The angel declares to Daniel many things to come, with regard to the Persian and Grecian kings: more especially with regard to Antiochus as a figure of Antichrist.

¹ “And so, from the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood firm, so that he might be reinforced and strengthened.¹

1. 11:1The word fortis is used in Daniel to refer to the strength of the Christian faith. But here the word roboraretur is used instead. Thus, Darius the Mede is not a faithful Christian or Jew. The angel strengthens him for some purpose, but he is not a holy leader whose strength is from God.(Conte)

² And now I will announce to you the truth. Behold, up to a certain point, three kings will stand in Persia, and the fourth will be exceedingly enriched in power above them all. And when he has grown strong by his resources, he will stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.¹²

1. 11:2Three kings: Viz., Cambyses, Smerdes Magus, and Darius, the son of Hystaspes.(Challoner)
2. 11:2The fourth: Xerxes.(Challoner)

³ But there will rise up a strong king, and he will rule with great power, and he will do what he pleases.¹²

1. 11:3This king is the long-awaited great monarch, a holy devout Catholic king. Here the word fortis is again used to refer to the strength of the Christian faith. This king is not merely strong in body or in worldly power, he has a strong in faith in God.(Conte)
2. 11:3A strong king: Alexander.(Challoner)

⁴ And when he has been firmly established, his kingdom will be shattered and will be divided towards the four winds of the heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his power with which he ruled. For his kingdom will be torn to pieces, even for the outsiders who have been expelled from these.¹

1. 11:4The word “lacerabitur” has a meaning like: mangled, or wounded, or lacerated, but also (esp. in this context) means torn into pieces. Not a happy day for this kingdom. The externos or outsiders are those outside the Catholic faith or who have been “exceptis his” that is, who have been expelled from the Church.(Conte)

⁵ And the king of the South will be reinforced, yet one of his leaders will prevail over him, and he will rule with riches, for great is his domain.¹²³

1. 11:5Notice that now we are told about the South, Austri, whereas before we were told about the Meridian, the area near the equator.(Conte)
2. 11:5The king of the south: Ptolemeus the son of Lagus, king of Egypt, which lies south of Jerusalem.(Challoner)
3. 11:5One of his princes: that is, one of Alexander’s princes, shall prevail over him: that is, shall be stronger than the king of Egypt. He speaks of Seleucus Nicator, king of Asia and Syria, whose successors are here called the kings of the north, because their dominions lay to the north in respect to Jerusalem.(Challoner)

⁶ And after the end of years, they will form a federation, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to make friendship, but she will not obtain the strength of arms, neither will her offspring stand firm, and she will be handed over, along with those who brought her, her young men, and those who comforted her in these times.¹²

1. 11:6A federation, or a league, or an alliance.(Conte)
2. 11:6The daughter of the king of the south: Viz., Berenice, daughter of Ptolemeus Philadelphus, given in marriage to Antiochus Theos, grandson of Seleucus.(Challoner)

⁷ And a transplant from the germination of her roots will stand up, and he will come with an army, and will enter into the province of the king of the North, and he will abuse them, and will hold it fast.¹²

1. 11:7The phrase “germine radicum eius plantation” is an unusual expression, which probably refers to some type of unusual medical technology used (in the distant future) in procreation. In modern terms, this sounds like something having to do with unnatural conception and birth, something similar to in vitro fertilization, or surrogate mothering, or human cloning.(Conte)
2. 11:7A plant, etc: Ptolemeus Evergetes, the son of Philadelphus.(Challoner)

⁸ And, in addition, he will carry away captive into Egypt their gods, and their graven images, and likewise their precious vessels of gold and silver. He will prevail against the king of the North.¹

1. 11:8The king of the north: Seleucus Callinicus.(Challoner)

⁹ And the king of the South will enter into the kingdom, and will return to his own land.

¹⁰ But his sons will be challenged, and they will assemble a multitude of very many forces. And he will arrive rushing and overflowing. And he will be turned back, and he will be enraged, and he will join the battle in his redness.¹²³

1. 11:10Even though the translation is the literal “sons” the meaning might be metaphorical. The reference to the king’s redness, robere eius, means that the king will be either angry or embarrassed. The word provocabuntur can also be translated as provoked.(Conte)
2. 11:10His sons: Seleucus Ceraunius, and Antiochus the Great, the sons of Callinicus.(Challoner)
3. 11:10He shall come: Viz., Antiochus the Great.(Challoner)

¹¹ And the king of the South, having being challenged, will go forth and will fight against the king of the North, and he will prepare an exceedingly great multitude, and a multitude will be given into his hand.¹

1. 11:11The king of the south: Ptolemeus Philopator, son of Evergetes.(Challoner)

¹² And he will seize a multitude, and his heart will be exalted, and he will cast down many thousands, but he will not prevail.

¹³ For the king of the North will change strategy and will prepare a multitude much greater than before, and at the end of times and years, he will rush forward with a great army and exceedingly great resources.¹

1. 11:13Usually, opibus is translated as power or wealth, but in this context it means something like resources, though with a distinct military connotation.(Conte)

¹⁴ And in those times, many will rise up against the king of the South. And likewise the sons of the deceivers among your people will extol themselves, so as to fulfill the vision, and they will collapse.¹

1. 11:14The phrase “filii prævaricatorum populi tui” literally means the sons of the deceivers (or traitors) of your people. But the word “sons” is often used metaphorically in Jewish literature. The sons of the deceivers are not the biological offspring of deceivers, but those who act as if they were the offspring of deception personified.(Conte)

¹⁵ And the king of the North will arrive and will transport siege works, and he will seize the most fortified cities. And the arms of the South will not withstand him, and his elect will rise up to resist, but the strength will not.

¹⁶ And when he arrives, he will do just as he pleases, and there will be none who stand against his face. And he will stand in the illustrious land, and it will be consumed by his hand.¹²³

1. 11:16The illustrious land might seem to be the holy land of Israel, but the expression in Latin used here is somewhat different from other expressions referring to the land of Israel, so perhaps a different interpretation is indicated.(Conte)
2. 11:16He shall come upon him: Viz., Antiochus shall come upon the king of the south.(Challoner)
3. 11:16The glorious land: Judea.(Challoner)

¹⁷ And he will set his face to strive to hold his entire kingdom, and he will make fair conditions with him. And he will give him a daughter among women, so as to overthrow it. But she will not stand, neither will she be for him.¹²³⁴

1. 11:17A woman among women is an exemplary woman (cf. song of songs). But the phrase a daughter among women is an unusual twist on the more common expression of a woman among women. From the context and from the expression, this phrase would still seem somewhat complementary. She is an exemplary woman – but so young as to be called a daughter rather than a woman. An exemplary young woman, and perhaps the meaning is also that she is too young for the task she has been given. In any case, she fails at her unenviable task and she does not remain with him.(Conte)
2. 11:17All his kingdom: Viz., all the kingdom of Ptolemeus Epiphanes, son of Philopator.(Challoner)
3. 11:17A daughter of women: That is, a most beautiful woman, viz., his daughter Cleopatra.(Challoner)
4. 11:17To overthrow it: Viz., the kingdom of Epiphanes: but his policy shall not succeed; for Cleopatra shall take more to heart the interest of her husband, than that of her father.(Challoner)

¹⁸ And he will turn his face towards the islands, and he will seize many. And he will cause the leader of his reproach to cease, and his reproach will be turned around for him.¹

1. 11:18The prince of his reproach: Seipio the Roman general, called the prince of his reproach, because he overthrew Antiochus, and obliged him to submit to very dishonourable terms, before he would cease from the war.(Challoner)

¹⁹ And he will turn his face to the empire of his own land, and he will strike, and will overthrow, but he will not succeed.

²⁰ And there will stand up in his place one who is most worthless and unworthy of kingly honor. And in a short time, he will be worn out, but not in fury, nor in battle.¹

1. 11:20One most vile: Seleucus Philopator, who sent Heliodorus to plunder the temple: and was shortly after slain by the same Heliodorus.(Challoner)

²¹ And there will stand up in his place the despicable one, and he will not be assigned the honor of a king. And he will arrive in secret, and he will obtain the kingdom by deceitfulness.¹²

1. 11:21The despectus is the despicable one, the Antichrist.(Conte)
2. 11:21One despised: Viz., Antiochus Epiphanes, who at first was despised and not received for king. What is here said of this prince, is accommodated by St. Jerome and others to Antichrist; of whom this Antiochus was a figure.(Challoner)

²² And the arms of the fighting will be assaulted before his face and will be shattered, and, in addition, the leader of the federation.¹²

1. 11:22Of the fighter: That is, of them that shall oppose him, and shall fight against him.(Challoner)
2. 11:22The prince of the covenant: or, of the league. The chief of them that conspired against him: or the king of Egypt his most powerful adversary.(Challoner)

²³ And, after making friends, he will trick him, and he will go up and will overcome with a small people.¹

1. 11:23The phrase “modico populo” can mean a small people (not influential), or people who are short of stature, or people who are moderate and restrained, or people who are a short distance away. The phrase is quite ambiguous, in and of itself.(Conte)

²⁴ And he will enter into rich and resourceful cities, and he will do what his fathers never did, nor his fathers’ fathers. He will scatter their spoils, and their prey, and their riches, and will form a plan against the most steadfast, and this until a time.¹

1. 11:24The word rapinas resembles the English word rape, and can mean rape in some contexts. But it tends to have a more general meaning, something like assault (including robbery) and/or the loot obtained from such a robbery. The most steadfast would seem to be the Christians.(Conte)

²⁵ And his strength and his heart will be enraged against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South will be provoked into going to war by having many allies and exceedingly good circumstances, and yet these will not stand, for they will form plans against him.¹²

1. 11:25The king of the South is not foolish or rash, he knows it is very dangerous to go to war against the North – the only kingdom which can and has repeatedly defeated the South in war. But he will have so many things in his favor, including allies and good fortune, that he enters into a war that he ultimately will lose.(Conte)
2. 11:25The king: Ptolemeus Philometor.(Challoner)

²⁶ And those who eat bread with him will crush him, and his army will be suppressed, and very many will die, having been executed.¹

1. 11:26“Et comedentes panem cum eo,” (those who eat bread with him,) could well be a reference to the Eucharist. The king of the South and his kingdom may be the last refuge of Christianity, but it is a sinful kingdom, not a holy one. Here the Antichrist uses unfaithful Christians to help him overcome the kingdom where Christianity has the most influence. Later, he uses a similar tactic (in promoting the abomination of desolation).(Conte)

²⁷ And the heart of two kings will be similar, to do harm, and they will speak lies at one table, but they will not succeed, because as yet the end is for another time.¹

1. 11:27These two other kings are the kings of the East and of the Meridian (Africa). They realize the danger of the Antichrist and try to outmaneuver and out-deceive him. The word “malefaciant” can mean to do evil, but in this context (of trying to defeat the Antichrist), it tends more towards the meaning of doing harm.(Conte)

²⁸ And he will return to his land with many resources. And his heart will be against the holy testament, and he will act, and he will return to his own land.¹

1. 11:28The holy testament is the Christian faith. He acts against Christianity in the conquered land of the South, where Christianity is strongest, and in the two conquered lands of the two kings.(Conte)

²⁹ At the appointed time, he will return, and he will approach the South, but the latter time will not be like the former.

³⁰ And the Greek warships¹ and the Romans will come upon him, and he will be pierced, and will retreat, and will have scorn against the testament of the sanctuary, and he will act. And he will return and will consult their adversaries, who have forsaken the covenant of the sanctuary.²³

1. 11:30Greek warships The Trieres is a type of warship used by the ancient Greeks. But in Daniel, Greece symbolizes democracy, since that is where democracy first began. So, giving the text a modern interpretation, these warships are from an area which still, at that time in the future, practices some form of democracy. But, though the ships are Greek ships, the crew is Roman, which in the modern context would refer to Roman Catholics (or to Christians in general during a future time when all Christians are united in one Church). This interpretation explains why the Antichrist is indignant against Christianity after his defeat and why he sets out to destroy the Faith about halfway through his reign. Daniel 9:27 refers to this time of half a week of years. This text is translated quite differently in other English texts. RSV: “ships of Kittim,” NIV: “Ships of the western coastlands,” NKJV: “ships from Cyprus,” NIRV: “Roman ships,” NLT: “warships from western coastlands.” The Bible has been translated into Latin since the earliest days of the Church, so this Latin text (Trieres, et Romani) may be based on some ancient manuscripts, in Hebrew or Greek, which are not now extant.(Conte)
2. 11:30consult ... sanctuary The Antichrist then consults the adversaries of the Christians, those who have abandoned the Christian faith.(Conte)
3. 11:30The galleys and the Romans: Popilius, and the other Roman ambassadors, who came in galleys, and obliged him to depart from Egypt.(Challoner)

³¹ And arms will take his side, and they will pollute the sanctuary of the strength, and they will take away the continual sacrifice and will replace it with the abomination of desolation.¹²

1. 11:31Here again the word strength is used to refer to Christianity, as in the sanctuary of the strength, which will be polluted by the abomination of desolation (a false Eucharist). The continual sacrifice is the Eucharist.(Conte)
2. 11:31They shall place there the abomination, etc: The idol of Jupiter Olympius, which Antiochus ordered to be set up in the sanctuary of the temple: which is here called the sanctuary of strength, from the Almighty that was worshipped there.(Challoner)

³² And the impious within the testament will imitate deceitfully, but the people, knowing their God, will persevere and will act.

³³ And the teachers among the people will teach many, but they will be ruined by the sword, and by fire, and by captivity, and by assaults for many days.¹

1. 11:33The word rapina can mean sexual assault. In other contexts, rapina tends more towards robbery or even the loot obtained by robbery, but in this context rapina refers to physical assaults of various kinds.(Conte)

³⁴ And when they have fallen, they will be supported with a little help, but many will apply to them deceitfully.

³⁵ And some of the learned will be ruined, that they may be kindled and chosen and purified, up to the predetermined time, because there will be still another time.¹

1. 11:35The learned are not pure and on fire with the love of God; but some will be brought to this by suffering. Not many, just some. The very learned tend not to be very faithful nor very holy.(Conte)

³⁶ And the king will act according to his will, and he will be lifted up and will be extolled against every god. And he will speak great things against the God of gods, and he will control, until the passion is completed. Once accomplished, the limit is reached with certainty.¹

1. 11:36The word “iracundia” can refer to anger and is sometimes translated in this context as wrath, that is, until the wrath of God is completed. But such a translation does not fit the context well. The verse is about the Antichrist exalting himself, and acting according to his ill will, and controlling the world, and blaspheming God. This is not yet the Wrath of God on the unrepentant wicked. In this context, the phrase refers to the Passion of the Church, that is, to the great sufferings of the faithful during the reign of the Antichrist.(Conte)

³⁷ And he will give no thought to the God of his fathers, and he will be in the desire of women, and he will not attend to any gods, because he will rise up against all things.¹

1. 11:37The phrase “erit in concupiscentiis feminarum” does not mean that he will lust after women, but that women will lust for him.(Conte)

³⁸ But he will do homage to the god Maozim in his place, and, a god whom his fathers did not know, he will worship with gold, and silver, and precious stones, and costly things.¹

1. 11:38The god Maozim: That is, the god of forces or strong holds.(Challoner)

³⁹ And he will act to reinforce Maozim with an alien god, of whom he has become aware, and he will increase their glory, and will give them power over many, and he will distribute land for free.¹

1. 11:39And he shall increase glory, etc: He shall bestow honours, riches and lands, upon them that shall worship his god.(Challoner)

⁴⁰ And, at the predetermined time, the king of the South will fight against him, and the king of the North will come against him like a tempest, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with a great fleet, and he will enter into the lands, and will crush and pass through.

⁴¹ And he will enter into the glorious land, and many will fall. But only these will be saved from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the first part of the sons of Ammon.¹

1. 11:41The illustrious land, terra inclyta, (Dan 11:16) is probably a different land than the glorious land, terram gloriosam. The glorious land appears to be Israel, the holy land.(Conte)

⁴² And he will cast his hand upon the lands, and the land of Egypt will not escape.

⁴³ And he will rule over the treasure chests of gold, and silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and likewise he will pass through Libya and Ethiopia.

⁴⁴ And rumors from the East and from the North will trouble him. And he will arrive with a great multitude to destroy and to execute many.¹