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Selected Verse: Daniel 11:40 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Da 11:40	Strong Concordance	And at the time [06256] of the end [07093] shall the king [04428] of the south [05045] push [05055] at him: and the king [04428] of the north [06828] shall come against him like a whirlwind [08175], with chariots [07393], and with horsemen [06571], and with many [07227] ships [0591]; and he shall enter [0935] into the countries [0776], and shall overflow [07857] and pass over [05674].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The difficulty of reconciling this with Antiochus' history is that no historian but PORPHYRY mentions an expedition of his into Egypt towards the close of his reign. This Dan 11:40, therefore, may be a recapitulation summing up the facts of the first expedition to Egypt (171-170 B.C.), in Dan 11:22, Dan 11:25; and Dan 11:41, the former invasion of Judea, in Dan 11:28; Dan 11:42-43, the second and third invasions of Egypt (169 and 168 B.C.) in Dan 11:23-24, Dan 11:29-30. AUBERLEN takes rather PORPHYRY'S statement, that Antiochus, in the eleventh year of his reign (166-165 B.C.), invaded Egypt again, and took Palestine on his way. The "tidings" (Dan 11:44) as to the revolt of tributary nations then led him to the East. PORPHYRY'S statement that Antiochus starting from Egypt took Arad in Judah, and devastated all PhÅ“nicia, agrees with Dan 11:45; then he turned to check Artaxias, king of Armenia. He died in the Persian town Tabes, 164 B.C., as both POLYBIUS and PORPHYRY agree. Doubtless, antitypically, the final Antichrist, and its predecessor Mohammed, are intended, to whom the language may be more fully applicable than to Antiochus the type. The Saracen Arabs "of the south" "pushed at" the Greek emperor Heraclius, and deprived him of Egypt and Syria. But the Turks of "the north" not merely pushed at, but destroyed the Greek empire; therefore more is said of them than of the Saracens. Their "horsemen" are specified, being their chief strength. Their standards still are horse tails. Their "ships," too, often gained the victory over Venice, the great naval power of Europe in that day. They "overflowed" Western Asia, and then "passed over" into Europe, fixing their seat of empire at Constantinople under Mohammed II [NEWTON].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The difficulty of reconciling this with Antiochus' history is that no historian but PORPHYRY mentions an expedition of his into Egypt towards the close of his reign. This Dan 11:40, therefore, may be a recapitulation summing up the facts of the first expedition to Egypt (171-170 B.C.), in Dan 11:22, Dan 11:25; and Dan 11:41, the former invasion of Judea, in Dan 11:28; Dan 11:42-43, the second and third invasions of Egypt (169 and 168 B.C.) in Dan 11:23-24, Dan 11:29-30. AUBERLEN takes rather PORPHYRY'S statement, that Antiochus, in the eleventh year of his reign (166-165 B.C.), invaded Egypt again, and took Palestine on his way. The "tidings" (Dan 11:44) as to the revolt of tributary nations then led him to the East. PORPHYRY'S statement that Antiochus starting from Egypt took Arad in Judah, and devastated all PhÅ“nicia, agrees with Dan 11:45; then he turned to check Artaxias, king of Armenia. He died in the Persian town Tabes, 164 B.C., as both POLYBIUS and PORPHYRY agree. Doubtless, antitypically, the final Antichrist, and its predecessor Mohammed, are intended, to whom the language may be more fully applicable than to Antiochus the type. The Saracen Arabs "of the south" "pushed at" the Greek emperor Heraclius, and deprived him of Egypt and Syria. But the Turks of "the north" not merely pushed at, but destroyed the Greek empire; therefore more is said of them than of the Saracens. Their "horsemen" are specified, being their chief strength. Their standards still are horse tails. Their "ships," too, often gained the victory over Venice, the great naval power of Europe in that day. They "overflowed" Western Asia, and then "passed over" into Europe, fixing their seat of empire at Constantinople under Mohammed II [NEWTON].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And at the time of the end - See Dan 11:35. The "time of the end" must properly denote the end or consummation of the series of events under consideration, or the matter in hand, and properly and obviously means here the end or consummation of the transactions which had been referred to in the previous part of the vision. It is equivalent to what we should say by expressing it thus: "at the winding up of the affair." In Dan 12:4, Dan 12:9, Dan 12:13, the word "end," however, obviously refers to another close or consummation - the end or consummation of the affairs that reach far into the future - the final dispensation of things in this world. It has been held by many that this could not be understood as referring to Antiochus, because what is here stated did not occur in the close of his reign. Perhaps at first sight the most obvious interpretation of what is said in this and the subsequent verses to the end of the chapter would be, that, after the series of events referred to in the previous verses; after Antiochus had invaded Egypt, and had been driven thence by the fear of the Romans, he would, in the close of his reign, again attack that country, and bring it, and Libya, and AEthiopia into subjection Dan 11:43; and that when there, tidings out of the north should compel him to abandon the expedition and return again to his own land. Porphyry (see Jerome, in loc.) says that this was so, and that Antiochus actually invaded Egypt in the "eleventh year of his reign," which was the year before he died; and he maintains, therefore, that all this had a literal application to Antiochus, and that being so literally true, it must have been written after the events had occurred. Unfortunately the fifteen books of Porphyry are lost, and we have only the fragments of his works preserved which are to be found in the Commentary of Jerome on the book of Daniel. The statement of Porphyry, referred to by Jerome, is contrary to the otherwise universal testimony of history about the last days of Antiochus, and there are such improbabilities in the statement as to leave the general impression that Porphyry in this respect falsified history in order to make it appear that this must have been written after the events referred to. If the statement of Porphyry were correct, there would be no difficulty in applying this to Antiochus. The common belief, however, in regard to Antiochus is, that he did not invade Egypt after the series of events referred to above, and after he had been required to retire by the authority of the Roman ambassadors, as stated in the notes at Dan 11:30. This belief accords also with all the probabilities of the case. Under these circumstances, many commentators have supposed that this portion of the chapter Dan 11:40-45 could not refer to Antiochus, and they have applied it to Anti-christ, or to the Roman power. Yet how forced and unnatural such an application must be, anyone can perceive by examining Newton on the Prophecies, pp. 308-315. The obvious, and perhaps it may be added the honest, application of the passage must be to Antiochus. This is that which would occur to any reader of the prophecy; this is what he would obviously hold to be the true application; and this is that only which would occur to anyone, unless it were deemed necessary to bend the prophecy to accommodate it to the history. Honesty and fairness, it seems to me, require that we should understand this as referring to the series of events which had been described in the previous portion of the chapter, and as designed to state the ultimate issue or close of the whole. There will be no difficulty in this if we may regard these verses Dan 11:40-45 as containing a recapitulation, or a summing up of the series of events, with a statement of the manner in which they would close. If so interpreted all will be clear. It will then be a general statement of what would occur in regard to this remarkable transaction that would so materially affect the interests of religion in Judea, and be such an important chapter in the history of the world. This summing up, moreover, would give occasion to mention some circumstances in regard to the conquests of Antiochus which could not so well be introduced in the narrative itself, and to present, in few words, a summary of all that would occur, and to state the manner in which all would be terminated. Such a summing up, or recapitulation, is not uncommon, and in this way the impression of the whole would be more distinct. With this view, the phrase "and at the time of the end" Dan 11:40 would refer, not so much to the "time of the end" of the reign of Antiochus, but to the "time of the end" of the whole series of the transactions referred to by the angel as recorded "in the scripture of truth" Dan 10:21, from the time of Darius the Mede Dan 11:1 to the close of the reign of Antiochus - a series of events embracing a period of some three hundred and fifty years. Viewed in reference to this long period, the whole reign of Antiochus, which was only eleven years, might be regarded as "the time of the end." It was, indeed, the most disastrous portion of the whole period, and in this chapter it occupies more space than all that went before it - for it was to be the time of the peculiar and dreadful trial of the Hebrew people, but it was "the end" of the matter - the winding up of the series - the closing of the events on which the eye of the angel was fixed, and which were so important to be known beforehand. In these verses, therefore Dan 11:40-45, he sums up what would occur in what he here calls appropriately "the time of the end" - the period when the predicted termination of this series of important events should arrive - to wit, in the brief and eventful reign of Antiochus. Shall the king of the south - The king of Egypt. See Dan 11:5-6, Dan 11:9. Push at him - As in the wars referred to in the previous verse - in endeavoring to expel him from Coelo-Syria and Palestine, and from Egypt itself, Dan 11:25, Dan 11:29-30. See the note at those verses. And the king of the north shall come against him - The king of Syria - Antiochus. Against the king of Egypt. He shall repeatedly invade his lands. See the notes above. Like a whirlwind - As if he would sweep everything before him. This he did when he invaded Egypt; when he seized on Memphis, and the best portion of the land of Egypt, and when he obtained possession of the person of Ptolemy. See the notes at Dan 11:25-27. With chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships - All this literally occurred in the successive invasions of Egypt by Antiochus. See the notes above. And he shall enter into the countries - Into Coelo-Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and the adjacent lands. And shall overflow and pass over - Like a flood he shall spread his armies over these countries. See the notes at Dan 11:22.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The last Undertakings of the Hostile King, and His End By the words קץ בּעת, which introduce these verses, the following events are placed in the time of the end. Proceeding from the view that the whole of the second half of this chapter (vv. 21-45) treats of Antiochus and his undertakings, most modern interpreters find in the verses the prophecy of a last expedition of this Syrian king against Egypt, and quote in support of this view the words of Jerome: Et haec Porphyrius ad Antiochum refert, quod undecimo anno regni sui rursus contra sororis filium, Ptolem. Philometorem dimicaverit, qui audiens venire Antiochum congregaverit multa populorum millia, sed Antiochus quasi tempestas valida in curribus et in equitibus et in classe magna ingressus sit terras plurimas et transeundo universa vastaverit, veneritque ad Judaeam et arcem munierit de ruinis murorum civitatis et sic perrexerit in Aegyptum. But regarding this expedition not only are historians silent, but the supposition of such a thing stands in irreconcilable contradiction to the historical facts regarding the last undertakings of Antiochus. According to 1 Macc. 3:27ff., Antiochus, on receiving tidings of the successful insurrection of the Maccabees, and of the victory which Judas had won, since he found that money was wanting to him to carry on the war, resolved to return to Persia, "there to collect the tribute of the countries" (1 Macc. 3:31); and after he had made Lysias governor, he delivered to him the one half of his army, that he might with it "destroy and root out the strength of Israel," and with the other half departed from Antioch and crossed the Euphrates into the high countries, i.e., the high-lying countries on the farther side of the Euphrates (1 Macc. 3:33-37). There he heard of the great treasures of a rich city in Persia, and resolved to fall upon this city and to take its treasures; but as the inhabitants received notice of the king's intention, he was driven back and compelled to return to Babylon, having accomplished nothing. On his return he heard in Persia the tidings of the overthrow of Lysias in a battle with the Maccabees, and of the re-erection of the altar of Jehovah at Jerusalem; whereupon he was so overcome with terror and dismay, that he fell sick and died (1 Macc. 6:1-16). The historical truth of this report is confirmed by Polybius, who mentions (Fragm. xxxi. 11) that Antiochus, being in difficulty for want of money, sought to spoil the temple of Artemis and Elymas, and in consequence of the failure of his design he fell ill at Tabae in Persia, and there died. By these well-established facts the supposition of an invasion of Egypt by Antiochus in the eleventh, i.e., the last year of his reign, is excluded. The Romans also, after they had already by their intervention frustrated his design against Egypt, would certainly have prevented a new war, least of all would they have permitted an entire subjugation of Egypt and the south, which we must accept after Dan 11:42, Dan 11:43. Besides, the statement made by Porphyry shows itself to be destitute of historical validity by this, that according to it, Antiochus must have made the assault against Egypt, while on the contrary, according to the prophecy, Dan 11:40, the king of the south begins the war against the king of the north, and the latter, in consequence of this attack, passes through the lands with a powerful host and subdues Egypt. For these reasons, therefore, v. Lengerke, Maurer, and Hitzig have abandoned the statement of Porphyry as unhistorical, and limited themselves to the supposition that the section (Dan 11:40-45) is only a comprehensive repetition of that which has already been said regarding Antiochus Epiphanes, according to which "the time of the end" (Dan 11:40) denotes not the near time of the death of Antiochus, but generally the whole period of this king. But this is, when compared with Dan 11:27, Dan 11:35, impossible. If thus, according to Dan 11:35, the tribulation with which the people of God shall be visited by the hostile king for their purification shall last till the time of the end, then the time of the end to which the prophecies of Dan 11:40-45 fall cannot designate the whole duration of the conduct of this enemy, but only the end of his reign and of his persecutions, in which he perishes (Dan 11:40). On the contrary, the reference to Dan 8:17 avails nothing, because there also קץ עת has the same meaning as here, i.e., it denotes the termination of the epoch referred to, and is there only made a more general expression by means of לעת than here, where by בּעת and the connection with Dan 11:35 the end is more sharply defined. To this is to be added, that the contents of Dan 11:40-45 are irreconcilable with the supposition that in them is repeated in a comprehensive form what has already been said of Antiochus, for here something new is announced, something of which nothing has been said before. This even Maurer and Hitzig have not been able to deny, but have sought to conceal as much as possible, - Maurer by the remark: res a scriptore iterum ac saepius pertractatas esse, extremam vero manum operi defuisse; and Hitzig by various turnings - "as it seems," "but is not more precisely acknowledged," "the fact is not elsewhere communicated" - which are obviously mere make-shifts. Thus Dan 11:40-45 do not apply to Antiochus Epiphanes, but, with most ancient interpreters, they refer only to the final enemy of the people of God, the Antichrist. This reference has been rightly vindicated by Kliefoth. We cannot, however, agree with him in distinguishing this enemy in Dan 11:40 from the king of the south and of the north, and in understanding this verse as denoting "that at the time of this hostile king, which shall be the time of the end, the kings of the south as well as of the north shall attack him, but that he shall penetrate into their lands and overthrow them." Without taking into account the connection, this interpretation is not merely possible, but it is even very natural to refer the suffix in עליו and in עמּו to one and the same person, namely, to the king who has hitherto been spoken of, and who continues in Dan 11:40-45 to be the chief subject. But the connection makes this reference impossible. It is true, indeed, that the suffix in עמּו refers without doubt to this king, but the suffix in עליו can be referred only to the king of the south named immediately before, who pushes at him, because the king against whom the king of the south pushes, and of whom mention is made vv. 21-39, is not only distinctly designated as the king of the north (Dan 11:13-21), but also, according to Dan 11:40-43, he advances from the north against the Holy Land and against Egypt; thus also, according to Dan 11:40-43, must be identical with the king of the north. In Dan 11:40-43 we do not read of a war of the hostile king against the king of the south and the king of the north. The words in which Kliefoth finds indications of this kind are otherwise to be understood. Dan 11:40 If we now more closely look into particulars, we find that קץ עת is not the end of the hostile king, but, as in Dan 11:27, Dan 11:35, the end of the present world-period, in which also, it is true, occurs the end of this king (קצּו, Dan 11:45). For the figurative expression יתנגּח (shall push), cf. Dan 8:4. In the word there lies the idea that the king of the south commences the war, makes an aggression against the hostile king. In the second clause the subject is more precisely defined by "the king of the north" for the sake of distinctness, or to avoid ambiguity, from which it thence follows that the suffix in עליו refers to the king of the south. If the subject were not named, then "the king of the south" might have been taken for it in this clause. The words, "with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships," are an oratorical exemplification of the powerful war-host which the king of the north displayed; for the further statement, "he presses into the countries, overflows and passes over" (ועבר שׁטף as Dan 11:10), does not agree with the idea of a fleet, but refers to land forces. The plur. בּארצות (into the countries) does not at all agree with the expedition of a Syrian king against Egypt, since between Syria and Egypt there lay one land, Palestine; but it also does not prove that "the south-land and the north-land, the lands of the kings of the south and of the north, are meant" (Klief.), but it is to be explained from this, that the north, from which the angry king comes in his fury against the king of the south, reached far beyond Syria. The king of the north is thought of as the ruler of the distant north. Dan 11:41 Penetrating into the countries and overflowing them with his host, he comes into the glorious land, i.e., Palestine, the land of the people of God. See at Dan 11:16 and Dan 8:9. "And many shall be overthrown." רבּות is not neuter, but refers to ארצות, Dan 11:40. For "that the whole lands are meant, represented by their inhabitants (cf. The verb masc. יכּשׁלוּ [shall be overthrown]), proceeds from the exceptions of which the second half of the verse makes mention" (Kran.). The three peoples, Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, are represented as altogether spared, because, as Jerome has remarked, they lay in the interior, out of the way of the line of march of Antiochus to Egypt (v. Leng., Hitzig, and others). This opinion Hitzig with justice speaks of as altogether superficial, since Antiochus would not have omitted to make war against them, as e.g., his father overcame the Ammonites in war (Polyb. v. 71), if they had not given indubitable proofs of their submission to him. Besides, it is a historical fact that the Edomites and Ammonites supported Antiochus in his operations against the Jews (1 Macc. 5:3-8; 4:61); therefore Maurer remarks, under ימּלטוּ (they shall escape): eorum enim in oppremendis Judaeis Antiochus usus est auxilio. But since the king here spoken of is not Antiochus, this historizing interpretation falls of itself to the ground. There is further with justice objected against it, that at the time of Antiochus the nation of Moab no longer existed. After the Exile the Moabites no longer appear as a nation. They are only named (Neh 13:1 and Ezr 9:1), in a passage cited from the Pentateuch, along with the Philistines and the Hittites, to characterize the relations of the present after the relations of the time of Moses. Edom, Moab, and Ammon, related with Israel by descent, are the old hereditary and chief enemies of this people, who have become by name representatives of all the hereditary and chief enemies of the people of God. These enemies escape the overthrow when the other nations sink under the power of the Antichrist. עמּון בּני 'ראשׁית, "the firstling of the sons of Ammon," i.e., that which was most valued or distinguished of the Ammonites as a first-fruit, by which Kranichfeld understands the chief city of the Ammonites. More simply others understand by the expression, "the flower of the people, the very kernel of the nation;" cf. Num 24:20; Amo 6:1; Jer 49:35. The expression is so far altogether suitable as in the flower of the people the character of the nation shows itself, the enmity against the people of God is most distinctly revealed; but in this enmity lies the reason for this people's being spared by the enemy of God. Dan 11:42 The stretching forth of his hand upon the countries is a sign expressive of his seizing them, taking possession of them, for which he falls upon them. בּארצות are not other countries besides those which, according to Dan 11:40, he overflowed (Klief.), but the same. Of these lands Egypt is specially noticed in Dan 11:42 as the most powerful, which had hitherto successfully withstood the assaults of the king of the north, but which in the time of the end shall also be overthrown. Egypt, as the chief power of the south, represents the mightiest kingdoms of the earth. לפּליטה תּהיה לא (and there shall not be for an escape), expressive of complete overthrow, cf. Joe 2:3; Jer 50:29. Dan 11:43 Along with the countries all their treasures fall into the possession of the conqueror, and also all the allies of the fallen kingdom shall be compelled to submit to him. The genitive מצרים belongs not merely to חמות (precious things), but to all the before-named objects. בּמצעדיו (at his steps) = בּרגליו, Jdg 4:10, denotes the camp-followers, but not as mercenary soldiers (v. Leng., Hitz.). The Lybians and Cushites represent all the allies of the Egyptians (cf. Eze 30:5; Nah 3:9), the most southern nations of the earth.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The last Undertakings of the Hostile King, and His End

By the words קץ בּעת, which introduce these verses, the following events are placed in the time of the end. Proceeding from the view that the whole of the second half of this chapter (vv. 21-45) treats of Antiochus and his undertakings, most modern interpreters find in the verses the prophecy of a last expedition of this Syrian king against Egypt, and quote in support of this view the words of Jerome: Et haec Porphyrius ad Antiochum refert, quod undecimo anno regni sui rursus contra sororis filium, Ptolem. Philometorem dimicaverit, qui audiens venire Antiochum congregaverit multa populorum millia, sed Antiochus quasi tempestas valida in curribus et in equitibus et in classe magna ingressus sit terras plurimas et transeundo universa vastaverit, veneritque ad Judaeam et arcem munierit de ruinis murorum civitatis et sic perrexerit in Aegyptum. But regarding this expedition not only are historians silent, but the supposition of such a thing stands in irreconcilable contradiction to the historical facts regarding the last undertakings of Antiochus. According to 1 Macc. 3:27ff., Antiochus, on receiving tidings of the successful insurrection of the Maccabees, and of the victory which Judas had won, since he found that money was wanting to him to carry on the war, resolved to return to Persia, "there to collect the tribute of the countries" (1 Macc. 3:31); and after he had made Lysias governor, he delivered to him the one half of his army, that he might with it "destroy and root out the strength of Israel," and with the other half departed from Antioch and crossed the Euphrates into the high countries, i.e., the high-lying countries on the farther side of the Euphrates (1 Macc. 3:33-37). There he heard of the great treasures of a rich city in Persia, and resolved to fall upon this city and to take its treasures; but as the inhabitants received notice of the king's intention, he was driven back and compelled to return to Babylon, having accomplished nothing. On his return he heard in Persia the tidings of the overthrow of Lysias in a battle with the Maccabees, and of the re-erection of the altar of Jehovah at Jerusalem; whereupon he was so overcome with terror and dismay, that he fell sick and died (1 Macc. 6:1-16). The historical truth of this report is confirmed by Polybius, who mentions (Fragm. xxxi. 11) that Antiochus, being in difficulty for want of money, sought to spoil the temple of Artemis and Elymas, and in consequence of the failure of his design he fell ill at Tabae in Persia, and there died. By these well-established facts the supposition of an invasion of Egypt by Antiochus in the eleventh, i.e., the last year of his reign, is excluded. The Romans also, after they had already by their intervention frustrated his design against Egypt, would certainly have prevented a new war, least of all would they have permitted an entire subjugation of Egypt and the south, which we must accept after Dan 11:42, Dan 11:43. Besides, the statement made by Porphyry shows itself to be destitute of historical validity by this, that according to it, Antiochus must have made the assault against Egypt, while on the contrary, according to the prophecy, Dan 11:40, the king of the south begins the war against the king of the north, and the latter, in consequence of this attack, passes through the lands with a powerful host and subdues Egypt.

For these reasons, therefore, v. Lengerke, Maurer, and Hitzig have abandoned the statement of Porphyry as unhistorical, and limited themselves to the supposition that the section (Dan 11:40-45) is only a comprehensive repetition of that which has already been said regarding Antiochus Epiphanes, according to which "the time of the end" (Dan 11:40) denotes not the near time of the death of Antiochus, but generally the whole period of this king. But this is, when compared with Dan 11:27, Dan 11:35, impossible. If thus, according to Dan 11:35, the tribulation with which the people of God shall be visited by the hostile king for their purification shall last till the time of the end, then the time of the end to which the prophecies of Dan 11:40-45 fall cannot designate the whole duration of the conduct of this enemy, but only the end of his reign and of his persecutions, in which he perishes (Dan 11:40). On the contrary, the reference to Dan 8:17 avails nothing, because there also קץ עת has the same meaning as here, i.e., it denotes the termination of the epoch referred to, and is there only made a more general expression by means of לעת than here, where by בּעת and the connection with Dan 11:35 the end is more sharply defined. To this is to be added, that the contents of Dan 11:40-45 are irreconcilable with the supposition that in them is repeated in a comprehensive form what has already been said of Antiochus, for here something new is announced, something of which nothing has been said before. This even Maurer and Hitzig have not been able to deny, but have sought to conceal as much as possible, - Maurer by the remark: res a scriptore iterum ac saepius pertractatas esse, extremam vero manum operi defuisse; and Hitzig by various turnings - "as it seems," "but is not more precisely acknowledged," "the fact is not elsewhere communicated" - which are obviously mere make-shifts.

Thus Dan 11:40-45 do not apply to Antiochus Epiphanes, but, with most ancient interpreters, they refer only to the final enemy of the people of God, the Antichrist. This reference has been rightly vindicated by Kliefoth. We cannot, however, agree with him in distinguishing this enemy in Dan 11:40 from the king of the south and of the north, and in understanding this verse as denoting "that at the time of this hostile king, which shall be the time of the end, the kings of the south as well as of the north shall attack him, but that he shall penetrate into their lands and overthrow them." Without taking into account the connection, this interpretation is not merely possible, but it is even very natural to refer the suffix in עליו and in עמּו to one and the same person, namely, to the king who has hitherto been spoken of, and who continues in Dan 11:40-45 to be the chief subject. But the connection makes this reference impossible. It is true, indeed, that the suffix in עמּו refers without doubt to this king, but the suffix in עליו can be referred only to the king of the south named immediately before, who pushes at him, because the king against whom the king of the south pushes, and of whom mention is made vv. 21-39, is not only distinctly designated as the king of the north (Dan 11:13-21), but also, according to Dan 11:40-43, he advances from the north against the Holy Land and against Egypt; thus also, according to Dan 11:40-43, must be identical with the king of the north. In Dan 11:40-43 we do not read of a war of the hostile king against the king of the south and the king of the north. The words in which Kliefoth finds indications of this kind are otherwise to be understood.

Dan 11:40

If we now more closely look into particulars, we find that קץ עת is not the end of the hostile king, but, as in Dan 11:27, Dan 11:35, the end of the present world-period, in which also, it is true, occurs the end of this king (קצּו, Dan 11:45). For the figurative expression יתנגּח (shall push), cf. Dan 8:4. In the word there lies the idea that the king of the south commences the war, makes an aggression against the hostile king. In the second clause the subject is more precisely defined by "the king of the north" for the sake of distinctness, or to avoid ambiguity, from which it thence follows that the suffix in עליו refers to the king of the south. If the subject were not named, then "the king of the south" might have been taken for it in this clause. The words, "with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships," are an oratorical exemplification of the powerful war-host which the king of the north displayed; for the further statement, "he presses into the countries, overflows and passes over" (ועבר שׁטף as Dan 11:10), does not agree with the idea of a fleet, but refers to land forces. The plur. בּארצות (into the countries) does not at all agree with the expedition of a Syrian king against Egypt, since between Syria and Egypt there lay one land, Palestine; but it also does not prove that "the south-land and the north-land, the lands of the kings of the south and of the north, are meant" (Klief.), but it is to be explained from this, that the north, from which the angry king comes in his fury against the king of the south, reached far beyond Syria. The king of the north is thought of as the ruler of the distant north.

Dan 11:41

Penetrating into the countries and overflowing them with his host, he comes into the glorious land, i.e., Palestine, the land of the people of God. See at Dan 11:16 and Dan 8:9. "And many shall be overthrown." רבּות is not neuter, but refers to ארצות, Dan 11:40. For "that the whole lands are meant, represented by their inhabitants (cf. The verb masc. יכּשׁלוּ [shall be overthrown]), proceeds from the exceptions of which the second half of the verse makes mention" (Kran.). The three peoples, Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, are represented as altogether spared, because, as Jerome has remarked, they lay in the interior, out of the way of the line of march of Antiochus to Egypt (v. Leng., Hitzig, and others). This opinion Hitzig with justice speaks of as altogether superficial, since Antiochus would not have omitted to make war against them, as e.g., his father overcame the Ammonites in war (Polyb. v. 71), if they had not given indubitable proofs of their submission to him. Besides, it is a historical fact that the Edomites and Ammonites supported Antiochus in his operations against the Jews (1 Macc. 5:3-8; 4:61); therefore Maurer remarks, under ימּלטוּ (they shall escape): eorum enim in oppremendis Judaeis Antiochus usus est auxilio. But since the king here spoken of is not Antiochus, this historizing interpretation falls of itself to the ground. There is further with justice objected against it, that at the time of Antiochus the nation of Moab no longer existed. After the Exile the Moabites no longer appear as a nation. They are only named (Neh 13:1 and Ezr 9:1), in a passage cited from the Pentateuch, along with the Philistines and the Hittites, to characterize the relations of the present after the relations of the time of Moses. Edom, Moab, and Ammon, related with Israel by descent, are the old hereditary and chief enemies of this people, who have become by name representatives of all the hereditary and chief enemies of the people of God. These enemies escape the overthrow when the other nations sink under the power of the Antichrist. עמּון בּני 'ראשׁית, "the firstling of the sons of Ammon," i.e., that which was most valued or distinguished of the Ammonites as a first-fruit, by which Kranichfeld understands the chief city of the Ammonites. More simply others understand by the expression, "the flower of the people, the very kernel of the nation;" cf. Num 24:20; Amo 6:1; Jer 49:35. The expression is so far altogether suitable as in the flower of the people the character of the nation shows itself, the enmity against the people of God is most distinctly revealed; but in this enmity lies the reason for this people's being spared by the enemy of God.

Dan 11:42

The stretching forth of his hand upon the countries is a sign expressive of his seizing them, taking possession of them, for which he falls upon them. בּארצות are not other countries besides those which, according to Dan 11:40, he overflowed (Klief.), but the same. Of these lands Egypt is specially noticed in Dan 11:42 as the most powerful, which had hitherto successfully withstood the assaults of the king of the north, but which in the time of the end shall also be overthrown. Egypt, as the chief power of the south, represents the mightiest kingdoms of the earth. לפּליטה תּהיה לא (and there shall not be for an escape), expressive of complete overthrow, cf. Joe 2:3; Jer 50:29.

Dan 11:43

Along with the countries all their treasures fall into the possession of the conqueror, and also all the allies of the fallen kingdom shall be compelled to submit to him. The genitive מצרים belongs not merely to חמות (precious things), but to all the before-named objects. בּמצעדיו (at his steps) = בּרגליו, Jdg 4:10, denotes the camp-followers, but not as mercenary soldiers (v. Leng., Hitz.). The Lybians and Cushites represent all the allies of the Egyptians (cf. Eze 30:5; Nah 3:9), the most southern nations of the earth.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him - These kings are to be understood in reference to the times of which the prophet speaks. While the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria were subsisting, the king of the south and the north applied to them exclusively: but they did not exist at the time of which the prophet speaks; therefore other southern and northern powers must be sought. These we may find in the Saracens, who were of the Arabians, who came from the south, headed by the false prophet Mohammed, who pushed at him - made war on the Greek emperor Heraclius, and with amazing rapidity deprived him of Egypt, Syria, and many of his finest provinces. And the king of the north - The Turks, who were originally Scythians, seized on the remains of the Greek empire; and in process of time rendered themselves masters of the whole. They are represented as coming like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen; their armies being chiefly composed of cavalry. And with many ships - With these they got possession of many islands and maritime countries; and were so powerful in their fleets, that they entirely defeated the Venetians; and at last their fleets became of the utmost consequence to them in besieging, and afterwards taking, Constantinople, a.d. 1453, which they hold to the present day. So they entered into the countries, and overflowed, rendering themselves masters of all Asia Minor and Greece.

Top

⁴⁵ And he shall plant [05193] the tabernacles [0168] of his palace [0643] between the seas [03220] in the glorious [06643] holy [06944] mountain [02022]; yet he shall come [0935] to his end [07093], and none shall help [05826] him.

⁴⁴ But tidings [08052] out of the east [04217] and out of the north [06828] shall trouble [0926] him: therefore he shall go forth [03318] with great [01419] fury [02534] to destroy [08045], and utterly to make away [02763] many [07227].

²⁹ At the time appointed [04150] he shall return [07725], and come [0935] toward the south [05045]; but it shall not be as the former [07223], or as the latter [0314].
³⁰ For the ships [06716] of Chittim [03794] shall come [0935] against him: therefore he shall be grieved [03512], and return [07725], and have indignation [02194] against the holy [06944] covenant [01285]: so shall he do [06213]; he shall even return [07725], and have intelligence [0995] with them that forsake [05800] the holy [06944] covenant [01285].

²³ And after the league [02266] made with him he shall work [06213] deceitfully [04820]: for he shall come up [05927], and shall become strong [06105] with a small [04592] people [01471].
²⁴ He shall enter [0935] peaceably [07962] even upon the fattest places [04924] of the province [04082]; and he shall do [06213] that which his fathers [01] have not done [06213], nor his fathers [01]' fathers [01]; he shall scatter [0967] among them the prey [0961], and spoil [07998], and riches [07399]: yea, and he shall forecast [02803] his devices [04284] against the strong holds [04013], even for a time [06256].

⁴² He shall stretch forth [07971] his hand [03027] also upon the countries [0776]: and the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] shall not escape [06413].
⁴³ But he shall have power [04910] over the treasures [04362] of gold [02091] and of silver [03701], and over all the precious [02532] things of Egypt [04714]: and the Libyans [03864] and the Ethiopians [03569] shall be at his steps [04703].

²⁸ Then shall he return [07725] into his land [0776] with great [01419] riches [07399]; and his heart [03824] shall be against the holy [06944] covenant [01285]; and he shall do [06213] exploits, and return [07725] to his own land [0776].

⁴¹ He shall enter [0935] also into the glorious [06643] land [0776], and many [07227] countries shall be overthrown [03782]: but these shall escape [04422] out of his hand [03027], even Edom [0123], and Moab [04124], and the chief [07225] of the children [01121] of Ammon [05983].

²² And with the arms [02220] of a flood [07858] shall they be overflown [07857] from before [06440] him, and shall be broken [07665]; yea, also the prince [05057] of the covenant [01285].

²⁵ And he shall stir up [05782] his power [03581] and his courage [03824] against the king [04428] of the south [05045] with a great [01419] army [02428]; and the king [04428] of the south [05045] shall be stirred up [01624] to battle [04421] with a very [03966] great [01419] and mighty [06099] army [02428]; but he shall not stand [05975]: for they shall forecast [02803] devices [04284] against him.
²⁶ Yea, they that feed [0398] of the portion of his meat [06598] shall destroy [07665] him, and his army [02428] shall overflow [07857]: and many [07227] shall fall [05307] down slain [02491].
²⁷ And both [08147] these kings [04428]' hearts [03824] shall be to do mischief [04827] [07451], and they shall speak [01696] lies [03577] at one [0259] table [07979]; but it shall not prosper [06743]: for yet the end [07093] shall be at the time appointed [04150].

⁹ So the king [04428] of the south [05045] shall come [0935] into his kingdom [04438], and shall return [07725] into his own land [0127].

⁵ And the king [04428] of the south [05045] shall be strong [02388], and one of his princes [08269]; and he shall be strong [02388] above him, and have dominion [04910]; his dominion [04475] shall be a great [07227] dominion [04474].
⁶ And in the end [07093] of years [08141] they shall join themselves together [02266]; for the king's [04428] daughter [01323] of the south [05045] shall come [0935] to the king [04428] of the north [06828] to make [06213] an agreement [04339]: but she shall not retain [06113] the power [03581] of the arm [02220]; neither shall he stand [05975], nor his arm [02220]: but she shall be given up [05414], and they that brought [0935] her, and he that begat [03205] her, and he that strengthened [02388] her in these times [06256].

⁴⁰ And at the time [06256] of the end [07093] shall the king [04428] of the south [05045] push [05055] at him: and the king [04428] of the north [06828] shall come against him like a whirlwind [08175], with chariots [07393], and with horsemen [06571], and with many [07227] ships [0591]; and he shall enter [0935] into the countries [0776], and shall overflow [07857] and pass over [05674].
⁴¹ He shall enter [0935] also into the glorious [06643] land [0776], and many [07227] countries shall be overthrown [03782]: but these shall escape [04422] out of his hand [03027], even Edom [0123], and Moab [04124], and the chief [07225] of the children [01121] of Ammon [05983].
⁴² He shall stretch forth [07971] his hand [03027] also upon the countries [0776]: and the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] shall not escape [06413].
⁴³ But he shall have power [04910] over the treasures [04362] of gold [02091] and of silver [03701], and over all the precious [02532] things of Egypt [04714]: and the Libyans [03864] and the Ethiopians [03569] shall be at his steps [04703].
⁴⁴ But tidings [08052] out of the east [04217] and out of the north [06828] shall trouble [0926] him: therefore he shall go forth [03318] with great [01419] fury [02534] to destroy [08045], and utterly to make away [02763] many [07227].
⁴⁵ And he shall plant [05193] the tabernacles [0168] of his palace [0643] between the seas [03220] in the glorious [06643] holy [06944] mountain [02022]; yet he shall come [0935] to his end [07093], and none shall help [05826] him.

¹ Also I in the first [0259] year [08141] of Darius [01867] the Mede [04075], even I, stood [05977] to confirm [02388] and to strengthen [04581] him.

²¹ But [061] I will shew [05046] thee that which is noted [07559] in the scripture [03791] of truth [0571]: and there is none [0259] that holdeth [02388] with me in these things, but Michael [04317] your prince [08269].

³⁰ For the ships [06716] of Chittim [03794] shall come [0935] against him: therefore he shall be grieved [03512], and return [07725], and have indignation [02194] against the holy [06944] covenant [01285]: so shall he do [06213]; he shall even return [07725], and have intelligence [0995] with them that forsake [05800] the holy [06944] covenant [01285].

⁴³ But he shall have power [04910] over the treasures [04362] of gold [02091] and of silver [03701], and over all the precious [02532] things of Egypt [04714]: and the Libyans [03864] and the Ethiopians [03569] shall be at his steps [04703].

¹³ But go thou thy way [03212] till the end [07093] be: for thou shalt rest [05117], and stand [05975] in thy lot [01486] at the end [07093] of the days [03117].

⁹ And he said [0559], Go thy way [03212], Daniel [01840]: for the words [01697] are closed up [05640] and sealed [02856] till the time [06256] of the end [07093].

⁴ But thou, O Daniel [01840], shut up [05640] the words [01697], and seal [02856] the book [05612], even to the time [06256] of the end [07093]: many [07227] shall run to and fro [07751], and knowledge [01847] shall be increased [07235].

³⁵ And some of them of understanding [07919] shall fall [03782], to try [06884] them, and to purge [01305], and to make them white [03835], even to the time [06256] of the end [07093]: because it is yet for a time appointed [04150].

⁹ Ethiopia [03568] and Egypt [04714] were her strength [06109], and it was infinite [0369] [07097]; Put [06316] and Lubim [03864] were thy helpers [05833].

⁵ Ethiopia [03568], and Libya [06316], and Lydia [03865], and all the mingled [06153] people, and Chub [03552], and the men [01121] of the land [0776] that is in league [01285], shall fall [05307] with them by the sword [02719].

¹⁰ And Barak [01301] called [02199] Zebulun [02074] and Naphtali [05321] to Kedesh [06943]; and he went up [05927] with ten [06235] thousand [0505] men [0376] at his feet [07272]: and Deborah [01683] went up [05927] with him.

²⁹ Call together [08085] the archers [07228] against Babylon [0894]: all ye that bend [01869] the bow [07198], camp [02583] against it round about [05439]; let none thereof escape [06413]: recompense [07999] her according to her work [06467]; according to all that she hath done [06213], do [06213] unto her: for she hath been proud [02102] against the LORD [03068], against the Holy One [06918] of Israel [03478].

³ A fire [0784] devoureth [0398] before [06440] them; and behind [0310] them a flame [03852] burneth [03857]: the land [0776] is as the garden [01588] of Eden [05731] before [06440] them, and behind [0310] them a desolate [08077] wilderness [04057]; yea, and nothing shall escape [06413] them.

⁴² He shall stretch forth [07971] his hand [03027] also upon the countries [0776]: and the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] shall not escape [06413].

³⁵ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; Behold, I will break [07665] the bow [07198] of Elam [05867], the chief [07225] of their might [01369].

¹ Woe [01945] to them that are at ease [07600] in Zion [06726], and trust [0982] in the mountain [02022] of Samaria [08111], which are named [05344] chief [07225] of the nations [01471], to whom the house [01004] of Israel [03478] came [0935] !

²⁰ And when he looked [07200] on Amalek [06002], he took up [05375] his parable [04912], and said [0559], Amalek [06002] was the first [07225] of the nations [01471]; but his latter [0319] end shall be that he perish [08] for ever [05703].

¹ Now when these things were done [03615], the princes [08269] came [05066] to me, saying [0559], The people [05971] of Israel [03478], and the priests [03548], and the Levites [03881], have not separated [0914] themselves from the people [05971] of the lands [0776], doing according to their abominations [08441], even of the Canaanites [03669], the Hittites [02850], the Perizzites [06522], the Jebusites [02983], the Ammonites [05984], the Moabites [04125], the Egyptians [04713], and the Amorites [0567].

¹ On that day [03117] they read [07121] in the book [05612] of Moses [04872] in the audience [0241] of the people [05971]; and therein was found [04672] written [03789], that the Ammonite [05984] and the Moabite [04125] should not come [0935] into the congregation [06951] of God [0430] for [05704] ever [05769];

⁹ And out of one [0259] of them came forth [03318] a little [04704] horn [07161], which waxed exceeding [03499] great [01431], toward the south [05045], and toward the east [04217], and toward the pleasant [06643] land.

¹⁶ But he that cometh [0935] against him shall do [06213] according to his own will [07522], and none shall stand [05975] before [06440] him: and he shall stand [05975] in the glorious [06643] land [0776], which by his hand [03027] shall be consumed [03617].

¹⁰ But his sons [01121] shall be stirred up [01624], and shall assemble [0622] a multitude [01995] of great [07227] forces [02428]: and one shall certainly [0935] come [0935], and overflow [07857], and pass through [05674]: then shall he return [07725], and be stirred up [01624], even to his fortress [04581].

⁴ I saw [07200] the ram [0352] pushing [05055] westward [03220], and northward [06828], and southward [05045]; so that no beasts [02416] might stand [05975] before [06440] him, neither was there any that could deliver [05337] out of his hand [03027]; but he did [06213] according to his will [07522], and became great [01431].

²⁷ And both [08147] these kings [04428]' hearts [03824] shall be to do mischief [04827] [07451], and they shall speak [01696] lies [03577] at one [0259] table [07979]; but it shall not prosper [06743]: for yet the end [07093] shall be at the time appointed [04150].

¹³ For the king [04428] of the north [06828] shall return [07725], and shall set forth [05975] a multitude [01995] greater [07227] than the former [07223], and shall certainly [0935] come [0935] after [07093] certain [06256] years [08141] with a great [01419] army [02428] and with much [07227] riches [07399].
¹⁴ And in those times [06256] there shall many [07227] stand up [05975] against the king [04428] of the south [05045]: also the robbers [01121] [06530] of thy people [05971] shall exalt [05375] themselves to establish [05975] the vision [02377]; but they shall fall [03782].
¹⁵ So the king [04428] of the north [06828] shall come [0935], and cast up [08210] a mount [05550], and take [03920] the most fenced [04013] cities [05892]: and the arms [02220] of the south [05045] shall not withstand [05975], neither his chosen [04005] people [05971], neither shall there be any strength [03581] to withstand [05975].
¹⁶ But he that cometh [0935] against him shall do [06213] according to his own will [07522], and none shall stand [05975] before [06440] him: and he shall stand [05975] in the glorious [06643] land [0776], which by his hand [03027] shall be consumed [03617].
¹⁷ He shall also set [07760] his face [06440] to enter [0935] with the strength [08633] of his whole kingdom [04438], and upright ones [03477] with him; thus shall he do [06213]: and he shall give [05414] him the daughter [01323] of women [0802], corrupting [07843] her: but she shall not stand [05975] on his side, neither be for him.
¹⁸ After this shall he turn [07760] [07725] his face [06440] unto the isles [0339], and shall take [03920] many [07227]: but a prince [07101] for his own behalf shall cause the reproach [02781] offered by him to cease [07673]; without [01115] his own reproach [02781] he shall cause it to turn [07725] upon him.
¹⁹ Then he shall turn [07725] his face [06440] toward the fort [04581] of his own land [0776]: but he shall stumble [03782] and fall [05307], and not be found [04672].
²⁰ Then shall stand up [05975] in his estate [03653] a raiser [05674] of taxes [05065] in the glory [01925] of the kingdom [04438]: but within few [0259] days [03117] he shall be destroyed [07665], neither in anger [0639], nor in battle [04421].
²¹ And in his estate [03653] shall stand up [05975] a vile person [0959], to whom they shall not give [05414] the honour [01935] of the kingdom [04438]: but he shall come [0935] in peaceably [07962], and obtain [02388] the kingdom [04438] by flatteries [02519].

¹⁷ So he came [0935] near [0681] where I stood [05977]: and when he came [0935], I was afraid [01204], and fell [05307] upon my face [06440]: but he said [0559] unto me, Understand [0995], O son [01121] of man [0120]: for at the time [06256] of the end [07093] shall be the vision [02377].

⁴² He shall stretch forth [07971] his hand [03027] also upon the countries [0776]: and the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] shall not escape [06413].