Daniel 11:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.

NIV: "In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.

NASB: Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also raise themselves up to fulfill the vision, but they will fall down.

CSB: "In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail.

NLT: At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed.

KJV: And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

NKJV: “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

So far, the prophecy given to Daniel in 536 BC (Daniel 10:1; 11:2) has accurately predicted what would happen several centuries later. This has primarily involved conflicts between the Seleucid Empire in the north and Ptolemaic Egypt in the south. History affirms those claims (Daniel 11:3–9), including the important Battle of Raphia (Daniel 11:10–12) and the subsequent return of Seleucid leader Antiochus III after years of success on other fronts (Daniel 11:13).

Here, the prophecy includes two important aspects. First is that "many" will join with the king of the north—Antiochus III—to fight against Egypt. In this phase of the Syrian Wars, Antiochus was aided by Macedonia and Philip V. Second is that Antiochus's armies included many Israelites, who probably hoped their service would earn them their own land to control. These "violent" among Daniel's own Jewish people (Daniel 1:1–7) were not acting correctly, but their efforts continued to fulfill the visions already established about Israel (Daniel 10:14).

The following verses continue to predict Antiochus III's campaigns and their results (Daniel 11:15–19).

Daniel 11:2–20 provides a political timeline beginning with Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:30–31). The history—given as prophecy to the prophet Daniel around 536 BC (Daniel 10:1)—involves military conflicts between Greeks and Persians and between empires ruling from Syria and Egypt. These accounts are given to Daniel by an angel, probably Gabriel (Daniel 10:18–21). Parts of these prophecies are unusually straightforward, relying much less on symbolism and plainly indicating the events which will occur.

This chapter is most easily understood in terms of the historical events which it predicts. These include the conflicts between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire up through the second century BC. This mentions the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes and what eventually became the Maccabean Revolt. The last portion of prophecy looks to the end times: blasphemous rulers, an invasion from the north, and a major defeat.

Daniel is receiving a prophecy, in an encounter which began in chapter 10. The substance of that prophecy is mostly given in chapter 11. This predicts the major events relating to Judea leading up to the conquest of the Roman Empire. It also begins to speak of end-times events. This leads to chapter 12 and the final prophetic remarks given to Daniel. Chapter 11 connects to other prophetic segments of Scripture such as Ezekiel 38 and Joel 2. Occurrences recorded here are also used by Jesus to depict end times events (Matthew 24:15).

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.