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Daniel 11:20-39
New English Translation

20 There will arise after him[a] one[b] who will send out an exactor[c] of tribute to enhance the splendor of the kingdom, but after a few days he will be destroyed,[d] though not in anger or battle.

21 “Then there will arise in his place a despicable person[e] 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[f] will be suddenly[g] swept away in defeat[h] before him; both they and a covenant leader[i] will be destroyed.[j] 23 After[k] entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously; he will ascend to power with only a small force.[l] 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.[m] 25 He will rouse his strength and enthusiasm[n] against the king of the south[o] 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;[p] many will be killed in battle. 27 These two kings, their minds[q] filled with evil intentions, will trade[r] 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[s] 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[t] will come against him, leaving him disheartened.[u] He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor[v] those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 His forces[w] will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary,[x] stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up[y] the abomination that causes desolation. 32 Then with smooth words he will defile[z] those who have rejected[aa] the covenant. But the people who are loyal to[ab] their God will act valiantly.[ac] 33 These who are wise among the people will teach the masses.[ad] However, they will fall[ae] by the sword and by the flame,[af] and they will be imprisoned and plundered for some time.[ag] 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[ah] 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[ai] wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must occur.[aj] 37 He will not respect[ak] the gods of his fathers—not even the god loved by women.[al] 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[am] mighty fortresses, aided by[an] 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.[ao]

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:20 tn Heb “on his place.”
  2. Daniel 11:20 sn The one who will send out an exactor of tribute was Seleucus IV Philopator (ca. 187-176 b.c.).
  3. Daniel 11:20 sn Perhaps this exactor of tribute was Heliodorus (cf. 2 Macc 3).
  4. Daniel 11:20 tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
  5. 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.).
  6. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “arms.”
  7. Daniel 11:22 tc The present translation reads הִשָּׁטֹף (hishatof), Niphal infinitive absolute of שָׁטַף (shataf, “to overflow”), for the MT הַשֶּׁטֶף (hashetef, “flood”).
  8. Daniel 11:22 tn The words “in defeat” are added in the translation for clarification.
  9. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “a prince of the covenant.”
  10. Daniel 11:22 tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
  11. 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).
  12. Daniel 11:23 tn Heb “nation.”
  13. Daniel 11:24 tn Heb “and unto a time.”
  14. Daniel 11:25 tn Heb “heart.”
  15. Daniel 11:25 sn This king of the south was Ptolemy Philometer (ca. 181-145 b.c.).
  16. Daniel 11:26 tc The present translation reads יִשָׁטֵף (yishatef, passive) rather than the MT יִשְׁטוֹף (yishtof, active).
  17. Daniel 11:27 tn Heb “heart,” as also in v. 28.
  18. Daniel 11:27 tn Heb “speak.”
  19. Daniel 11:28 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  20. 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).
  21. 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.
  22. Daniel 11:30 tn Heb “show regard for.”
  23. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “arms.”
  24. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “the sanctuary, the fortress.”
  25. Daniel 11:31 tn Heb “will give.”
  26. Daniel 11:32 tn Or “corrupt.”
  27. Daniel 11:32 tn Heb “acted wickedly toward.”
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “the many.”
  31. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “stumble.”
  32. Daniel 11:33 tn Or “by burning.”
  33. Daniel 11:33 tn Heb “days.”
  34. 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.
  35. Daniel 11:36 tn The words “the time of” are added in the translation for clarification.
  36. Daniel 11:36 tn Heb “has been done.” The Hebrew verb used here is the perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of fulfillment.
  37. Daniel 11:37 tn Heb “consider.”
  38. Daniel 11:37 tn Heb “[the one] desired by women.” The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  39. Daniel 11:39 tn Heb “act against.”
  40. Daniel 11:39 tn Heb “with.”
  41. Daniel 11:39 tn Or perhaps “for a reward.”
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Daniel 11:20-39
International Standard Version

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
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