John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together , etc.] The two kings of Egypt and Syria; not the two former kings, but their successors: the king of Egypt was Ptolemy Philadelphus, the second king of Egypt, the son of Ptolemy Lagus; this is the king of Egypt who collected such a vast number of books into his library at Alexandria, and got the law of Moses translated into Greek: the king of Syria was Antiochus, surnamed Theos; this name was first given him by the Milesians, upon his delivering them from the tyranny of Timarchus governor of Caria; he was the third king of Syria; Seleucus Nicator the first, Antiochus Soter the second, and this the third: there had been very great wars between these kings for many years; and now, being weary of them, they entered into confederacies and alliances with each other, and which were designed to be strengthened by a marriage next mentioned; this is thought to be about seventy years after the death of Alexander: f495 for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement ; this was Bernice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus king of Egypt, who carried her to Pelusium, and from thence sailed with her to Seleucia in Syria; where he met with Antiochus king of Syria, to whom he gave her in marriage, with a vast dowry of gold and silver; hence she was called fernoforov ; and the marriage was celebrated with great solemnity f496 : and this was “to make agreement”, or “to make things right or straight” f497 ; that were wrong and crooked before; to put an end to wars and discords; to make peace and cultivate friendship; to strengthen alliances, and confirm each other in their kingdoms: but she shall not retain the power of the arm ; unite the two kingdoms, and secure the peace of them, which was the thing in view; nor retain her interest in her husband, nor her power at court; for, as soon as her father was dead, Antiochus dismissed Bernice from his bed, and took Laodice his former wife again, by whom he had had two sons, Seleucus Callinicus, and Antiochus Hierax f498 : neither shall he stand, nor his arm ; neither Antiochus; for Laodice, knowing that by the late treaty the crown was settled upon the children of Bernice, who already had a son by him, and sensible of his fickleness, and fearing he might divorce her again, and take to Bernice, got him poisoned by his servants: nor Bernice his queen, called “his arm”; who fleeing to Daphne for shelter, on hearing what was done, was there slain; or it may be his son he had by her, so it follows: but she shall be given up ; into the hands of Seleucus Callinicus, the son of Laodice; whom she placed on the throne after the death of his father; and who sent to Daphne to slay Bernice, which was accordingly done f499 : and they that brought her ; into Syria; that attended her from Egypt at her marriage, and continued with her in the court of Syria, and fled with her to Daphne: and he that begat her : or, “whom she brought forth”; as in the margin; her little son, who was murdered at the same time with her; for her father died before: and he that strengthened her in these times ; either her husband, or her father, who were both dead before, and so stood not, and could not help her; unless this is to be understood of her brother, and the cities of the lesser Asia, who, hearing of her distress at Daphne, set out for her relief, but came too late; she and her son were both slain first f500 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The vision of the Scriptures of truth.
Dan. 11:1-30 The angel shows Daniel the succession of the Persian an Grecian empires. The kings of Egypt and Syria are noticed: Judea wa between their dominions, and affected by their contests. From Dan 11:5-30, is generally considered to relate to the events which came to pass during the continuance of these governments; and from Dan. 11:21 to relate to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a cruel and violen persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldl pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God in his providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as he pleases This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shal infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and ar deceived; but those who know God will trust in him, and he will enabl them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict.
Dan. 11:31-45 The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, an commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the accoun seems to pass to antichrist. Reference seems to be made to the Roma empire, the fourth monarchy, in its pagan, early Christian, and papa states. The end of the Lord's anger against his people approaches, a well as the end of his patience towards his enemies. If we would escap the ruin of the infidel, the idolater, the superstitious and crue persecutor, as well as that of the profane, let us make the oracles of God our standard of truth and of duty, the foundation of our hope, an the light of our paths through this dark world, to the glorious inheritance above _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ולקץ7093 שׁנים8141 יתחברו2266 ובת1323 מלך4428 הנגב5045 תבוא935 אל413 מלך4428 הצפון6828 לעשׂות6213 מישׁרים4339 ולא3808 תעצר6113 כוח3581 הזרוע2220 ולא3808 יעמד5975 וזרעו2220 ותנתן5414 היא1931 ומביאיה935 והילדה3205 ומחזקה2388 בעתים׃6256
