Daniel 11:32

11:31-45 The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, and commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the account seems to pass to antichrist. Reference seems to be made to the Roman empire, the fourth monarchy, in its pagan, early Christian, and papal states. The end of the Lord's anger against his people approaches, as well as the end of his patience towards his enemies. If we would escape the ruin of the infidel, the idolater, the superstitious and cruel persecutor, as well as that of the profane, let us make the oracles of God our standard of truth and of duty, the foundation of our hope, and the light of our paths through this dark world, to the glorious inheritance above.

That forsook the law of God, the book of the covenant, and did things contrary to it; and particularly violated the covenant of circumcision, drawing on the foreskin, and becoming uncircumcised; as well as rejected other ordinances of religious worship the Jews by covenant were obliged to observe: these apostates Antiochus corrupted by good words and fair speeches, by gifts and presents; and they became his tools, to do his pleasure, and were his instruments to seduce the Jews to renounce their religion, and give in to his idolatry; such as Jason, Menelaus, and others; in the Apocrypha: "Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.'' (1 Maccabees 1:16) "Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest;'' (2 Maccabees 4:13) "Yet was he not content with this, but presumed to go into the most holy temple of all the world; Menelaus, that traitor to the laws, and to his own country, being his guide:'' (2 Maccabees 5:15) "But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;'' (2 Maccabees 6:21) but the people that do know their God shall be strong and

(32) Such as do wickedly. —In these verses are traced the effects of the apostasy upon the people of God. These persons have been already spoken of in Daniel 11:30 . They had begun with indifference to true religion, they have now become intolerant of it. Corrupt.—Literally, make profane. On the Hebrew notion of profanity, see Cheyne’s Isaiah, vol. 1, p. 3. These persons have now become as the heathen. (See 1 Maccabees 2:17-18.) But the people. . . .—While the large mass of people becomes obedient to the persecutor, there is a party of true believers remaining, who are “strong,” or rather, confirm the covenant, and “do,” i.e., succeed in their attempt. That such a party existed in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes appears from 1 Maccabees 1:62, &c., 1 Maccabees 2:3, &c. Similarly in all times of persecution there will be a remnant, though it may be very small. which will remain firm to their covenant with God. (Comp. 1Kings 19:18.)

And such as do wickedly {m} against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (m) Meaning those who had the name of Jews, but indeed were not Jews at all, for they sold their souls, and betrayed their brethren for gain.

By gifts, preferments, and promises he drew away great multitudes of this wretched people of Judea, always bent to backsliding, to his idolatrous and heathenish practices and interest: but they that adhere to the true worship of God, and are zealous for it, shall scorn Antiochus’s gifts, and abhor his ways, and defy his force, not loving their lives to the death; as you have many instances, /APC 1Ma 1:62,63 ; /APC 2Mac 5 6 7 8 ; and also how Judas Maccabeus and his few followers did exploits against Nicanor and others.

Daniel 11:32 . Such as do wickedly shall he corrupt by flatteries — This is a declaration, that there would be many wicked persons who would be enticed to this idolatry by Antiochus’s persuasions. Jason and Menelaus, who were made high-priests by Antiochus for a sum of money, afterward became his instruments, and consented to the setting up of this idol: see 1Ma 1:52 ; 2Ma 4:13-15 ; and 2Ma 5:15 ; and 2Ma 6:21 . But the people that do know their God — That are savingly acquainted with him, and adhere to his true worship and service, shall be strong and do exploits — When others yield to the tyrant’s demands, and surrender their consciences to his impositions, these shall bravely keep their ground, resist the temptation, and make the tyrant himself ashamed of his attempt upon them. Good old Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, was one of these, rather choosing to suffer torments and death than defile himself by eating any thing unclean: see 2Ma 6:19 . The mother and her seven sons resolutely adhered to their religion, though they knew they must be put to death for so doing, 2 Maccabees 7. This might well be called doing exploits; for to choose to suffer rather than to sin is a great exploit.

And it was by being strong in faith that they did those exploits; and bore to be tortured, not accepting deliverance, as the apostle speaks, Hebrews 11:25 . “And many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any thing unclean, whereupon they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant,” 1Ma 1:62-63 . Or, it may refer to the military courage and achievements of Judas Maccabeus and others, in opposition to Antiochus. Observe, reader, the right knowledge of God is and will be the strength of the soul, and through it gracious persons do exploits. They that know his name will put their trust in him, and by that trust will do great things.

32 . And such as do wickedly ( Daniel 9:5 , Daniel 12:10 ) against the covenant ] the disloyal Jews. shall he make profane ( Jeremiah 23:11 )] by abetting them in their designs, he will lead them from bad to worse. In Syr. the root here used acquired the special sense of gentile (e.g. Matthew 6:7 ; Matthew 18:17 , Pesh.), apostate , and represents, for instance, Hellenic, Greek ( 2Ma 4:10 ; 2Ma 11:24 , Pesh.); and possibly the word may have the definite sense of make apostates here (cf. R.V. pervert ). by flatteries ] by specious representations, or promises, pointing out for example the advantages that would accrue to those who renounced their Judaism. Cf. the promises held out ( 1Ma 2:18 ) to Mattathias (‘thou and thy house shall be in the number of the king’s friends, and thou and thy sons shall be honoured with silver and gold and many gifts’). Mattathias turned a deaf ear to such inducements; but the prospect of Antiochus’ favour might easily influence men who were less staunch in their convictions. but the people that do know their God shall shew strength ] i.e. exhibit firmness, constancy (cf. Deuteronomy 12:23 ‘be strong, firm , not to eat the blood’; Joshua 1:7 ; 1 Chronicles 28:7 ), neither to yield to temptation nor to desert their religion for fear of the consequences. The decree of Antiochus led to numerous martyrdoms, many of the loyal Israelites submitting to death, even with torture, rather than renounce their faith.

Cf. 1Ma 1:62 f. ‘And many in Israel were strong (i.e. firm : the Greek word used stands for חזק in 1 Samuel 30:6 ; Ezra 10:4 , and elsewhere), and were fortified (like a strong city,— ὀχυρώθησαν ) in themselves, not to eat unclean things ( κοινά ). And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, nor profane the holy covenant; and they died.’ and do ] they also will do , or act , in the pregnant sense of the word (cf. on Daniel 8:12 ), in their cause, not less than the ambitious heathen king ( Daniel 8:12 ; Daniel 8:24 , Daniel 11:28 ; Daniel 11:30 ) in his.