Daniel 11:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.

NIV: At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.

NASB: And at the end time the king of the South will wage war with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through.

CSB: "At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.

NLT: Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood.

KJV: And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

NKJV: “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

An extensive prophecy (Daniel 10:1) was given to Daniel in 536 BC. While all the events predicted in this chapter were in the future to Daniel, most occurred between the fourth and second centuries BC. However, Daniel's predictions seemed to pivot in Daniel 11:36; the events after this point do not appear to have occurred yet. This verse uses the phrase "the time of the end" which suggests the very last days before God's final judgment. Most interpreters believe this part of Scripture is depicting events yet in our future: during the "end times." Some suggest that the emphasis on "the end" means the later phase of that part of history.

In this segment, Daniel describes some type of ruler noted for arrogance and bribery, who divides earth with the help of another powerful being (Daniel 11:37–39). The exact identity of this figure is unclear, but other prophetic passages in the Old Testament provide insight into the events being described.

In earlier verses, the concepts of "north" and "south" were applied to the Seleucid and Egyptian Empires. The nation of Egypt still exists, as of this writing, and so might be the one to attack at some point in the end times. However, an upcoming verse will explicitly mention Egypt (Daniel 11:42), so it might not be the nation at issue in this verse.

As of today, the Seleucid Empire no longer exists. Many interpreters believe the prediction written here corresponds to some other nation. Among the most common suggestions is Russia. That would correspond to Russia's global influence and ability to attract allies. The book of Ezekiel implies an attack from the north featuring a large coalition of enemies (Ezekiel 38:4, 11–15). This would correspond to this verse and its suggestion of a large, powerful force. Joel chapter 2 also depicts a powerful invading army (Joel 2:2) coming from the north (Joel 2:20).

Daniel 11:36–45 is part of a prophecy given to Daniel; everything he was told was to occur after his own life. Viewed from the modern perspective, most of the predictions have been fulfilled in our past. In this passage, that viewpoint shifts to the future. In the last days before the final judgment, a time of tribulation, a notable figure will honor some kind of military god. He will be attacked by armies from the north, but the leader of those armies will hastily retreat to a location between the Mediterranean Sea and Israel, where he will perish.

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.