Key: Dan.4:17, 25; Ps. 22:28

The Conflicts between the Kings of the South and of the North, the Ptolemies and Seleucidæ—Antiochus Epiphanes. Dan. 11:5- 45.

“All this is a prophecy of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn spoken of before (ch. 8:9) a sworn enemy to the Jewish religion, and a bitter persecutor of those that adhered to it. What troubles the Jews met with in the reigns of the Persian kings were not so particularly foretold to Daniel as these, because then they had living prophets with them, Haggai, and Zechariah, to encourage them; but these troubles in the days of Antiochus were foretold, because, before that time, prophecy would cease, and they would find it necessary to have recourse to the written word. Some things in this prediction concerning Antiochus are alluded to in the New-Testament predictions of the antichrist.” Dan. 11:21-35

1. 11:21. “He shall be a vile person. He called himself Epiphanes—the illustrious, but his character was the reverse of his surname. The heathen writers describe him to be an odd-humored man, rude and boisterous, base, and sordid… He had the most unaccountable whims, so that some took him to be silly, others to be mad. Hence, he was called Epimanes—the madman. “M. Henry “The prediction called him a despised person because of his hatred of the Jewish people, his attempt to destroy Judaism, his desecration of the temple, and his megalomania displayed in calling himself Epiphanes (“Manifest One, Illustrious One”). People of that time also called him Epimanes (“madman”).” HCSB Study Bible

b. “Heliodorus had poisoned Seleucus the father of Antiochus IV and made himself king. Antiochus came home peacefully not in war and used flattery to obtain the kingdom. He flattered the king of Pergamos, and Attalus his brother to get their assistance. He flattered the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favor, paying them tributes which was in arrears. He flattered the Syrians gained their favor and took the throne with their backing.” Dak F. J.

• 11:22-23. With the help of arms from his supporters, his competitors were overthrown and broken down. He made a league with the Jews and gave the high priest to Jason. 2Macc. 4:4-10. He broke the league and gave the high priest to a wicked ma Menelaus who gave him mor money than Jason.
• 11:23-24. Antopchus IV laid clain on Coelesyria, Palestine, and Phoenicia.  Antiochus IV would increase in power by sharing the wealth of his conquests, lavishing plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers.
• 11:25-26. After much preparation, he will made war with Egypt and prevailed 171-161 b.c. He will use corruption to turn away key men from Ptoleny to cause the downfall of Egypt.
• 11:27-28.  After the defeat of Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VII took control of Egypt. Then the other two kings, Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI, would meet, speaking lies at the same table, to plot Ptolemy VI’s restoration to the throne. After initial limited success, they would eventually fail. Then Antiochus IV (the king of the North), having plundered Egypt, would return to his land, with his heart… set against the holy covenant. On the way home, he would attack Israel, kill 80,000 Jewish men, women, and children, and plunder the holy temple (169 b.c.). HCSB Study Bible 1Macc. 19-20