Daniel 11:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

NIV: With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

NASB: And by smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.

CSB: With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.

NLT: He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.

KJV: And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

NKJV: Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

In 167 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes brutally persecuted the Jewish people in and around Jerusalem. He outlawed crucial religious practices and massacred tens of thousands, including women and children. Those acts were predicted centuries before, in a message recorded by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 10:1). Recent verses in Daniel's prophecy correspond to Antiochus's horrific actions (Daniel 11:31).

One infamous act was as deliberately spiteful, offensive, and blasphemous as possible. Antiochus replaced the altar of burnt offering in the temple (Exodus 40:6) with one dedicated to the Greek god Zeus (Exodus 20:3; 34:14). On this altar he sacrificed a pig (Leviticus 11:7–8). This is referred to as "the abomination that makes desolate" or "the abomination of desolation" (Daniel 8:13; 11:31; 12:11). Jesus would mention this prophecy (Matthew 24:15), indicating that would also apply at some point after His earthly ministry. Commentators generally believe the prophecy, and Antiochus's foreshadowing, point to a similar even in the end times at the hands of the so-called "Antichrist" (Revelation 13:14–15).

Antiochus offered safety to those who openly embraced pagan idols and rejected the God of the Hebrew Scriptures. This included his use of bribes for those in leadership positions. The Hebrew term translated "flattery" here does not necessarily mean overly complimentary words. It also includes the idea of something that pleases a person or makes their situation seem better. A similar word is used in verse 34 about those who fight on the "good" side for insincere reasons. Many obeyed Antiochus as a path of least resistance; they agreed to "violate the covenant" handed down from Moses.

Others not only resisted, but they also fought back. Attempts to force people around Jerusalem to sacrifice unclean animals on pagan altars led to an all-out revolt and guerilla warfare campaign. A few years after the desecration of the temple, Jewish forces were able to retake the temple, cleanse it, and begin offering sacrifices once again. Those events inspired the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

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.