Daniel 11.2–20

Paraphrase

Three more kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

Camyses II, Bardiya, and Darius I shall arise in Persia. Xerxes I shall be far richer than all of them, and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

Then a warrior king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases. And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided towards the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to others besides these.

Then Alexander shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases. And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided towards the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to the Diadochi.

Then the king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his officers shall grow stronger than he and shall rule a realm greater than his own realm.

Then Ptolemy Soter shall grow strong, but Seleucus Nicator shall grow stronger than Ptolemy Soter and shall rule a Syria greater than Ptolemy Soter's own Egypt.

After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to ratify the agreement. But she shall not retain her power, and his offspring shall not endure. She shall be given up, she and her attendants and her child and the one who supported her.

After some years they shall make an alliance, and Berenice of Ptolemy Philadelphus shall come to Antiochus Theos to ratify the agreement. But Berenice shall not retain her power, and Antiochus Theos' offspring shall not endure. Berenice shall be given up, she and her attendants and her child and Antiochus Theos.

In those times a branch from her roots shall rise up in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall take action against them and prevail. Even their gods, with their idols and with their precious vessels of silver and gold, he shall carry off to Egypt as spoils of war. For some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north; then the latter shall invade the realm of the king of the south, but will return to his own land.

In those times a son from Berenice's parents shall rise up in Berenice's son's place. Ptolemy Euergetes shall come against the army and enter the fortress of Seleucus Callinicus, and Ptolemy Euergetes shall take action against them and prevail. Even their gods, with their idols and with their precious vessels of silver and gold, Ptolemy Euergetes shall carry off to Egypt as spoils of war. For some years Ptolemy Euergetes shall refrain from attacking Seleucus Callinicus; then Seleucus Callinicus shall invade Egypt of Ptolemy Euergetes, but will return to his own land.

His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall advance like a flood and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.

Seleucus Callinicus' sons [Seleucus Ceranus and Antiochus Megas] shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall advance like a flood and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as Ptolemy Philopator's fortress.

Moved with rage, the king of the south shall go out and do battle against the king of the north, who shall muster a great multitude, which shall, however, be defeated by his enemy. When the multitude has been carried off, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall overthrow tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.

Moved with rage, Ptolemy Philopator shall go out and do battle against Antiochus Megas, who shall muster a great multitude, which shall, however, be defeated by Ptolemy Philopator's enemy. When the multitude has been carried off, Antiochus Megas' heart shall be exalted, and he shall overthrow tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.

For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, larger than the former, and after some years he shall advance with a great army and abundant supplies.

For Antiochus Megas shall again raise a multitude, larger than the former, and after some years he shall advance with a great army and abundant supplies.

In those times many shall rise against the king of the south. The lawless among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfil the vision, but they shall fail. Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siege-works, and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, not even his picked troops, for there shall be no strength to resist.

In those times many shall rise against Ptolemy Epiphanes. The lawless among Israel shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. Then Antiochus Megas shall come and throw up siege-works, and take a well-fortified Sidon. And the forces of Egypt shall not stand, not even Scopas of Aetolia, for there shall be no strength to resist.

But he who comes against him shall take the actions he pleases, and no one shall withstand him. He shall take a position in the beautiful land, and all of it shall be in his power. He shall set his mind to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of peace and perform them.

But Antiochus Megas shall take the actions he pleases, and no one shall withstand him. Antiochus Megas shall take a position in Israel, and all of it shall be in his power. He shall set his mind to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of peace and perform them.

In order to destroy the kingdom, he shall give him a woman in marriage; but it shall not succeed or be to his advantage.

In order to destroy Egypt, Antiochus Megas shall give Ptolemy Epiphanes his daughter Cleopatra in marriage; but it shall not succeed or be to Antiochus Megas' advantage.

Afterwards he shall turn to the coastlands, and shall capture many. But a commander shall put an end to his insolence; indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. Then he shall turn back towards the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

Afterwards Antiochus Megas shall turn to Asia and Greece, and shall capture many. But Lucius Asiaticus shall put an end to Antiochus Megas' insolence; indeed, Lucius Asiaticus shall turn Antiochus Megas' insolence back upon him. Then Antiochus Megas shall turn back towards the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an official for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he shall be broken, though not in anger or in battle.

Then shall arise in his place Seleucus Philopator who shall send a tax-collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days Seleucus Philopator shall be poisoned, though not in anger or in battle.

In his place shall arise a contemptible person on whom royal majesty had not been conferred; he shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom through intrigue. Armies shall be utterly swept away and broken before him, and the prince of the covenant as well.

In his place shall arise a contemptible Antiochus Epiphanes on whom royal majesty had not been conferred; he shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom through betrayal and murder. Armies shall be utterly swept away and broken before Antiochus Epiphanes, and Oniah son of Simon as well.

And after an alliance is made with him, he shall act deceitfully and become strong with a small party. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province and do what none of his predecessors had ever done, lavishing plunder, spoil, and wealth on them. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.

And after an alliance is made with Antiochus Epiphanes [by Ptolemy Philometor], Antiochus Epiphanes shall act deceitfully and become strong with a small party. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of Egypt and do what none of his predecessors had ever done, lavishing plunder, spoil, and wealth on them. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.

He shall stir up his power and determination against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south shall wage war with a much greater and stronger army. But he shall not succeed, for plots shall be devised against him by those who eat of the royal rations. They shall break him, his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall slain.

Antiochus Epiphanes shall stir up his power and determination against Ptolemy Philometor with a great army, and Ptolemy Philometor shall wage war with a much greater and stronger army. But Ptolemy Philometor shall not succeed, for plots shall be devised against him by Ptolemy Physcon who eats of the royal rations. They shall break Ptolemy Philometor, his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall slain.

The two kings, their minds bent on evil, shall sit at one table and exchange lies. But it shall not succeed, for there remains an end at the time appointed. He shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. He shall work his will, and return to his own land.

Ptolemy Physcon and Antiochus Epiphanes, their minds bent on evil, shall sit at one table and exchange lies. But it shall not succeed, for there remains an end at the time appointed. Antiochus Epiphanes shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against Israel. Antiochus Epiphanes shall work his will, and return to his own land.

At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but this time it shall not be as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall lose heart and withdraw. He shall be enraged and take action against the holy covenant.

At the time appointed Antiochus Epiphanes shall return and come into Egypt, but this time it shall not be as it was before. For ships of Rome shall come against him, and he shall lose heart and withdraw. He shall be enraged and take action against Israel.

He shall turn back and pay heed to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt-offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant; but the people who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action.

Antiochus Epiphanes shall turn back and pay heed to those who forsake the Torah. Forces sent by Antiochus Epiphanes shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt-offering and set up an altar to Zeus in Jerusalem's temple. Antiochus Epiphanes shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the Torah; but the Israelites who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action.

The wise among the people shall give understanding to many; for some days, however, they shall fall by sword and flame, and suffer captivity and plunder. When they fall victim, they shall receive a little help, and many shall join them insincerely. Some of the wise shall fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed, until the time of the end, for there is still an interval until the time appointed.

The wise among Israel shall give understanding to many; for some days, however, they shall fall by sword and flame, and suffer captivity and plunder. When they fall victim, they shall receive a little help, and many shall join them insincerely. Some of the wise shall fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed, until the time of the end, for there is still an interval until the time appointed.

The king shall act as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed, for what is determined shall be done. He shall pay no respect to the gods of his ancestors, or to the one beloved by women; he shall pay no respect to any other god, for he shall consider himself greater than all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his ancestors did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall make more wealthy, and shall appoint them as rulers over many, and shall distribute the land for a price.

Antiochus Epiphanes shall act as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed, for what is determined shall be done. He shall pay no respect to the gods of his ancestors, or to the one beloved by women; he shall pay no respect to any other god, for he shall consider himself greater than all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his ancestors did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall make more wealthy, and shall appoint them as rulers over many, and shall distribute the land for a price.

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. He shall advance against countries and pass through like a flood.

At the time of the end the king of Egypt shall attack Antiochus Epiphanes. But Antiochus Epiphanes shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. He shall advance against countries and pass through like a flood.

He shall come into the beautiful land, and tens of thousands shall fall victim, but Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites shall escape from his power. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the riches of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall follow in his train.

He shall come into Israel, and tens of thousands shall fall victim, but Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites shall escape from his power. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the riches of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall follow in his train.

But reports from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to bring ruin and complete destruction to many. He shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with no one to help him.

But reports from the east and the north shall alarm Antiochus Epiphanes, and he shall go out with great fury to bring ruin and complete destruction to many. He shall pitch his palatial tents between the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful holy Mount Zion. Yet he shall come to his end, with no one to help him.

At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of Israel, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time Israel shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.