Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 33

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:33 "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days."





yet they shall... While in Egypt he heard that Jason, who had been deceived by him and deposed of the high priesthood, had gathered an army and marched against Jerusalem to take it from the wicked Menelaus who was beseiged in the castle (see Dan. 11:22-23). Antiochus then came against Jerusalem and took it by storm; slew 40,000 Jews; sold many as slaves; boiled swine’s flesh and sprinkled the broth in the temple and on the altar; broke into the holy of holies; took away the golden vessels and other sacred treasures; restored Menelaus to office; and made Philip, a Phrygian, governor of Judea (1Macc. 1:24; 2Macc. 5:21). He also prohibited Jewish worship and consecrated the Jewish temple to Jupiter Olympius. After taking away the Jewish sacrifices in the Jewish temple, Antiochus offered a swine upon the altar and made the temple desolate of divine worship (Dan. 11:30-31; 1Macc. 1:44-50). All this brought about the rebellion of the Jews under the Maccabees (Dan. 11:32-34). This war with Antiochus lasted about four years after which he died in a war in Persia.

This ends the historical section of this vision (Dan. 11:2-34), which was all prophecy when Daniel received the revelation of these events. Other kings continued in Syria and Egypt until these countries were taken over by the Romans about 30 B.C.

Those who truly knew God instructed others one on one. Even their great faith did not save them from being killed by the sword. Those the sword did not get, the fire did.





The Jews who refused to submit to Antiochus’ false religious system were persecuted and martyred for their faith. The word fall (Dan. 11:33-34), literally “stumble” (kāšal), refers to severe suffering on the part of many and death for others. This has in view the rise of the Maccabean revolt. Mattathias, a priest, was the father of five sons. (One of them, Judas, became well known for refurbishing and restoring the temple in late 164 b.c. He was called Judas Maccabeus, “the Hammerer.”) In 166, Mattathias refused to submit to this false religious system. He and his sons fled from Jerusalem to the mountains and began the Maccabean revolt.