Daniel 11:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

NIV: The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

NASB: Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.

CSB: The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; he will take action, then return to his own land.

NLT: The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.

KJV: Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.

NKJV: While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

In 536 BC, the prophet Daniel recorded predictions about what would happen in the Judean territory. Those have been proven true by history. Among the events noted is the rise and fall of Alexander the Great (Daniel 11:3), the division of his territory (Daniel 11:4), and the rivalry between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire (Daniel 11:5–20). This passage also introduces one of Jewish history's most infamous enemies, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Daniel 11:21–27).

This verse alludes to Antiochus's successful return from a campaign against Egypt. It also makes note of wealth and antagonism to "the holy covenant," presumably meaning the Old Testament laws given to Israel by God. According to history, Antiochus IV Epiphanes entered the Jewish temple—which, as a Gentile, was forbidden—and took money from the treasury. What had been Jewish indifference to Seleucid rule became hostile. This would lead to a series of reprisals ultimately leading to persecution and atrocities in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:29–33).

Daniel 11:21–35 continues from a series of prophecies about many rulers over many decades. In contrast, this segment's predictions focus on a single ruler and his hateful actions against Egypt and Israel. History knows this figure as Antiochus IV Epiphanes: one of the Jewish people's most vicious and hated persecutors.

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.