Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 11:16
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
16. But he (Antiochus) that cometh against him (Ptolemy) shall do according to his own will ] so greatly will he be superior to him: the phrase, as Dan 11:3.
stand before him ] Dan 8:4; Dan 8:7.
shall stand in the beauteous land (the land of Israel: see on Dan 8:9), with destruction in his hand ] aimed, viz., against Egypt; possessed of Palestine ( Dan 11:14), he will ‘stand’ in it, menacing Egypt with ruin. Or (with a change of points), with all of it (the land) in his hand (power) (Bertholdt, Kamph., Prince).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will – That is, Antiochus, who came against Scopas, the Egyptian general, sent out by Ptolemy. The idea is, that Antiochus would be entirely successful in the countries of Coelo-Syria and Palestine. As a matter of fact, as stated above, he drove Scopas out of those regions, and compelled him to take refuge in Sidon, and then besieged him, and compelled him to surrender.
And none shall stand before him – That is, neither the forces that Scopas had under his command, nor the choice and select armies sent out from Egypt for his rescue, under Eropus, Menocles, and Damoxenus.
And he shall stand in the glorious land – Margin, the land of ornament, or, goodly land. The Hebrew word tseby means, properly, splendor, beauty, and was given to the holy land, or Palestine, on account of its beauty, as being a land of beauty or fertility. Compare Eze 20:6, Eze 20:15; Eze 26:12; Jer 3:19, and Dan 11:45. The meaning here is, that he would obtain possession of the land of Israel, and that no one would be able to stand against him. By the defeat of Scopas, and of the forces sent to aid him when entrenched in Sidon, this was accomplished.
Which by his hand shall be consumed – As would be natural when his invading army should pass through it. The angel does not seem to refer to any wanton. destruction of the land, but only to what would necessarily occur in its invasion, and in securing provision for the wants of an army. As a matter of fact, Antiochus did many things to conciliate the favor of the Jews, and granted to them many privileges. See Josephus, Ant. b. xii. ch. iii. Section 3. But, according to Josephus, these favors were granted subsequently to the wars with Scopas, and as a compensation for the injuries which their country had suffered in the wars which had been waged between him and Scopas within their borders. The following language of Josephus respecting the effect of these wars will justify and explain what is here said by the angel: Now it happened that, in the reign of Antiochus the Great, who ruled over all Asia, the Jews, as well as the inhabitants of Coelo-Syria, suffered greatly, and their land was sorely harassed, for while he was at war with Ptolemy Philopater, and with his son who was called Epiphanes, it fell out that these nations were equally sufferers, both when he was beaten, and when he beat the others; so that they were like to a ship in a storm, which is tossed by the waves on both sides; and just thus were they in their situation in the middle between Antiochus prosperity and its change to adversity. – Ant. b. xii. ch. iii. Section 3.
When Antiochus was successful against Scopas, however, the Jews went over to him, says Josephus, of their own accord, and received him into Jerusalem; and as a consequence of the aid which they rendered him, he granted them the favors and privileges mentioned by Josephus. The immediate consequence of the wars, however, was extended desolation; and it is this to which the passage before us refers. Lengerke, however, supposes that the meaning of the passage is, that the whole land would be subdued under him. The Hebrew word rendered shall be consumed – kalah – means, properly, to be completed, finished, closed; then to be consumed, wasted, spent, destroyed; Gen 21:15; 1Ki 17:16; Jer 16:4; Eze 5:13. The destruction caused by invading and conflicting armies in a land would answer to all that is properly implied in the use of the word.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. He shall stand in the glorious land] Judea. For he reduced Palestine; and the Jews supplied him with provisions, and assisted him to reduce the garrison that Scopas had left in the citadel of Jerusalem.
Which by his hand shall be consumed] Or, which shall be perfected in his hand. For Antiochus showed the Jews great favour: he brought back those that were dispersed, and re-established them in the land; freed the priests and Levites from all tribute, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He that cometh against him, i.e. Antiochus,
shall do after his own will, as he listeth, without control.
In the glorious land, i.e. Judea; the word may be rendered pleasant,
desirable, noble, Dan 8:9. Antiochus held all Judea, the Jews not opposing, and with the provision and product of it maintained his army. Josephus. And to win them to his side from the Egyptians, he gave them liberties, as to their religion, encouraging their sacrifices, and easing their taxes. For so Josephus translates by , to consummate and make perfect, and not to consume, as some render it; and thus the LXX. likewise.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. he that cometh againsthimAntiochus coming against Ptolemy Epiphanes.
glorious landJudea(Dan 11:41; Dan 11:45;Dan 8:9; Eze 20:6;Eze 20:15).
by his hand shall beconsumedliterally, “perfected,” that is, completelybrought under his sway. JOSEPHUS[Antiquities, 12:3.3] shows that the meaning is not, that theJews should be utterly consumed: for Antiochus favored them fortaking his part against Ptolemy, but that their land should besubjected to him [LENGKERKE].GROTIUS translates, “shallbe perfected by him,” that is, shall flourish under him. EnglishVersion gives a good sense; namely, that Judea was much”consumed” or “desolated” by beingthe arena of conflict between the combatants, Syria and Egypt.TREGELLES refers (Da11:14), “robbers of thy people,” to the Gentiles, onceoppressors, attempting to restore the Jews to their land by merehuman effort, whereas this is to be effected only by divineinterposition: their attempt is frustrated (Da11:16) by the wilful king, who makes Judea the scene of hismilitary operations.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him,…. Antiochus the great, who came against Ptolemy king of Egypt, would do in those parts where he came as he pleased; take cities, and dispose of them at his pleasure; the army of the king of Egypt not being able to oppose him, and stop his conquests in Coelesyria and Phoenicia; nor should they hinder his entrance into Judea:
and he shall stand in the glorious land; Judea, so called, not only because of its fertility, but chiefly because of the worship of God in it; here Antiochus stood as a victorious conqueror; the Jews readily submitting to him, and received him into their city, and assisted him in reducing the castle where Scopas had placed a garrison of soldiers:
which by his hand shall be consumed; by his numerous army, and the foraging of his soldiers, eating up and destroying the fruits of the earth wherever they came; otherwise the land of Judea, and the inhabitants of it, were not consumed and destroyed by him at this time; but rather brought into more flourishing circumstances, having many favours and privileges bestowed on them by him, on account of the respect they showed him; for, on his coming to Jerusalem, the priests and elders went out to meet him, and gladly received him and his army, and furnished him with horses and elephants, and helped him in reducing the garrison Scopas had left y, as before observed: hence some render the words, “which by his hand was perfected” z; restored to perfect peace and prosperity, which had been for some years harassed and distressed by the Egyptians and Syrians, in their turns being masters of it; the elders, priests, and Levites, he freed from tribute, gave them leave to live according to their own laws, granted them cattle and other things for sacrifice, and wood for the repairing and perfecting of their temple. The letters he wrote on this account are to be seen in Josephus a.
y Josephus, ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 12. c. 3. sect. 3.) z “et perficietur per eum”, Grotius. a Josephus, ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 12. c. 3. sect. 3.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Further Undertakings of the King of the North – Dan 11:16-19
Having penetrated into the kingdom of the south, he shall act there according to his own pleasure, without any one being able to withstand him; just as before this the king of the south did in the kingdom of the north (Dan 11:7). With the jussive appears instead of the future – cf. , (Dan 11:17), (Dan 11:18 and Dan 11:19) – to show that the further actions and undertakings of the king of the north are carried on under the divine decree. is he that comes into the land of the south, the king of the north (Dan 11:14, Dan 11:15). Having reached the height of victory, he falls under the dominion of pride and haughtiness, by which he hastens on his ruin and overthrow. After he has subdued the kingdom of the southern king, he will go into the land of beauty, i.e., into the Holy Land (with reference to , Dan 8:9). , and destruction is in his hand (an explanatory clause), being here not a verb, but a substantive. Only this meaning of is verbally established, see under Dan 9:27, but not the meaning attributed to the word, from the unsuitable introduction of historical events, accomplishing, perfection, according to which Hv., v. Leng., Maur., and Kliefoth translate the clause: and it (the Holy Land) is wholly given into his hand. means finishing, conclusion, only in the sense of destruction, also in 2Ch 12:2 and Eze 13:13. For the use of of spiritual things which one intends or aims at, cf. Job 11:14, Isa. 54:20. The destruction, however, refers not to the Egyptians (Hitzig), but to the Holy Land, in which violent (rapacious) people (Dan 11:14) make common cause with the heathen king, and thereby put arms into his hands by which he may destroy the land.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
The angel proceeds with the same discourse. He says, Antiochus the Great should accomplish his wishes, and should spread the terror of his arms in every direction, and thus no one would dare to oppose him. He shall do therefore according to his will, he says, and none shall stand before his face; and he shall stand in the desirable land; meaning, he shall bring his victorious army into Judea, and there shall be a great consumption under his hand, or Judea shall be consumed and ruined under his hand. We originally stated, that the angel’s mission did not authorize him to great these events as military exploits are usually narrated by historians. Enough is revealed to lead the faithful to acknowledge God’s continual regard for their safety. Experience also assures us of every occurrence being divinely foreseen, and thus they would acknowledge how everything tended to promote their welfare. God’s predictions of future events were never in vain, and the angel now declares the future coming of Antiochus to the desirable land. We have previously given the reason for the use of this epithet as applied to Judea, — not through any natural excellence over other lands, but because God had chosen it for himself as his seat and dwelling-place. The excellence of this land depended entirely on the gratuitous beneficence of God. It might seem inconsistent to grant such license to an impious tyrant and robber, and to allow him to overrun Judea, which God had marked out with peculiar honor, in adopting it as his dwelling-place, and calling it his residence. (Psa 132:14.) But we know that the Church, while on its pilgrimage in this world, enjoys no freedom from many infliction’s; for it is profitable for the sons of God to be humbled under the cross, lest they should grow restive in the world, and give themselves up to luxuries, and sleep upon the desires of the flesh. The angel, indeed, omits the reason why God suffered Antiochus thus cruelly to oppress the sacred land; but the faithful had been taught by the Law and the Prophets how the Church was subject to various tribulations. It is sufficient, then, to relate the event with simplicity: and the pleasant land shall be consumed under his hand, or there shall be a consumption. It matters but little which way we read it as far as the sense is concerned. The angel here encourages Daniel and all others to the exercise of patience, lest they should faint under this divine scourge; for he permitted Antiochus to wander about like a robber, and to exercise severe tyranny and cruelty against the Jews I need not discuss these events at greater length, as they are found in the Books of the Maccabees I will only touch on one point briefly; Antiochus did not of his own accord harass the Jews by leading his army into their country, but he was stirred up by impious priests. So great was their perfidy and barbarity that they willingly betrayed God’s Temple, and exposed their nation to the most distressing calamities. That was a severe trial: hence God consulted the interests of his own worshippers by predicting events which might weaken their confidence and cause them to indulge in despair. It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) But he that cometh.We now hear of further proceedings of the northern king. He follows up the vision mentioned in the last verse, enters the glorious land (i.e., Palestine), and commits great ravages in it. The king is described in language which reminds us of Dan. 11:3. He acts just as he pleases after his entrance to the southern kingdom. This has been applied to the conduct of Antiochus the Great, but history does not speak of any acts of destruction committed by him in Palestine. On the contrary, it is recorded of him that he treated the Jews with kindness. (On the glorious land, see Dan. 8:9.)
Which by his hand . . .Literally, destruction being in his hand.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘But he who comes against him will do according to his own will, and none will stand before him. And he will stand in the land of Desire and in his hand will be destruction (‘finishing’).’
Antiochus’ advance into Palestine was irresistible. The Egyptian forces could not hold him back, and Israel suffered as a consequence as he finished off the Egyptian forces there. This was inevitable as they were caught between two forces, although once Antiochus was secure he showed them great favour.
‘The land of Desire’. This was Israel.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 11:16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
Ver. 16. And he shall stand in the glorious land. ] Heb., The land of ornaments – that is, Judea, which, lying between these two potent princes, was perpetually afflicted, as grain is ground asunder lying between two heavy millstones. Now Judea is called the “glorious” or beautiful land, a not so much for the fertility thereof (Babylon was much more fertile), nor for the miracles done therein (many great works had been likewise done in Egypt), as for the sincere service of God there set up; this is the beauty and bulwark of any nation. Foreign writers have termed England, the fortunate island, the terra florida, the kingdom of God, the paradise of pleasure, &c. Plato commendeth the Attic country for this, that the inhabitants were – the right natives that grew out of it at first b – but especially for this, that it was , a place that loved God, and was interchangeably beloved of God. c May that be evermore England’s commendation!
Which by his hand shall be consumed.
a In Eze 20:6 ; Eze 20:15 , it is called the comeliness of all countries.
b . – Thucyd.
c . – Plato.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
him. Ptolemy V.
do according to his own will. Thus foreshadowing but not exhausting what is said of “the vile person” in verses: Dan 11:21, Dan 11:36.
which by his hand shall be consumed = much wasted in his hand.
consumed = perfected: i.e. completely desolated.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 11:16
Dan 11:16 But he that comethH935 againstH413 him shall doH6213 according to his own will,H7522 and noneH369 shall standH5975 beforeH6440 him: and he shall standH5975 in the gloriousH6643 land,H776 which by his handH3027 shall be consumed.H3615
Dan 11:16
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
Antiochus III was victorious in all his conquests against Egypt. Apparently nobody could resist him.
“And he shall stand in the glorious land”
The glorious land is of course Judea. Antiochus III, with help from the Jews, set Judea up as a buffer zone between him and Egypt and as a consequence, Judea was “consumed” or desolated by becoming the arena of conflict between the combatants Antiochus III and Ptolemy V.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
shall do: Dan 11:3, Dan 11:36, Dan 8:4, Dan 8:7
glorious land: or, goodly land, Dan 11:41, Dan 11:45, Dan 8:9, Isa 8:8, Heb. land of ornament, Jer 3:19, *marg.
Reciprocal: Deu 9:2 – Who can stand Psa 48:2 – Beautiful Eze 20:6 – which is
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 11:16. He (Antiochus) that cometh against him (Ptolemy).the glorious land: Palestine (cf. Dan 8:9).
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
11:16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the {f} glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
(f) He shows that he will not only afflict the Egyptians, but also the Jews, and will enter into their country, of which he admonished them before, that they may know that all these things came by God’s providence.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Antiochus III continued to solidify Syrian control over Palestine without successful opposition from the Egyptians.
"When Scopas finally surrendered to Antiochus III at Sidon, the Holy Land was permanently acquired by the Antioch [Syrian] government, to the exclusion of Egypt." [Note: Archer, "Daniel," p. 132.]
When Antiochus III entered Jerusalem, the populace welcomed him as a deliverer and benefactor.