Daniel 10:1-11:35: Antiochus IV Epiphanies
There is a broad consensus among students of Daniel that the first half of Daniel’s last vision (Daniel 10:1-11:35) is about the emergence of the Greek empire and the ruling families of the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria during from 320s to 160s BCE. They battled over control of the Jewish homeland. Antiochus IV Epiphanes oppressed the Jewish homeland and desecrated the temple in the 160s. This led to the Maccabean revolt and Jewish independence for about one hundred years.
One of the more interesting features of Daniel 10, which introduces the vision, is his conversation with the messengers (angels). They reveal that a cosmic struggle lies behind the movements of nations from Persia to Greece. When the earth is convulsed in battles, wars, and oppressive regimes, something more sinister, primordial, and cosmic lies behind what appears on earth. In Daniel 10 we get a brief glimpse behind the curtain that separates heaven and earth.
God Reveals a Word to Daniel in 536 BCE (10:1-3)
The date corresponds to the 70 years since Daniel was in Babylon: 605-536 BCE
The first returnees had already settled in Jerusalem two years earlier (March 538 BCE)
The revealed word “concerned a great conflict,” which is both political and religious.
Daniel fasted, mourned, and prayed (we can assume; cf. 10:12) over this “great conflict.”
A Messenger Assures Daniel (10:4-11:1)
Daniel is disturbed by the appearance of “a man clothed in linen” (10:4-9).
A messenger comforts Daniel (10:10-11).
A messenger explains his delay (10:12-14).*
Daniel responds to the messenger (10:15-17).
A messenger comforts Daniel again (10:18-19).
A messenger previews the revelation for Daniel (10:20-11:1).
*The delay is due to the conflict between the angelic hosts (including Michael, “one of the chief princes”) and the “prince of the kingdom of Persia.” This envisions a cosmic battle between the forces of good (God) and evil (who leads the evil forces?). Angelic forces often help Israel (Deuteronomy 33:1-2; Judges 5:19-20; 2 Kings 6:17), and evil forces often work against Israel (2 Kings 18:33-35). The nations are apparently apportioned to “sons of God” or angels (whether evil or good; cf. Deuteronomy 32:8-9).
To what does the “end of days” refer in Daniel 10:14? Is this a reference to “later days,” simply the “future,” or to the end of all things? It is a message for and about “your people” (Israel).
The Revelation or Apocalypse (11:2-12:4)
Concerning Persia (11:2)
Cyrus the Great (559-530 BCE)
Cambyses (530-522 BCE)
Smerdis (522 BCE)
Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BCE)
Xerxes/Ahasuerus (486-465 BCE)
Concerning Greece (11:3-4)
Alexander the Great, the “warrior king” (336-323 BCE)
Four Hellenistic Kingdoms after the Death of Alexander in 323 BCE:
Macedonia and Greece, ruled by Cassander
Thrace and Asia Minor, ruled by Lysimachus
Syria and Mesopotamia, ruled by Seleuchus (Seleucids)
Palestine and Egypt, ruled by Ptolemy (Ptolemies)
Concerning Egypt and Syria (11:5-20)
The kings of the south refer to the Ptolemies.
The kings of the north refer to the Seleucids.
One Ptolemy’s generals seized power in the north (Seleuchus), and his grandson (Antiochus) married Ptolemy’s daughter (Bernice). But then Antiochus divorced Bernice, and the married Laodice who then murdered Antiochus, Bernice, and her infant son in order to enthrone her son Seleucus II in 246 BCE(Daniel 11:5-6).
Then Ptolemy III Euergetes became ruler in the South and waged war against the Seleucids. He executed Laodice. Peace reigned until Seleucus II unsuccessfully attempted to invade Egypt in 242 BCE (Daniel 11:7-9).
The sons of Seleucus II (Antiochus III and Seleucus III) invaded Egypt on several occasions, but neither gained anything. The Seleucids lost 17,000 men, and the Ptolemies gained control of Palestine in 217 BCE (Daniel 11:10-13).
In another attack on the south, Antiochus III took control of Palestine in 198 BCE. The Seleucids would control the “beautiful land” from 198 to 165 BCE. Antiochus III’s invasion in 200 BCE began a series of attacks on Egypt over the coming decades. However, Antiochus III made peace with Egypt in the light of the rising power of Rome, but it faltered and invaded Egypt again. Antiochus III was assassinated in 187 BCE and his successor Seleucus IV also in 175 BCE (Daniel 11:14-20).
Concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes (11:21-35)
Antiochus IV became sole regent through the murder of his brother (175 BCE) and his nephew (170 BCE), and he ruled from 175-164 BCE. He is described as “a contemptible person” (11:21).
Antiochus IV controlled Palestine. He sought political allies from some Jews, and persecuted others eventually. “The prince of the covenant” (11:22) probably refers to the high priest Onians III who was murdered in 171 BCE.
Antiochus invaded Egypt in 169 BCE with some success but not fully. The “two kings” (11:27) are probably Ptolemy VI and Antiochus IV but the treaty will fail. The reference to the “end at the time appointed” (11:27) probably refers to the death of Antiochus IV. When Antiochus returned from Egypt, he set his sights against the “holy covenant” (Daniel 11:28).
Antiochus IV conducted a second campaign against Egypt in 167 BCE but was unsuccessful. He took out his frustrations against the Jews and Jerusalem. He will “profane the temple” (stop observances and sacrifices) and “set up the abomination that makes desolate” which refers to an altar dedicated to Zeus in the temple (11:29-31). He will make alliances with traitors to Israel (cf. 1 Maccabees 1:51-52; 2:15) and martyr others (11:32-35), and others will oppose him (cf. 1 Maccabees 2:42).
Nevertheless, the suffering of the Jews under Antiochus will come to an “end” at “the time appointed” (Daniel 11:35).
What is the meaning of Daniel 11:36-12:4? The meaning of the remainder of the Apocalypse is highly disputed (11:36-12:4). What is the identity of the king who “exalt[s] himself” (11:36)? Is this Antiochus, Roman Emperor, or a future Antichrist?