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20 His successor will send out a tax collector for royal splendor, but in a short period of time he’ll be shattered, though neither in anger nor in battle.’”

The Despicable King

21 “‘In his place there will arise a despicable person, upon whom no royal authority has been conferred, but he’ll invade in a time of tranquility, taking over the kingdom through deception. 22 Overwhelming forces will be carried away before him, along with the Commander-in-Chief[a] of the covenant. 23 From the time that an alliance is made with him, he’ll act deceitfully, and he will go up and take power with only a small group of nations. 24 He’ll invade the most prosperous areas of the province during a time of tranquility, accomplishing what neither his predecessors nor his ancestors ever could. He’ll distribute war spoils, booty, and wealth to them, and he’ll plot the overthrow of fortresses, though only for a time. 25 He’ll encourage himself against the southern king by raising[b] a large army. As a result, the southern king will mobilize for war with a large and powerful army, but he won’t succeed because they will devise elaborate schemes against him. 26 His own security detail[c] will undermine him, his army will be swept away, and many will fall and be killed in battle.[d] 27 Now as for the two kings, their intentions will be evil, and they’ll promote deception at their dinner table, but none of this will succeed, because the end won’t have come yet. 28 Then he’ll return to his homeland with great wealth, will focus his attention against the holy covenant, and will take action as he returns to his land.’”

Desecration of the Sanctuary

29 “‘At the scheduled time he’ll return, moving southward, but the end result won’t be as before, 30 because ships will come against him from the Mediterranean islands.[e] Disheartened, he’ll return, incited to vehemence against the holy covenant, and he’ll take action. As he returns, he’ll show deference to those who abandon the holy covenant. 31 Armed forces will arise from his midst, and they’ll desecrate the fortified Sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and establish the destructive desecration. 32 Through flattery he’ll corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but people who know their God will be strong and take action. 33 Insightful people[f] will impart understanding to many, though they’ll fall by sword, by fire, by captivity, and as war booty for a while.[g] 34 When they fall, they’ll be given some relief, but many will join them by pretending to be sympathetic to their cause. 35 Some of the insightful will fall so they may be refined, purged, and purified until the time of the end, since it will surely come about.’”

The King Who Calls Himself God

36 “‘The king will do as he pleases. He’ll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of Gods. He’ll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out. 37 He’ll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women—he won’t recognize any god, because he’ll exalt himself above everything. 38 He’ll glorify the god of fortresses,[h] a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures. 39 He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he’ll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he’ll parcel out the land for a profit.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:22 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  2. Daniel 11:25 The Heb. lacks raising
  3. Daniel 11:26 Lit. Those who eat his delicacies
  4. Daniel 11:26 The Heb. lacks in battle
  5. Daniel 11:30 Lit. from Kittim
  6. Daniel 11:33 I.e. believers; cf. v. 35
  7. Daniel 11:33 Lit. for days
  8. Daniel 11:38 Or forces

20 “Then in his place will arise one sending an official throughout the glory[a] of his kingdom, and in a few days[b] he will be broken, but not in anger and not in battle. 21 And in his place a despicable person will arise on whom[c] they have not conferred the majesty of the kingdom, and he will come in without warning[d] and he will seize the kingdom by deceit. 22 And before him[e] mighty military forces[f] will be utterly swept away, and they will be broken, and also the leader of the covenant. 23 And after an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully, and he will rise and he will become powerful with few people backing him. 24 In a time of ease and in the rich parts of the province, he will come and he will do what his predecessors[g] did not do; he will distribute plunder and spoil and possessions to them, and he will devise his plans against fortifications, but only for a time.[h] 25 And he will stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south and with a much greater and stronger army;[i] but he will not succeed, for they will devise plans against him. 26 And those who eat of his royal rations will break him and his army will be overwhelmed, and many will fall, slain. 27 And two of the kings[j] will bend their hearts[k] to evil. And at the same table[l] they will speak lies, but what is discussed will not succeed, for still an end is coming at the appointed time. 28 Then he will return to his land with many possessions, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant,[m] and he will take action and he will return to his land.

29 “At the appointed time he will return and he will come into the south, but it will not be as it was before.[n] 30 And the ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart, and he will turn back, and he will be enraged against the holy covenant,[o] and he will take action, and he will turn back, and he will pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant.[p] 31 And military forces from him will occupy[q] and will profane[r] the sanctuary stronghold,[s] and they will abolish the regular burnt offering, and they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

32 “And those who violate the covenant he will seduce with flattery, but the persons who know their God[t] will stand firm and will take action. 33 And those who have insight will instruct[u] the many, but they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for some time.[v] 34 And when they fall[w] they will receive little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. 35 And even some of those who have insight[x] will fall[y] in order for them to be refined by it, and to be purified and cleansed until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.

36 “Then the king will do as he pleases,[z] and he will exalt himself and will consider himself above any god, and he will speak horrendous things against[aa] the God of gods, yet he will succeed until the period of anger is finished, for what is determined will be done. 37 He will not pay respect to the gods of his ancestors,[ab] or to the darling of women, and not to any god will he pay respect, for he will consider himself great over all gods. 38 But instead[ac] he will honor the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors[ad] did not know. He will honor him with gold, and with silver, and with precious stones[ae] and with costly gifts. 39 And he will deal with the fortified strongholds[af] with the help of a foreign god;[ag] and he will increase wealth for whoever will acknowledge him, and he will cause them to rule[ah] over the many, and he will distribute land for a price.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:20 Or “splendor”
  2. Daniel 11:20 Literally “in some days”
  3. Daniel 11:21 Hebrew “him”
  4. Daniel 11:21 Literally “in ease”
  5. Daniel 11:22 Literally “to the face of him”
  6. Daniel 11:22 Literally “military forces of the flood”
  7. Daniel 11:24 Literally “his fathers and the father of his fathers”
  8. Daniel 11:24 Literally “until time”
  9. Daniel 11:25 Literally “with an army great and numerous exceedingly”
  10. Daniel 11:27 Literally “And two of them, the kings”
  11. Daniel 11:27 Literally “their heart”
  12. Daniel 11:27 Literally “one table”
  13. Daniel 11:28 Literally “covenant of holiness”
  14. Daniel 11:29 Literally “as the former and as the last”
  15. Daniel 11:30 Literally “against the covenant of holiness”
  16. Daniel 11:30 Literally “the covenant of holiness”
  17. Daniel 11:31 Literally “will stand forth”
  18. Daniel 11:31 Or “desecrate”
  19. Daniel 11:31 Literally “the sanctuary, the stronghold”
  20. Daniel 11:32 Hebrew “the ones who know his God”
  21. Daniel 11:33 Literally “make understand”
  22. Daniel 11:33 Literally “during days”
  23. Daniel 11:34 Literally “in/at their falling”
  24. Daniel 11:35 Literally “the ones who produce insight”
  25. Daniel 11:35 Or “stumble”
  26. Daniel 11:36 Literally “as his pleasure”
  27. Daniel 11:36 Literally “over”
  28. Daniel 11:37 Or “fathers”
  29. Daniel 11:38 Literally “in his place”
  30. Daniel 11:38 Or “fathers”
  31. Daniel 11:38 Hebrew “precious stone”
  32. Daniel 11:39 Literally “the fortifications of strongholds”
  33. Daniel 11:39 Literally “the god of a foreign land”
  34. Daniel 11:39 Or “appoint”