Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 11:43
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps.
43. have power ] lit. rule. He will secure great treasure from Egypt: cf. (in 170 or 169) 1Ma 1:19 .
and the Libyans and the Ethiopians (shall be) at his steps ] i.e. will follow in his train. The Libyans, on the W. of Egypt, and the Kushites (or Ethiopians) on the South, are both mentioned either as helping the Egyptians, or as serving in their army, in Nah 3:9, the Ethiopians also in Jer 46:9 (cf. Eze 30:4-5). Here they are represented as joining the army of the conqueror.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver – See the notes at Dan 11:28. Having seized upon the most important places in Egypt, and having possession of the person of the king, he would, of course, have the wealth of Egypt at his disposal, and would return to his land laden with spoils.
And over all the precious things of Egypt – The rich lands, the public buildings, the contents of the royal palace, the works of art, and the monuments, and books, and implements of war. All these would, of course, be at the disposal of the conqueror.
And the Libyans – The word Libyans, in the Hebrew Scriptures, is everywhere joined with the Egyptians and Ethiopians. They are supposed to have been a people of Egyptian origin, and their country bordered on Egypt in the west. See Tanners Ancient Atlas. A conquest of Egypt was almost in itself a conquest of Libya.
And the Ethiopians – Hebrew, Cushites – kushym. On the general meaning of the word Cush or Ethiopia in the Scriptures, see the note at Isa 11:11. The reference here, undoubtedly, is to the African Cush or Ethiopia, which bounded Egypt on the south. This country comprehended not only Ethiopia above Syene and the Cataracts, but likewise Thebais or Upper Egypt. A subjugation of Egypt would be, in fact, almost a conquest of this land.
Shall be at his steps – Gesenius renders this, in his company. The word means properly step, or walk. Compare Psa 37:23; Pro 20:24. The Vulgate renders this, And he shall pass also through Libya and Ethiopia. The Greek, and he shall have power over all the secret treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the desirable things of Egypt, and of the Libyans, and of the Ethiopians, in their strongholds. Lengerke renders it, And the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow his steps. The proper sense of the Hebrew would be, that they accompanied him; that they marched with him or followed him; and the phrase would be applicable either to those who were allies, or who were led captive. The more probable idea would be that they were allies, or were associated with him, than that they were captives. I do not know that there are any distinct historical facts which show the truth of what is here predicted respecting Antiochus, but it cannot be considered as improbable that the prophecy was fulfilled, for
(a), as already observed, these nations, naturally allied to Egypt as being a part of the same people, bounded Egypt on the west and on the south;
(b) in the days of Ezekiel Eze 30:4-5, we find that they were actually confederated with Egypt in a league, and that the calamity which fell upon Egypt, also fell directly upon Ethiopia and Libya; and
(c) the possession of Egypt, therefore, would be naturally followed with the subjugation of these places, or it might be presumed that they would seek the alliance and friendship of one who had subdued it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
i.e. The parts westward from Egypt along the Barbary coast, and Ethiopia, not the Abyssines, but Arabia.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt,…. The land of Egypt, as it is a very large, so a very rich country, abounding with gold, silver, and precious things; all which came into the hands of the Turk along with it; for when Selim, the ninth emperor of the Turks, conquered the Mamalucs he caused five hundred of the chiefest Egyptian families to be transported to Constantinople; as likewise a great number of Mamalucs’ wives and children, besides the sultan’s treasure, and other immense riches b.
And the Lybians and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps; at his command and pleasure; shall follow him, being taken captive, or go where he orders them; that is, in all things shall be obedient to him. So we find that these very people will be in the army of Gog or the Turk, when he shall march against the land of Judea, to recover it from the Jews, when possessed of it, Eze 38:5. These people, the Africans and Ethiopians, are near to Egypt, and therefore mentioned with it, and never were under the power of Antiochus, as Jerome observes; but are now subject to the Ottoman empire, and make a part of it; which is a very strong evidence of the Turk being the king of the north here spoken of.
b See Dr. Newton’s Dissertations on the Prophecies, p. 393.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have previously stated that though the language applies to a single king, yet a kingdom is to be understood, and our former observations are here confirmed. Although many nations should endeavor to resist the Romans, they should yet be completely victorious, and finally acquire immense booty. Their avarice and covetousness were perfectly astonishing; for he says, they should acquire dominion over the treasures of gold and silver, and should draw to themselves all the precious things of Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia; and that, too, in their footsteps. In these words he more clearly explains our previous remarks upon the emblem of the deluge. All lands should be laid open to them; although the cities were fortified, and would thus resist them by their closed gates, yet the way should be open to them, and none should hinder them from bursting forth over the whole east, and subduing at the same time cities, towns, and villages. This we know to have been actually accomplished. Hence there is nothing forced in the whole of this context, and the prophecy is fairly interpreted by the history. He afterwards adds, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(43) Libyans . . . Ethiopians.These nations are specified as allies of Egypt. (See Eze. 30:5; Jer. 46:9.) They are represented as following the steps of the conqueror (comp. Exo. 11:8), and as submitting themselves to him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. Compare Dan 11:24; Dan 11:28.
The Libyans and the Ethiopians The LXX. reads, “And Libyans and Ethiopians shall be in his host.” Literally, Antiochus never did dominate Egypt, and certainly never had a campaign against Libya or Ethiopia. But this is precisely in the style of oriental hyperbole which was universal to literary men of ancient times. (Compare Eze 19:8; Eze 19:13, and the Books of the Maccabees, passim.) The Jewish prophets must be allowed to tell their story in the style most agreeable and familiar to their contemporaries.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps.
Ver. 43. Shall be at his steps, ] i.e., Obey him as their captain.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 11:43
Dan 11:43 But he shall have powerH4910 over the treasuresH4362 of goldH2091 and of silver,H3701 and over allH3605 the precious thingsH2530 of Egypt:H4714 and the LibyansH3864 and the EthiopiansH3569 shall be at his steps.H4703
Dan 11:43
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
With the conquest of Egypt, Rome took possession of Egypt’s vast treasures. Egypt is here mentioned by name. Historically this matches up with Daniel’s vision and lends credibility to Rome being the chief figure in this part of Daniel’s vision. It should be mentioned here that there are numerous interpretations of this vision. It is the firm conviction of this student of God’s word that the events of Daniel’s vision are limited to the Jewish people and the events in their history leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the holy people mentioned in Dan 12:6-7.
“Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”
With the annexation of Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia became the border nations of the Roman empire.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the Libyans: Jer 46:9, Jer 46:10, Eze 38:5
at his: Exo 11:8, Jdg 4:10
Reciprocal: 2Ch 12:3 – Ethiopians Eze 29:15 – rule Act 2:10 – Libya Rev 16:12 – that the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 11:43. The conquest of Egypt is to be complete, so that even the border peoples, the Libyans on the W., and the Ethiopians on the S. will be subdued.