Prophecies about Persia and Greece
“Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than the others. By the power he gains through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.11:2 Dn 8:21; 10:20
3Then a warrior king will arise; he will rule a vast realm and do whatever he wants.11:3 Dn 5:19; 8:4; 11:16,36
4But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven,11:4 Jr 49:36; Ezk 37:9; Dn 7:2; 8:8; Zch 2:6; 6:5; Rv 7:1 but not to his descendants; it will not be the same kingdom that he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and will go to others besides them.11:4 Jr 12:15,17; 18:7
Kings of the South and the North
5“The king of the South11:5 Dn 11:9,11,14,25,40 will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his.
6After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North11:6 Dn 11:13,15,40 to seal the agreement. She will not retain power, and his strength will not endure. She will be given up, together with her entourage, her father,11:6 Some Hb mss, Theod read the child; Syr, Vg read her children and the one who supported her during those times.
7In the place of the king of the South, one from her family11:7 Lit from the shoot of her roots will rise up, come against the army, and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will take action against them and triumph.
8He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold.11:8 Is 37:19; 46:1–2; Jr 43:12–13 For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,
9who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.
10“His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood,11:10 Lit advance and overflow and pass through11:10 Is 8:8; Jr 46:7–8; 51:42; Dn 9:26; 11:26,40 and will again wage war as far as his fortress.
11Infuriated, the king of the South will march out to fight with the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but they will be handed over to his enemy.
12When the army is carried off, he will become arrogant and cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not triumph.
14“In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail.
15Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp,11:15 Jr 6:6; Ezk 4:2; 17:17 and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their select troops will not be able to resist.
16The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants,11:16 Dn 5:19; 11:3,36 and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land11:16 = Israel11:16 Dn 8:9; 11:41 with total destruction in his hand.
17He will resolve11:17 2Kg 12:17; Ezk 4:3,7 to come with the force of his whole kingdom and will reach an agreement with him.11:17 = the king of the South He will give him a daughter in marriage11:17 Lit him the daughter of women to destroy it,11:17 Perhaps the kingdom but she will not stand with him or support him.
21“In his place a despised11:21 Is 53:3 person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace11:21 Or come without warning11:21 Dn 8:25; 11:24 and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
22A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be broken, as well as the covenant prince.
23After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.11:23 Or a few people
24During a time of peace,11:24 Or Without warning he will come into the richest parts of the province11:24 Nm 13:20; Neh 9:25; Ezk 34:14 and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.
25“With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him.
26Those who eat his provisions11:26 Dn 1:5,8,13,15 will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.
27The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies11:27 Ps 12:2; Jr 9:3–5; 41:1–3 at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.11:27 Dn 8:19; 11:35,40; Hab 2:3
28The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant;11:28 Or the Jewish people and religion he will take action, then return to his own land.
29“At the appointed time he will come again to the South, but this time11:29 Lit but the last will not be like the first.
30Ships of Kittim11:30 = the Romans11:30 Gn 10:4; Nm 24:24; 1Ch 1:7; Is 23:1,12; Jr 2:10 will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant.
31His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice11:31 Dn 8:11–13; 12:11 and set up the abomination of desolation.11:31 Dn 9:27; 12:11; Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14
32With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.11:32 Mc 5:7–9; Zch 9:13–16; 10:3–6
33Those who have insight among the people11:33 Mal 2:7 will give understanding to many, yet they will fall by the sword and flame,11:33 Mt 24:9; Jn 16:2; Heb 11:36–38 and they will be captured and plundered for a time.
36“Then the king will do whatever he wants.11:36 Dn 5:19; 11:3,16 He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,11:36 Is 14:13; Dn 5:20; 8:11,25; 2Th 2:4 and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.11:36 Rv 13:5–6 He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,11:36 Is 10:25; 26:20; Dn 8:19 because what has been decreed will be accomplished.
37He will not show regard for the gods11:37 Or God of his ancestors, the god desired by women, or for any other god,11:37 1Co 8:5–6 because he will magnify himself above all.
38Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses — a god his ancestors did not know — with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches.
39He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,11:39 Or those he acknowledges making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.
40“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 him11:40 Is 5:28; Jr 4:13 with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.11:40 Dn 11:10,26; Zch 9:14
41He will also invade the beautiful land,11:41 Is 11:14; Dn 8:9; 11:16 and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people11:41 Lit the first of the Ammonites.11:41 Jr 48:47; 49:6
42He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape.
43He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission.11:43 Lit Cushites at his steps11:43 2Ch 12:3; Ezk 30:4; Nah 3:9
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