Daniel 10:1-12:13

1. Basic outline of last section of Daniel a. Introduction: 10:1-11:1 b. Revelation (11:2-12:4) c. Epilogue (12:5-13)

2. Detailed outline (symbolic vision, or could be defined as “historical apocalypse”) a. Date and circumstances (10:1) b. Daniel’s act of supplication (10:2-3) c. Appearance of messenger (10:4-9) i. Date and circumstance (10:4) ii. Description of messenger (10:5-6) iii. Effect on Daniel (10:7-9) d. Messenger’s dialogue with Daniel (10:10-11:1) i. Daniel is strengthened (10:10-11) ii. Explanatory address (10:12-14) iii. Daniel’s profession of weakness (10:15-17) iv. Daniel strengthened again (10:18-19a) v. Daniel urges messenger to speak (10:19b) vi. Another explanatory address (10:20-11:1) e. Revelation (11:1-12:4) i. Introductory statement (11:2a) ii. Kings of Persia (11:2b) iii. Warrior King (11:3-4) iv. Conflict between North and South kings (11:5-9) v. Rise and fall of king of North (11:10-19) vi. King who exacts tribute (11:20) vii. Career of contemptible person (11:21-45) (1) His rise to success (11:21-24) (2) attack on south and holy covenant (11:25-28) (3) more attacks (11:29-35) (4) attack on God of gods (11:36-39) (5) final attack and fall (11:40-45) viii. Deliverance of faithful (12:1-3) ix. Conclusion: seal book (12:4) f. Epilogue (12:5-13) i. Epiphany of two heavenly beings (12:5) ii. Dialogue between heavenly beings (12:6-7) iii. Daniel asks for an explanation (12:8) iv. Closing address (12:9-13) (1) command to Daniel (12:9) (2) summary of events to come (12:10-12) (3) command to Daniel (12:13) g. NOTE: There is a chiasm here i. Comment on purpose of messenger coming (10:20a)

ii. Messenger’s struggle (10:20b) iii. Comment on purpose (10:21a) iv. Messenger’s struggle (10:21b-11:1) v. Comment on purpose (11:2b) 3. Similarity in literary style between 8:23-25 and 11:3-45, and also similar in style to Uruk Prophecy, Dynastic Prophecy (both pre-hellenistic, and from this part of world)

Verse/History Notes 11:2b-12:4 4. Is it 4 kings counting Cyrus, or not? Disagreement on that point... a. 13 Persian rulers from Cyrus the Great to Darius III... so who are the ones in view here? i. four named in HB: Cyrus, Darius, Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and Artaxerxes ii. wealthy 4th king: Darius III? (Not the Darius of Ezra and Nehemiah) who was last? iii. Xerxes I was rich, invaded an un-unified Greece, but who was beaten in battle in 480 (bit early to see him as 4th king, perhaps) iv. Jerome – “the Spirit of prophecy was not concerned about preserving historical detail but in summarizing only the most important matters” v. others point out that “three... and the fourth” is an idiom used in wisdom (Prov 30:15-31) and some prophetic (Amos 1-2) to indicate a totality of examples (1) in which case this summarizes nature of Persian empire and the spirit of its rulers who grab wealth, grow strong and provoke the Greeks 5. “Warrior-king” – . a. Defeats Darius III of Persia in 330 b. Diadochi (“heirs”) take over empire after his death i. Greece (plus Macedonia) ii. Thrace and Asia Minor iii. Northern , Mesopotamia and east iv. Southern Syria, Palestine, Egypt c. Seleucus I had Babylonia, but was attached by Antigonus (another of the generals, ruler of Asia Minor) and so flees to Egypt and works for Ptolemy I as one of his generals. These two together, in 312, defeat Antigonus, and Seleucus regained Babylonia. Antigonus is killed in 301 by the other Diadochi, and in time Seleucus takes the largest of the four empires, having extended into Asia Minor. 6. Verse 6: In about 250, Ptolemy II and Antiochus II make alliance, sealed with Ptolemy’s daughter Berenice. Antiochus ditches 1st wife (Laodice) for Berenice, and disinherits first set of kids for her and their new son. 2 years later reconciles with first wife, Laodice, who then kills not only Antiochus, but Berenice and her son. Shortly after (within same year), Ptolemy II dies. 7. Verses 7-9: Ptolemy III succeeds father Ptolemy II in 246. He then invades by land and sea. Laodice is taken captive and killed at this time, and the images of gods Cambyses took from Egypt in 525 are captured and taken back to Egypt (earning Ptolemy III the label of “benefactor”). Seleucus II able to stabilize rule, and two years

later in 242, even attached Egypt, though he was later forced to withdraw. 8. Verse 10: Seleucus III succeeded Seleucus II, reigns for a short time, being killed in 223 by Antiochus III (Antiochus the Great), who by 219is moving south towards Egypt. 9. Verses 11-12: Ptolemy IV countered the move by Antiochus III , and the two met in battle in 217. According to Polybius, Ptolemy had 70,000 infantry, 5000 cavalry and 73 elephants. Antiochus had 62,000 infantry, 6000 cavalry and 103 elephants. Antiochus gets royally wailed on (17,000 men lost, to Ptolemy’s 2,200). Ptolemy takes Palestine, southern Syria but stops there and makes peace. 10. Verses 13-14: Ptolemy V (infant) with Agathocles (as regent) rule Egypt. Antiochus takes this opportunity, and invades southern Syria and Palestine, supported by Philip V of Macedonia. Initially defeated by Egyptians, he defeats Egyptian army at Battle of Banias (Paneas) in 200. i. Josephus suggests Jerusalem was divided into pro-Ptolemy and pro- Seleucid factions, giving us “the violent among your people” 11. Verses 15-17: Likely a reference to siege of Sidon by Antiochus. Growing power of Rome leads him to guve his daughter (born Seleucid) to Ptolemy V as his wife. This backfires, as she sides with her husband, even bringing Egypt and Rome together in an alliance against her own father. So Antiochus’ plans did “not succeed, or come about for him.” 12. Verses 18-19: Antiochus took other areas of Asia Minor held by Egypt, then moved against Philip V’s Asia Minor territories, as his power was declining. Even moved into Thrace, and invaded Greece in 192, against wishes of Rome. Rome moved to defend Greece, and in 191 Antiochus was beaten at Thermopylae. Further beating in 190 BCE followed “put an end to his insolence.” Antiochus became vassal of Rome in 189 under very bad terms. Killed in 187, he overreached himself in Greece, “stumble and fall” and then “could not be found.” 13. Verse 20: Seleucus IV became king. Inherited debt of father, so goal was to restore fortune. Sent prime minster, Heliodorus (“tribute collector”), to plunder Jerusalem temple. (This story told in 2 Macc 3) Heliodorus prevented by heavenly creature (angel?) that nearly killed him. a. possible connection here with Zech 9:8, and the “one who sends around a tribute collector” 14. Verse 21: Seleucus IV, just prior to death, sent his son to Rome as hostage in exchange for Antiochus IV. Antiochus arrives home with an army from Pergamum, and seizes throne, claiming to do so on behalf of Seleucus IV’s younger son Antiochus. Heliodorus flees, and younger nephew murdered in 170. (Verse 20: he is not rightful heir– speaking of Antiochus IV, who seizes power, stopping Heliodorus from same (20b) and by claiming to act as regent (20c)) 15. Verses 22-24: a. Some argue these are general statements about Antiochus IV, and what he reign was like. i. made alliances, and kept them only as long as convenient for him... ii. had only limited support from Pergamum iii. lots of evidence of his avarice iv. disgustingly indulgent of his supporters, or those who’s support he wanted v. this view has difficulty with “a prince of the covenant” however...

b. modern commentators see section as reference to Onias III, the high priest at this time (1) Onias was opposed to hellenization (2) Onias’ brother Jason offered large bribe and promise of hellenization in Jerusalem in exchange for being High Priest (Torah law was HP was by heredity) (3) in 172, Menelaus offered Antiochus even bigger bribes than Jason, and so he became High Priest (not even of the family) (i) later kills Onias (4) from this point on (23-24) we see a general picture of Antiochus’ dealings in Jerusalem c. regardless of which is right, three key elements: i. Antiochus is “new Assyria” (Is 10:22-23; 28:15-22) ii. he will do what those who came before him have not (picked up again in 37-38) iii. his career is divinely limited 16. Verses 25-28 a. Cleopatra died, leaving a young Ptolemy VI as ruler. Two courtiers, Eulaeus and Lenaeus then effectively take over control of Egypt. In 169 Ptolemies and Seleucids meet in battle at Pelusium. Egypt is defeated, Ptolemy VI flees but is captured by Antiochus. His brother, Ptolemy VII, is then made ruler by the two courtiers. Antiochus attacks Egypt, but is unable to capture Alexandria. Under guise of supporting Ptolemy VI, Antiochus sets him up with a government in Memphis, and effectively controls most of Egypt. Later, Ptolemy VI and VII are reconciled and work as joint rulers of Egypt (verses 27-28a) i. Some confusion around what happens in Jerusalem with these attacks on Egypt. 1 attack or two? We don’t know. 27b- reminder of divine purpose in what is happening 17. Verses 29-31 a. 168 Antiochus invades Egypt again, upon reconciliation of the two Ptolemys b. Egypt had appealed to Rome for help. As Antiochus approached Alexandria he was met by a delegation from Roman Senate, ordered to stop. Antiochus tried to stall for time, isn’t allowed to... so goes home. (See 2 Macc 5) i. seems that Jason, who had been High Priest for a time, was told a rumor that Antiochus had been killed in Egypt, so he attacks Jerusalem with 1000 men while Menelaus took refuge in citadel. Jason’s attack failed, and he retreated to Ammon after killing many. Antiochus hears of battle, assumes Jerusalem is in rebellion, and sends a military force (30b) (1) Apollonius, Antiochus’ commander, comes to Jerusalem and pretends to be on a mission of peace, but attacks on the Sabbath, slaughtering many. The walls are torn down, and a citadel is built (2) Antiochus bans practice of Jewish faith on pain of death. Offerings and circumcision are stopped. Alters to other gods were constructed throughout the land. On 15 Chislev 167, “they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the alter of burnt offering” (1 Macc. 1:54)

18. Verses 32-35 a. These verses describe what Antiochus does b. resistance both active revolt (1 Macc. 1:42-48) and passive (1 Macc. 1:29-38) c. who are the “wise?” i. we are not exactly sure... 19. Verses 36-39 a. like Antiochus III (v. 16) and Alexander (3), Antiochus IV will meet untimely end. i. coins with Antiochus’ inscription move from early “of King Antiochus” to a later “of King Antiochus, god manifest, victory-bringer.” (Latter from 169 or later) ii. issue here: Antiochus’ arrogance directed at God of Israel iii. some dispute over which god Antiochus favors later in his reign... some form of Zeus seems likely 20. Verses 40-45 a. some confusion over what they refer to, as there are four versions of Antiochus’ death i. common elements: Antiochus was on campaign in Persia, failed in a temple robbery, met an untimely death, and 3 of the accounts attribute death to sudden illness. Likely date: 164 b. possible understandings of above in light of history i. these events may refer to Roman takeover of region, but there are problems ii. Events of 40-45 are summary of Antiochus’ life (a) works, except for phrase “at the end of time” unless establishing of kingdom is what is in view. iii. Some, starting with Jerome, see this section, beginning as early as verse 36, as anticipating the Antichrist. iv. Some modern scholars argue that verses 2-39 are written looking back on past events, and that 40-45 are looking forward to the downfall of Antiochus.