34<\/strong>. In the midst of their trials a ‘little help’ will arise, to assist them. The allusion is to the rising of the Maccabees. First of all, Mattathias, either alone or assisted only by his sons, resisted openly Antiochus’ demands, and slew one of the officers sent to enforce them ( 1Ma 2:15-28 ): then others gradually joined themselves to him, and carried the resistance further ( ib. <\/em> 1Ma 2:39-48<\/em>): finally, after Mattathias’ death, his son Judas Maccabaeus carried on the struggle. His first victory was gained over Apollonius, who invaded Judah with a considerable army; and shortly afterwards, Seron, commander of the host of Syria, coming to avenge Apollonius’ defeat, was routed with the loss of 800 men, by Judas at the head of a ‘small company’ ( ), 1Ma 3:10-24 . After this, further successes were gained by Judas over Antiochus’ generals Lysias and Gorgias ( ib.<\/em> 1Ma 3:38 to 1Ma 4:35 ), the result of which was that, by the end of b.c. 165, the Jews recovered possession of Mount Zion, and the Temple was re-dedicated ( ib.<\/em> 1Ma 4:36-37 ). The occasion was celebrated by a festival, lasting eight days ( 1Ma 4:59<\/em>), which was observed annually afterwards, and is referred to in Joh 10:22<\/span> ( ).<\/p>\n but many shall<\/em> join themselves<\/strong> (Isa 14:1<\/span>; Isa 56:3<\/span>) unto them with flatteries<\/em> ] or smooth sayings<\/em>, i.e. plausible, but insincere, protestations of loyalty. In consequence of the severity shewn by Judas, and the leaders of the patriotic party, many joined them from mere terror, and were ready, if a favourable opportunity offered itself, to turn traitors. On the severity of Judas and the patriots towards the Hellenizing Jews, comp. allusions in 1Ma 2:44 ; 1M<\/span>a 3:5<\/span> a<\/em>, 8<\/span>, Dan 6:21-27<\/span>, Dan 7:5-7<\/span>; Dan 7:24<\/span> (where Judas, it is said, ‘took vengeance on the men that had deserted from him’), Dan 9:23<\/span>.<\/p>\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help – <\/B>By small accessions to their forces. The armies of the Maccabees were never very numerous; but the idea here is, that when they should be persecuted, there would be accessions to their forces, so that they would be able to prosecute the war. At first the numbers were very few who took up arms, and undertook to defend the institutions of religion, but their numbers increased until they were finally victorious. Those who first banded together, when the calamities came upon the nation, were Mattathias and his few followers, and this is the little help that is here referred to. See 1 Macc. 2.<\/P> But many shall cleave to them<\/B> – As was the case under Judas Maccabeus, when the forces were so far increased as to be able to contend successfully with Antiochus.<\/P> With flatteries – <\/B>Perhaps with flattering hopes of spoil or honor; that is, that they would not unite sincerely with the defenders of the true religion, but would be actuated by prospect of plunder or reward. For the meaning of the word, see the notes at Dan 11:21<\/span>. The sense here is not that Judas would flatter them, or would secure their cooperation by flatteries, but that this would be what they would propose to their own minds, and what would influence them. Compare 1 Macc. 5:55-57: Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais, Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done. Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the pagan round about us. Compare 2 Macc. 12:40; 13:21. There can be no doubt that many might join them from these motives. Such an event would be likely to occur anywhere, when one was successful, and where there was a prospect of spoils or of fame in uniting with a victorious leader of an amy.<\/P><\/p>\n Verse 34. Now when they shall fall<\/B><\/I>] When the storm of the tenth<\/I> persecution under Diocletian<\/I>, which lasted ten<\/I> years, fell upon<\/I> them<\/I>, they were sorely oppressed.<\/P> <\/P> They shall be holpen with a little help<\/B><\/I>] By Constantine; who, while he removed all persecution, and promoted the temporal prosperity of the Christian Church, yet added little to its spiritual perfection and strength. For many, now seeing the Christians in prosperity,-<\/P> <\/P> Cleave to them with flatteries.<\/B><\/I>] Became Christians<\/I> BECAUSE the EMPEROR was such<\/I>.<\/P> <\/p>\n i.e. God in their affliction, when it is great, wherein he never leaves himself without witness, shall raise up some succour, to be witnesses to this truth, to vindicate his honour and save his people from utter destruction, viz. by the Maccabees. Read what Mattathias and his sons did at Modin, 1Mac 2, read the chapter, who would not be flattered out of their religion. <\/P> <\/p>\n 34. a little help<\/B>The libertyobtained by the Maccabean heroes for the Jews was of but shortduration. They soon fell under the Romans and Herodians, and eversince every attempt to free them from Gentile rule has onlyaggravated their sad lot. The period of the world times (Gentilerule) is the period of depression of the theocracy, extending fromthe exile to the millennium [ROOS].The more immediate reference seems to be, the forces of Mattathiasand his five sons were originally few<\/I> (1 Maccabees 2:1-5<\/U>).<\/P> many shall cleave to them<\/B>aswas the case under Judas Maccabeus, who was thus able successfully toresist Antiochus. <\/P> with flatteries<\/B>Thosewho had deserted the Jewish cause in persecution, now, when successattended the Jewish arms, joined the Maccabean standard, for example,Joseph, the son of Zecharias, Azarias, c. (1 Maccabees 5:55-57 2Maccabees 12:40; 13:21<\/U>). MAURERexplains it, of those who through fear of the Maccabees’ severityagainst apostates joined them, though ready, if it suited theirpurpose, to desert them (1 Maccabees 2:44; 3:58<\/U>).<\/P><\/p>\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help<\/strong>,…. When the Jews shall be thus harassed and distressed by Antiochus and his armies, to the ruin of many, by the several sorts of punishments inflicted on them; they should be helped and eased a little by Mattathias, a priest of Modin, and his five sons, commonly called the Maccabees; Porphyry himself interprets this of Mattathias: the help and assistance which he and his sons gave to the Jews was but “little”; if we consider they were persons of a small figure, began with a handful of men, and could do but little, especially at first; and though great exploits were done by them, considering their number and strength, yet they were not able to restore the land to its former glory and liberty; nor did this help of theirs last long, but the enemy returned with great fierceness and cruelty, and sadly afflicted the people of the Jews. Cocceius understands this of the help the Christians had under Constantius Chlorus, and Constantine the great; and so does Sir Isaac Newton, who agrees with him in interpreting this and the preceding verse: he interprets “arms”, in Da 11:31<\/span>, of the Romans, and so Jacchiades; and makes this to be the beginning of the fourth kingdom that should “stand”, , “after him”; that is, after Antiochus; so the particle, he observes, is used in Da 11:8<\/span>, and it must be owned this is the sense in which it is sometimes used, of which Noldius l has given instances: and this seems to agree with the thread of history, and introduces the Romans, who must have a place in this prophecy, in a very proper manner; and carries on the account of things, through the times of Christ, his apostles, the first ages of Christianity under persecution, until the rise of antichrist, Da 11:36<\/span> and throws light upon the text in Mt 24:15<\/span>, the language of which seems best to agree with Da 11:31<\/span>, and, if so, must respect something to be done, not in the times of Antiochus, but after the times of Christ.<\/p>\n But many shall cleave to them with flatteries<\/strong>; seeing Mattathias and his sons succeed, some of those, who had been apostates from their religion, or not heartily friends to it, joined them, but not sincerely; pretended to be on their side, and commended their bravery and courage; and being ambitious of honour and fame, took with them, in order to share the glory of their actions; such were Joseph the son of Zachariah, and Azarias, in the Apocrypha:<\/p>\n “56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done. 57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.” (1 Maccabees 5)<\/p>\n and those under whose clothes were found idols, or what belonged to them, at Jamnia, when they were slain, in the Apocrypha:<\/p>\n “Now under the coats of everyone that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.” (2 Maccabees 12:40)<\/p>\n and Rhodocus, a soldier of the Jewish army, who betrayed their secrets, in the Apocrypha:<\/p>\n “But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews’ host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.” (2 Maccabees 13:21)<\/p>\n Cocceius applies this to antichrist and his followers pretending to be for Christ and his church, but were not.<\/p>\n l Concord. Part. Ebr. p. 557.<\/p>\n And when they shall fall, or shall have fallen, they shall be strengthened, or assisted, with a small help Without the slightest doubt, the angel here speaks of the Maccabees, by whose assistance the faithful were gathered together and completely separated from those apostates who had betrayed God’s temple and worship. He calls the help small, and truly it was so. For what could the Maccabees do to resist Antiochus? The powerful influence of this king is well known; and what was Judea when compared with Syria? The Jews indeed had destroyed their own power; we have already seen how they violated treaties, and corrupted the majority of their own people there was neither skill, nor plan, nor concert among them. The help, then, was small, which God sent them. But then the angel shews how God would afford succor to his people when in distress, and allow them some alleviation from the cruelty of the tyrant. <\/p>\n He adds next, Many shall join themselves to them by flatteries Even from this small number the angel cuts off the greater part, and informs them of the miserable condition of the Church, because very few should dare to oppose the madness of the tyrant, and out of these few many should be hypocrites The whole of this chapter must be interpreted of Antiochus, and yet doubtless God wishes to promote our improvement by these prophecies. They belong equally to us; for as God governs his Church in a variety of ways, so he always sustains it under its various crosses and trials. <\/p>\n Besides this, the old enemy the devil, who formerly opposed the Church, is equally troublesome to us. He assails us partly by enemies without and partly by enemies within. Such teaching as this was useful, not only to the ancients, but, to us also in the present day. First of all, the angel predicts the assistance to be received by the faithful as small. Let us learn, then, when God wishes to succor and to help us, — that he does not always exert the fullness of his power. He does not thunder from heaven and overthrow our enemies by the first stroke of his lightning; but he enables us to contend successfully with our cross, and thus we are far separated from the reprobate by our firmness in resistance. Again, from the second clause we must notice the absolute certainty of many hypocrites being found mingled with the souls of God, and when God purges his Church, but a small portion will remain sincere, just as in these days the very counterpart of this prophecy is exhibited before our eyes. The whole Papacy is called the Church of God; we are but few in number, and yet what a mixture exists even among us? How many in these days profess attachment to the Gospel, in whom there is nothing either solid or sincere! If God should search narrowly into small Churches, still among these few, some would be found deceivers. It never has been otherwise, or shall be different. until the end of the world. Here, then, we are admonished to desire, as far as lies in our power, the purity of the Church, and to avoid all impurity, because, in desiring auxiliaries too eagerly on the pressure of any urgent necessity, we shall be certain to become sprinkled with many stains which may ultimately cover us with confusion. The angel doubtless here reproves a fault in the conduct of the Maccabees. Although God stirred them up to afford some consolation to his Church, their proceedings are not to be approved; for it does not follow that all their actions were praiseworthy because their cause was pious and holy. But I must defer this subject till to-morrow. <\/p>\n (34) Now when they shall fall.<\/strong>Referring to those who suffer during this persecution, to whichever class they belong. (See last Note). These will not be entirely without help, but there will be some small assistance given them. It will be small, either compared with their present needs, or contrasted with the great help which will be given them when the tribulation attains its greatest severity. In the Maccabee persecutions help was given to the sufferers by Judas and his brethren (1Ma. 3:11<\/span>, &c., 1Ma. 4:14, &c.). This prevented the faithful from disappearing entirely.<\/p>\n Many shall cleave. . . .<\/strong>Dissimulation will cause some to declare themselves upon the side of those that understand. This is a feature which will be noticed in religious persecutions; according as one party or the other gains in power, as its prospects brighten, it gains fresh adherents. This held true in the days of Antiochus. (See 1Ma. 6:21, &c., 9:23.)<\/p>\n 34<\/strong>. <\/strong> With a little help <\/strong> At the beginning of the Maccabean uprising there were some surprising successes, but when the later defeats and severe sufferings came it was found that numbers who in the first flush of excitement had joined these heroes could not be depended on. (Compare 1Ma 6:21 ; 1Ma 6:27 .) <\/p>\n Flatteries <\/strong> Dissimulations. <\/em> (Compare Dan 11:21<\/span>.) Bevan translates, “treachery” or “guile” (Dan 11:21<\/span>). The very Hebrew word used here sounds like the slippery and untrustworthy “clack-clack” of these pseudo-patriots. They could talk, but when it came to action, they would not even furnish “a little help.” The adherents who joined the army through policy, not principle, were too ready to make friends with either party which seemed at the time likely to win.<\/p>\n ‘Now when they shall fall they will be helped with a little help. But many will join themselves to them with flatteries. And some of those who are wise will fall, to refine them, and to purify them, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for the time appointed.’<\/p>\n In the light of the previous verse those who fall are surely those who die under the persecution. In the period of their testing they will receive ‘a little help’ from God. They will not be delivered like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego or Daniel were, but they will be helped none-the-less. Meanwhile they will be joined by others who will flatter them and seek to talk them round, seeking to win them from their seeming folly, but they will not listen, and so many will fall. But the purpose behind their fall is that they might be purified, and made white, and this will be true for all who fall until the end. This is a call for endurance. Their hope is in God. They await the resurrection (Dan 12:2<\/span>).<\/p>\n And this will go on ‘even to the time of the end’. Thus what now follows applies to ‘the time of the end’ (see Dan 11:40<\/span>; Dan 12:4<\/span>; Dan 12:9<\/span>).<\/p>\n (Many interpret the reference to the little help as referring to Judas Maccabaeus, but that was the beginning of a new era in the purposes of God, while this is seeking to produce fortitude in the face of coming events, even to the time of the end. We cannot therefore accept that interpretation while recognising gladly that God did turn events round).<\/p>\n Dan 11:34-35<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>When they shall fall, <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> The church had laboured under long and severe persecutions from the civil power. The tenth and last was begun by Dioclesian; it raged ten years, and was suppressed entirely by Constantine, the first Roman emperor who embraced Christianity; and then the church was protected and favoured by the civil arm. But this is called only a little help; <\/em>because, though it added much to the temporal prosperity, yet it contributed little to the spiritual graces and virtues of Christians: it enlarged their revenues, but proved the fatal means of corrupting the doctrine and relaxing the discipline of the church. It was attended with this peculiar disadvantage, that many clave to them with flatteries; <\/em>many became Christians only because the emperor was so. Moreover, this is called a little help, <\/em>because the temporal peace and prosperity of the church lasted but a little while. The spirit of persecution presently revived; and no sooner were the Christians delivered from the fury of their adversaries, than they began to quarrel among themselves, and to persecute one another. Such, more or less, has been the fate of the church ever since; and generally speaking, those of understanding have fallen <\/em>a sacrifice to others; some of the best and wisest, to some of the worst and the most ignorant in divine things. These calamities were to befal Christians, to try, and to purge, and to make them white, <\/em>not only at that time, but even to the time of the end, <\/em>even to the latter days; because it is yet for an appointed time. <\/em>And it is not a great while since we have seen, not to allege other instances, how the poor protestants were persecuted, plundered, and murdered in the southern parts of France; and we have also seen the just retaliation of a holy and jealous God. See Newton. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.<\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Ver. 34. They shall be holpen with a little help.<\/strong> ] With the valiant Asmonians or Maccabees, who were but a handful, and yet did great exploits against the Antiochians; so did the Hussites in Bohemia against the Pontificians. But why were they helped with a little help? That, through weaker means, they might see God’s greater strength. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n But many shall cleave to them with flatteries.<\/strong> ] So did the false Samaritans. See on Dan 11:21<\/span> . And so the Donatists went to the Goths, when the Arians prevailed. Hypocrites will not sail in a storm; something they will do for God, but little or nothing it is they will suffer.<\/p>\n shall be holpen, &c. = shall obtain but little help. <\/p>\n Dan 11:34<\/p>\n Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall,H3782 they shall be holpenH5826 with a littleH4592 help:H5828 but manyH7227 shall cleaveH3867 toH5921 them with flatteries.H2519 <\/p>\n Dan 11:34<\/p>\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.<\/p>\n The faithful Jews who rebelled against Antiochus IV were being slaughtered unmercifully. They were helped by the Maccabees in their guerilla warfare tactics that they used against the forces of Antiochus IV. This guerrilla type warfare was so successful that they were able to help turn the tide against Antiochus IV. <\/p>\n “but many shall cleave to them with flatteries”<\/p>\n The faithful Jews were outnumbered and the forces of the Syrians was overwhelming in its power. The apostate Jews who allied themselves with Antiochus IV must have felt pretty secure in their union with him. Acting in anticipation of the favors of Antiochus IV they continued to support him as informants and allies to his forced Hellenization policies. <\/p>\n they shall be: Rev 12:2-6, Rev 12:13-17, Rev 13:1-4 <\/p>\n cleave: Mat 7:15, Act 20:29, Act 20:30, Rom 16:18, 2Co 11:13-15, Gal 2:4, 1Ti 4:1, 1Ti 4:2, 2Ti 3:1-7, 2Ti 4:3, Tit 1:11, 2Pe 2:1-3, 2Pe 2:18, 2Pe 2:19, 1Jo 2:18, 1Jo 2:19, 1Jo 4:1, 1Jo 4:5, 2Jo 1:7, Jud 1:4, Rev 2:20, Rev 13:11-14 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Dan 11:21 – by flatteries Rev 3:8 – a little<\/p>\n Dan 11:34. The chief item predicted in this verse is the fact that the forces with which the conflict for the altar was waged were a tittle help, which means that the number was small, as we have seen in the history quoted.<\/p>\n Dan 11:34. Now when they shall fall When they shall lie quite overcome and oppressed with these great miseries; they shall be holpen with a little help This was fulfilled by Mattathias and his five sons, who, in the height of their misery, stood up with most wonderful zeal and courage, to oppose these cruelties of Antiochus by force of arms; and several times overthrew, with great slaughter, Antiochuss parties who were employed in harassing Judea. But many shall cleave to them with flatteries That is, shall be pretended friends only. Such were Joseph and Azarias, who engaged in the common cause out of ambition and a desire of fame, 1Ma 5:56; 1Ma 5:62. Such were they who, after their death, were found with idols consecrated under their clothes, 2Ma 12:40. Such was Rhodocus, who disclosed their secrets to the enemy, chap. 2Ma 13:21.<\/p>\n Dan 11:34. many shall join: Charles, using the LXX as his basis, emends, and there shall join them many in the city and many in their several homesteads, i.e. the country districts.<\/p>\n 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a {p} little help: but many shall cleave to them {q} with flatteries.<\/p>\n (p) As God will not leave his Church destitute, yet he will not deliver it all at once, but help in such a way that they may still seem to fight under the cross, as he did in the time of the Maccabees, of which he here prophesies.<\/p>\n (q) That is, there will even be among this small number many hypocrites.<\/p>\n The godly in Israel received little encouragement from their apostate pro-Hellenistic brethren at first. Even the Maccabean revolt started out small. As time went by and the Maccabees’ effectiveness became apparent, more Jews joined their numbers, but many of them did so without abandoning their pro-Hellenistic convictions. They hypocritically joined the nationalists. Eventually the Maccabees had to purge their own ranks. They executed many of their fellow Jews.<\/p>\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 34. In the midst of their trials a ‘little help’ will arise, to assist them. The allusion is to the rising of the Maccabees. First of all, Mattathias, either alone or assisted only by … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 11:34”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22081\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"