Daniel 11:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.

NIV: Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.

NASB: And those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.

CSB: Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to many, yet they will fall by the sword and flame, and they will be captured and plundered for a time.

NLT: Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed.

KJV: And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

NKJV: And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.

Daniel's prophecy looks centuries ahead of his own life (Daniel 10:1) to the atrocities of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Recent verses predicted events which history has confirmed. In the second century BC, Antiochus brutally persecuted faithful Jews, outlawing virtually every aspect of their faith. In an act of incredible spite, he built an altar to Zeus over the true altar in the temple of Jerusalem and used it to sacrifice unclean animals such as pigs. This "abomination that makes desolate" (Daniel 8:13; 11:31; 12:11) also served to foreshadow the end-times actions of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:14–15). Jesus used the prophecy from Daniel in this way (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20–21).

In this context, to "stumble" means to experience death or extraordinary suffering. Those who obeyed Antiochus's prohibitions of Judaism were spared from harm. Jews who "wisely" (Proverbs 1:7; Daniel 11:35) remained faithful to God experienced heinous violence. This included being force-fed unclean foods, torture, being sold as foreign slaves, and brutal death.

As is often the case, this attempt to stamp out worship of the One True God backfired. Antiochus's actions inspired a full-fledged guerilla war: the Maccabean Revolt. The outcome of that conflict became the basis for the Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah. The various groups who resisted Antiochus's demands eventually became groups who interacted with Jesus, such as the Pharisees and Essenes.

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.