the north” and “king of the south” repeatedly shift.
  82. Daniel 11:36 tn The words “the time of” are added in the translation for clarification.
  83. Daniel 11:36 tn Heb “has been done.” The Hebrew verb used here is the perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of fulfillment.
  84. Daniel 11:37 tn Heb “consider.”
  85. Daniel 11:37 tn Heb “[the one] desired by women.” The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  86. Daniel 11:39 tn Heb “act against.”
  87. Daniel 11:39 tn Heb “with.”
  88. Daniel 11:39 tn Or perhaps “for a reward.”
  89. Daniel 11:40 tn Heb “engage in thrusting.”
  90. Daniel 11:40 tn The referent of the pronoun is most likely the king of the south, in which case the text describes the king of the north countering the attack of the king of the south.
  91. Daniel 11:40 tn Heb “many ships.”
  92. Daniel 11:40 tn This most likely refers to the king of the north who, in response to the aggression of the king of the south, launches an invasion of the southern regions.
  93. Daniel 11:40 tn Heb “and will overflow and pass over.”
  94. Daniel 11:41 sn The beautiful land is a cryptic reference to the land of Israel.
  95. Daniel 11:41 tn This can be understood as “many people” (cf. NRSV) or “many countries” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).
  96. Daniel 11:41 tn Heb “be delivered from his hand.”
  97. Daniel 11:42 tn Heb “hand.”
  98. Daniel 11:43 tn Or “Nubians” (NIV, NCV); Heb “Cushites.”
  99. Daniel 11:43 tn Heb “Libyans and Cushites [will be] at his footsteps.”
  100. Daniel 11:45 sn Presumably seas refers to the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea.
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Daniel 11
La Bible du Semeur

11 Moi, de mon côté, je me suis tenu auprès de lui, dans la première année de Darius le Mède[a], pour le soutenir et l’appuyer.

La guerre des rois

2 Maintenant donc, je vais te faire connaître la vérité : Voici : il y aura encore trois rois de Perse[b]. Ils seront suivis d’un quatrième qui amassera plus de richesses que tous ses prédécesseurs. Lorsqu’il sera au faîte de sa puissance, grâce à sa richesse, il soulèvera tout le monde contre le royaume de Grèce[c]. 3 Mais là-bas s’élèvera un roi valeureux qui étendra sa domination sur un vaste empire et fera ce qu’il voudra[d]. 4 Mais à peine aura-t-il assis son pouvoir, que son royaume sera brisé et partagé aux quatre coins de l’horizon ; il ne reviendra pas à ses descendants, mais il lui sera arraché et réparti entre d’autres qu’eux, et il n’aura pas la même puissance[e].

5 Le roi du Midi s’affermira[f], mais l’un des chefs de son royaume deviendra encore plus fort que lui[g] : il exercera une domination plus grande que la sienne. 6 Quelques années plus tard, ils s’allieront l’un avec l’autre, et la fille du roi du Midi se rendra auprès du roi du Nord pour établir des accords. Elle ne conservera pas sa force et sa postérité ne subsistera pas. Elle sera livrée à la mort avec ceux qui l’avaient amenée, de même que son père et celui qui l’avait soutenue pendant quelque temps[h]. 7 Mais un membre de sa famille se lèvera et prendra la place de son père. Il marchera contre l’armée du roi du Nord, investira sa forteresse, l’attaquera et remportera la victoire[i]. 8 Il emportera même comme butin en Egypte leurs idoles et leurs statues de métal fondu avec leurs objets précieux d’or et d’argent consacrés à ces divinités.

Pendant quelques années, il se tiendra loin du roi du Nord. 9 Par la suite, celui-ci envahira le royaume du roi du Midi, puis il retournera dans son pays.

10 Ses fils partiront en guerre et mobiliseront une armée très nombreuse qui submergera tout sur son passage, ils inonderont le pays. Sur le chemin du retour, ils attaqueront la forteresse[j]. 11 C’est alors que le roi du Midi, exaspéré, lancera une offensive contre le roi du Nord, il mettra sur pied une grande armée et il aura la victoire sur les troupes adverses[k]. 12 Une fois ces troupes vaincues, il s’enorgueillira et fera tomber des milliers d’hommes, mais ses triomphes seront de courte durée. 13 Car le roi du Nord reviendra en mobilisant de nouveau des troupes, plus nombreuses que les premières, et, après quelques années, il retournera en Egypte avec une immense armée et beaucoup de matériel de guerre[l]. 14 A ce moment-là, beaucoup se soulèveront contre le roi du Midi[m], des hommes violents de ton peuple, Daniel, se soulèveront contre lui pour réaliser la prophétie, mais ils échoueront.

15 Le roi du Nord viendra donc, il dressera des remblais de siège contre une ville fortifiée[n] et s’en emparera. Les armées du roi du Midi ne résisteront pas au choc, même sa troupe d’élite n’aura pas la force de tenir devant lui. 16 L’envahisseur avancera à sa guise et personne ne pourra lui résister. Il prendra ensuite position dans le Pays magnifique[o] où il sèmera la destruction. 17 Il entreprendra alors de venir avec toutes les forces de son royaume et il conclura une alliance avec le roi du Midi. Il lui donnera sa fille en mariage dans le but de détruire son royaume, mais ce plan ne réussira pas et ce royaume ne lui appartiendra pas[p]. 18 Alors il se tournera du côté des îles et s’emparera de beaucoup d’entre elles[q], mais un général mettra un terme à son arrogance injurieuse sans que le roi du Nord puisse le lui rendre. 19 Ensuite, il reviendra s’occuper des citadelles de son propre pays, mais il trébuchera et tombera, et c’en sera fait de lui[r]. 20 Son successeur enverra un exacteur dans le lieu[s] qui est la gloire du royaume. Peu de temps après, ce roi sera frappé à son tour, mais ce ne sera pas dans un mouvement de colère ni au cours d’une guerre[t].

Le temps de la souffrance d’Israël

21 Un homme méprisable lui succédera sans avoir reçu la dignité royale ; il surviendra en temps de paix et s’emparera de la royauté à force d’intrigues[u]. 22 Les forces adverses qui débordaient comme une inondation seront submergées et brisées par lui, il tuera aussi un chef du peuple de l’alliance[v]. 23 En dépit de l’accord conclu avec lui, il agira avec ruse, il l’attaquera et remportera la victoire avec une poignée d’hommes. 24 En temps de paix, il envahira les plus riches régions de la province et accomplira ce qu’aucun de ses ancêtres n’avait fait : il pillera le pays et distribuera largement à ses partisans ce qu’il aura pillé, le butin et les richesses dont il se sera emparé ; il fera des plans d’attaque contre les forteresses, mais tout cela ne durera qu’un temps.

25 Rassemblant toutes ses forces et son courage, il lancera une attaque contre le roi du Midi avec une grande armée. Le roi du Midi le combattra avec une armée très puissante et nombreuse, mais il ne parviendra pas à résister à son adversaire, à cause de complots dirigés contre lui[w].

26 Ses familiers causeront sa perte ; son armée sera écrasée et beaucoup de ses soldats tomberont, frappés à mort. 27 Quant aux deux rois[x], ils chercheront secrètement à se nuire mutuellement ; ainsi, ils s’assiéront à la même table, pour se duper l’un l’autre par des mensonges. Mais leurs tractations ne réussiront pas, car la fin doit venir au temps fixé. 28 Le roi du Nord retournera dans son pays, chargé de grandes richesses, et avec au cœur des intentions hostiles contre la sainte alliance conclue par Dieu avec son peuple. Il les exécutera avant de rentrer dans son pays[y].

29 Au temps fixé, il se mettra de nouveau en campagne contre le royaume du Midi, mais cette expédition ne se passera pas comme la première. 30 Des navires, venant des côtes à l’ouest de la Méditerranée, viendront s’opposer à lui et le décourageront[z]. Il s’emportera de nouveau et agira contre l’alliance sainte, et il s’accordera de nouveau avec ceux qui la trahiront. 31 Certaines de ses troupes prendront position sur son ordre, elles profaneront le sanctuaire et la citadelle, feront cesser le sacrifice perpétuel[aa] et installeront la profanation abominable[ab]. 32 Par ses intrigues, il corrompra ceux qui auront trahi l’alliance, mais le peuple de ceux qui connaissent leur Dieu agira avec courage. 33 Les hommes du peuple qui auront de la sagesse enseigneront un grand nombre, mais ils subiront l’épée, le feu, la prison et le pillage pendant des jours. 34 Pendant qu’ils seront ainsi livrés à la mort, ils recevront un peu d’aide, mais beaucoup de gens se rallieront hypocritement à eux. 35 Certains parmi les hommes qui auront de la sagesse tomberont afin d’être épurés, purifiés et blanchis à travers cette épreuve, en vue du temps de la fin, car la fin viendra au temps fixé.

36 Le roi agira à sa guise, il s’enorgueillira et s’élèvera au-dessus de tous les dieux ; il proférera même des blasphèmes inouïs contre le Dieu des dieux et il parviendra à ses fins jusqu’à ce que la colère divine soit parvenue à son comble. Alors ce qui est décrété s’accomplira[ac]. 37 Il n’aura de considération ni pour les dieux de ses ancêtres, ni pour la divinité chère aux femmes[ad], ni pour aucun autre dieu, car il se placera au-dessus de tous. 38 Au lieu de ceux-ci, il vénérera le dieu des forteresses, une divinité que n’auront pas connue ses ancêtres en lui offrant de l’or, de l’argent, des pierres précieuses et d’autres objets de valeur. 39 Il attaquera des forteresses, avec l’aide d’un dieu étranger : il comblera d’honneurs ceux qui accepteront ce dieu, il leur conférera le pouvoir sur un grand nombre et leur distribuera des terres en récompense.

La fin du persécuteur

40 Au temps de la fin, le roi du Midi se heurtera contre lui. Comme un ouragan, le roi du Nord fondra sur celui du Midi avec ses chars, sa cavalerie et une flotte considérable ; il pénétrera à l’intérieur des terres et, comme une inondation, il les submergera sur son passage. 41 Il envahira aussi le Pays magnifique[ae] et de nombreux peuples succomberont. Quelques-uns échapperont à ses coups : les Edomites, les Moabites et l’élite des Ammonites. 42 Il étendra sa domination sur différents pays, et l’Egypte elle-même ne lui échappera pas. 43 Il s’emparera des trésors d’or et d’argent et de tous les objets précieux de l’Egypte. Les Libyens et les Ethiopiens le suivront. 44 Mais, alarmé par des nouvelles venues de l’Orient et du Nord, il quittera le pays dans une grande colère, pour détruire et exterminer un grand nombre. 45 Il dressera les tentes royales entre les mers, sur la magnifique montagne sainte. Alors sa fin l’atteindra sans que personne vienne à son secours.

Footnotes

  1. 11.1 Voir 6.1 et note.
  2. 11.2 Certainement Cambyse (530 à 522 av. J.-C.), Pseudo-Smerdis, ou Gaumata (522 av. J.-C.) et Darius Ier (522 à 486 av. J.-C.).
  3. 11.2 Xerxès Ier (486 à 465 av. J.-C.) qui a cherché à conquérir la Grèce en 480.
  4. 11.3 Alexandre le Grand.
  5. 11.4 Voir 8.8 et note.
  6. 11.5 C’est-à-dire l’Egypte, située au sud du pays d’Israël. Le roi est Ptolémée Ier (323 à 285 av. J.-C.), fils du fondateur de la dynastie des Ptolémées.
  7. 11.5 Séleucus surnommé Nicator (311 à 280 av. J.-C.), d’abord lieutenant de Ptolémée, qui fondera l’empire des Séleucides en Syrie (au nord du pays d’Israël, v. 6).
  8. 11.6 Mariage, vers 250 av. J.-C., de Bérénice, fille du roi d’Egypte Ptolémée II Philadelphe (285 à 246 av. J.-C.) avec le roi de Syrie Antiochus II (261 à 246 av. J.-C.) qui dut répudier sa femme Laodicée. A la mort de Ptolémée Philadelphe, Antiochus répudia Bérénice et reprit Laodicée. Celle-ci se vengea de sa disgrâce en empoisonnant son mari et en faisant mourir Bérénice et son fils.
  9. 11.7 Ptolémée III Evergète (246 à 221 av. J.-C.), frère de Bérénice, marcha contre Séleucus II Callinicus (246 à 226 av. J.-C.), fils d’Antiochus II, pour venger sa sœur. Il fit mourir Laodicée et s’empara d’une grande partie de la Syrie et de la Cilicie.
  10. 11.10 Séleucus III (226 à 223 av. J.-C.) et Antiochus III (223 à 187 av. J.-C.), fils de Séleucus II. Après avoir envahi la Phénicie et le pays d’Israël, Antiochus s’avança jusqu’à la forteresse de Raphia sur la frontière de l’Egypte.
  11. 11.11 Victoire de Ptolémée IV Philator (221 à 203 av. J.-C.) sur Antiochus III à la bataille de Raphia (en 217 av. J.-C.).
  12. 11.13 Quatorze ans après la bataille de Raphia, Antiochus III revint avec des forces considérables et reconquit les provinces perdues.
  13. 11.14 Des soulèvements éclatèrent dans tous les pays soumis à l’Egypte, entre autres en Judée.
  14. 11.15 La ville de Sidon où s’était réfugié le général égyptien Scopas et qui fut obligée de se rendre.
  15. 11.16 le Pays magnifique: celui d’Israël (cp. 8.9 ; 11.41).
  16. 11.17 En 194 av. J.-C., Antiochus conclut la paix avec l’Egypte à la condition que le jeune Ptolémée V (203 à 181 av. J.-C.) épouse sa fille Cléopâtre qui lui apporta le pays d’Israël en dot. Il voulait ainsi se rendre maître de l’Egypte par la ruse. Mais Cléopâtre prit parti pour son mari contre son père, faisant ainsi échouer le plan de ce dernier.
  17. 11.18 Il conquit plusieurs îles de la mer Egée (Rhodes, Samos) alliées aux Romains et traversa l’Hellespont sans se laisser arrêter par les avertissements des représentants de Rome qu’il injuria.
  18. 11.19 Victoire du général romain Scipion l’Asiatique sur Antiochus III à Magnésie en 190 av. J.-C.
  19. 11.20 C’est-à-dire le pays d’Israël.
  20. 11.20 Vers 176 av. J.-C., Séleucus IV Philopator (187 à 175 av. J.-C.) envoie son ministre Héliodore piller les trésors du temple de Jérusalem. Séleucus meurt empoisonné par Héliodore.
  21. 11.21 Antiochus IV Epiphane (175 à 164 av. J.-C.).
  22. 11.22 Défaite du roi d’Egypte, Ptolémée VI Philométor (181 à 146 av. J.-C.) et mort du grand-prêtre Onias III en 170 av. J.-C.
  23. 11.25 Campagne contre l’Egypte en 170-169 av. J.-C.
  24. 11.27 C’est-à-dire Antiochus IV et Ptolémée VI Philométor.
  25. 11.28 Sur le chemin du retour de l’Egypte, en 169 av. J.-C., Antiochus IV pille le temple de Jérusalem.
  26. 11.30 Navires romains sous les ordres du légat Popilius Laenas chargé de transmettre à Antiochus le décret du sénat lui enjoignant de quitter l’Egypte.
  27. 11.31 Voir Ex 29.38-42 ; Nb 28.3-6.
  28. 11.31 Voir 9.27 ; 12.11. En 168 av. J.-C., le Temple fut consacré à Jupiter Olympien. L’autel de ce dieu fut installé au-dessus de l’autel des holocaustes.
  29. 11.36 Voir 2 Th 2.4.
  30. 11.37 Probablement le dieu Tammouz (voir Ez 8.14).
  31. 11.41 le Pays magnifique: celui d’Israël (cp. 8.9 ; 11.16).
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