¹sn The antecedent of the pronoun I is the angel, not Daniel. The traditional chapter division at this point, and the presence of a chronological note in the verse similar to ones used elsewhere in the book to position Daniel’s activities in relation to imperial affairs, sometimes lead to confusion on this matter.
²sn Perhaps these three more kings are Cambyses (ca. 530-522 B.C.), Pseudo-Smerdis (ca. 522 B.C.), and Darius I Hystaspes (ca. 522-486 B.C.).
³sn This fourth king is Xerxes I (ca. 486-465 B.C.). The following reference to one of his chiefs apparently has in view Seleucus Nicator.
⁴tn Heb “rich with great riches.”
⁵tn The text is difficult. The Hebrew has here ‘et, the marker of a definite direct object. As it stands, this would suggest the meaning that “he will arouse everyone, that is, the kingdom of Greece.” The context, however, seems to suggest the idea that this Persian king will arouse in hostility against Greece the constituent elements of his own empire. This requires supplying the word “against,” which is not actually present in the Hebrew text.
⁶sn The powerful king mentioned here is Alexander the Great (ca. 336-323 B.C.).
⁷tn Heb “and when he stands.”
⁸tn Or “the heavens.” The same Hebrew term, <y]m^v* (v*m^y]<), may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
⁹sn The king of the south is Ptolemy I Soter (ca. 323-285 B.C.). The following reference to one of his subordinates apparently has in view Seleucus I Nicator (ca. 311-280 B.C.). Throughout the remainder of chap. 11 the expressions “king of the south” and “king of the north” repeatedly occur. It is clear, however, that these terms are being used generically to describe the Ptolemaic king (i.e., “of the south”) or the Seleucid king (i.e., “of the north”) who happens to be in power at any particular time. The specific identity of these kings can be established more or less successfully by a comparison of this chapter with the available extra-biblical records that discuss the history of the intertestamental period. In the following notes the generally accepted identifications are briefly mentioned.
¹⁰tn Heb “princes.”
¹¹tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the subordinate prince mentioned in the previous clause) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹²tn Heb “be strong against.”
¹³tn Heb “greater than his kingdom.”
¹⁴sn Here they refers to Ptolemy II Philadelphus (ca. 285-246 B.C.) and Antiochus II Theos (ca. 262-246 B.C.).
¹⁵sn The daughter refers to Berenice, who was given in marriage to Antiochus II Theos.
¹⁶tn Heb “the strength of the arm.”
¹⁷tn Heb “stand.” So also in vv. 7, 8, 11, 13.
¹⁸tn Heb “and his arm.” Some understand this to refer to the descendants of the king of the north.
¹⁹tc The present translation reads yaldah (“her child”) rather than the MT yoledah (“the one who begot her”). Cf. Theodotion, the Syriac, and the Vg.
²⁰sn Antiochus II eventually divorced Berenice and remarried his former wife Laodice, who then poisoned her husband, had Berenice put to death, and installed her own son, Seleucus II Callinicus (ca. 246-227 B.C.), as the Seleucid king.
²¹sn The reference is to the king of Egypt.
²²tn Heb “the stock of her roots.”
sn The reference to one from her family line is probably to Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes (ca. 246-221 B.C.).
²³tn Heb “will deal with them and prevail.”
²⁴tn The Hebrew preposition min is used here with the verb `md (“to stand”). It probably has a sense of separation (“stand away from”), although it may also be understood in an adversative sense (“stand against”).
²⁵tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
²⁶sn The sons of Seleucus II Callinicus were Seleucus III Ceraunus (ca. 227-223 B.C.) and Antiochus III the Great (ca. 223-187 B.C.).
²⁷tn Heb “his”; the referent (the enemy of the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
²⁸tn Heb “and he will certainly come and overflow and cross over and return and be aroused unto a fortress.” The translation presented above has attempted to simplify the syntax of this difficult sequence.
²⁹sn This king of the south refers to Ptolemy IV Philopator (ca. 221-204 B.C.).
³⁰tn Heb “his heart will be lifted up.” The referent (the king of the south) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
³¹tn Heb “cause to fall.”
³²tn Heb “of myriads.”
³³tn Heb “stand against.”
³⁴sn This was Ptolemy V Epiphanes (ca. 203-181 B.C.).
³⁵tn Heb “sons of violence.” “Son(s) is sometimes used idiomatically in Hebrew to indicate that someone is characterized by a certain quality. So the expression “sons of violence” means that these individuals will be characterized by violent deeds.
³⁶tn Heb “to cause to stand.”
³⁷sn This well-fortified city is apparently Sidon. Its capture from the Ptolemies by Antiochus the Great was a strategic victory for the Seleucid kingdom.
³⁸tn Or “choice troops” (BDB 104), or “elite troops” (HALOT 2:542).
³⁹tn Heb “hand.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “and he will set his fce.” Cf. vv. 18, 19.
⁴¹tc The present translation reads mesarim (“alliances”) for the MT yesarim (“uprightness”).
⁴²tn Heb “him”; the referent (the king of the south) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁴³tn Heb “the daughter of the women.”
sn The daughter refers to Cleopatra, the daughter of Antiochus, who was given in marriage to Ptolemy V.
⁴⁴tn Heb “his face.” See v. 19 as well.
⁴⁵sn The commander is probably the Roman commander, Lucius Cornelius Scipio.
⁴⁶tn The Hebrew here is difficult in that the negative bilti (“not”) is used in an unusual way. The sense is not entirely clear.
⁴⁷tn Heb “his shameful conduct he will return to him.”
⁴⁸tn Heb “on his place.”
⁴⁹sn The one who will send out an exactor of tribute was Seleucus IV Philopator (ca. 187-176 B.C.).
⁵⁰sn Perhaps this exactor of tribute was Heliodorus (cf. 2 Maccabees 3).
⁵¹tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
⁵²sn This despicable person to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred is Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ca. 175-164 B.C.).
⁵³tn Heb “arms.”
⁵⁴tc The present translation reads hisatop (Niphal infinitive absolute of stp, “to overflow”) for the MT hassetep (“flood”).
⁵⁵tn The words “in defeat” are added in the translation for clarification.
⁵⁶tn Heb “a prince of the covenant.”
⁵⁷tn Heb “broken” or “shattered.”
⁵⁸tn The preposition min is probably temporal here (so BDB 583 [b]), although it could also be understood here as indicating means (so J. Goldingay, Daniel, 279, n. 23a).
⁵⁹tn Heb “nation.”
⁶⁰tn Heb “and unto a time.”
⁶¹tn Heb “heart.”
⁶²sn This king of the south was Ptolemy Philometer (ca. 181-145 B.C.).
⁶³tc The present translation reads yisattep (passive) rather than the MT yistop (active).
⁶⁴tn Heb “heart.” So also in v. 28.
⁶⁵tn Heb “speak.”
⁶⁶tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of the north) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁶⁷sn The name Kittim has various designations in extra-biblical literature. It can refer to a location on the island of Cyprus, or more generally to the island itself, or it can be an inclusive term to refer to parts of the Mediterranean world that lay west of the Middle East (e.g., Rome). For ships of Kittim the Greek OT (LXX) has “Romans.” A number of times in the Dead Sea Scrolls the word is used in reference to the Romans.
⁶⁸sn This is apparently a reference to the Roman forces, led by Gaius Popilius Laenas, which confronted Antiochus when he came to Egypt and demanded that he withdraw or face the wrath of Rome. Antiochus wisely withdrew from Egypt, albeit in a state of bitter frustration.
⁶⁹tn Heb “show regard for.”
⁷⁰tn Heb “arms.”
⁷¹tn Heb “the sanctuary, the fortress.”
⁷²tn Heb “will give.”
⁷³tn Or “corrupt.”
⁷⁴tn Heb “acted wickedly toward.”
⁷⁵tn Heb “know.” The term “know” sometimes means “to recognize.” In relational contexts it can have the connotation “recognize the authority of, be loyal to,” as it does here.
⁷⁶sn This is an allusion to the Maccabean revolt, which struggled to bring about Jewish independence in the second century B.C.
⁷⁷tn Heb “the many.”
⁷⁸tn Heb “stumble.”
⁷⁹tn Or “by burning.”
⁸⁰tn Heb “days.”
⁸¹sn The identity of this king is problematic. If vv. 36-45 continue the description of Antiochus Epiphanes, the account must be viewed as erroneous, since the details do not match what is known of Antiochus’ latter days. Most modern scholars take this view, concluding that this section was written just shortly before the death of Antiochus and that the writer erred on several key points as he tried to predict what would follow the events of his own day. Conservative scholars, however, usually understand the reference to shift at this point to an eschatological figure, viz., the Antichrist. The chronological gap that this would presuppose to be in the narrative is not necessarily a problem, since by all accounts there are many chronological gaps throughout the chapter, as the historical figures intended by such expressions as “king of the north” and “king of the south” repeatedly shift.
⁸²tn The words “the time of” are added in the translation for clarification.
⁸³tn Heb “has been done.” The Hebrew verb used here is the perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of fulfillment.
⁸⁴tn Heb “consider.”
⁸⁵tn Heb “[the one] desired by women.” The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁸⁶tn Heb “act against.”
⁸⁷tn Heb “with.”
⁸⁸tn Or perhaps “for a reward.”
⁸⁹tn Heb “engage in thrusting.”
⁹⁰tn The referent of the pronoun is most likely the king of the south, in which case the text describes the king of the north countering the attack of the king of the south.
⁹¹tn Heb “many ships.”
⁹²tn This most likely refers to the king of the north who, in response to the aggression of the king of the south, launches an invasion of the southern regions.
⁹³tn Heb “and will overflow and pass over.”
⁹⁴tn The reference is to Palestine.
⁹⁵tn This can be understood as “many people” (cf. NRSV) or “many countries” (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).
⁹⁶tn Heb “be delivered from his hand.”
⁹⁷tn Heb “hand.”
⁹⁸tn Or “Nubians”; Heb “Cushites.”
⁹⁹tn Heb “Libyans and Cushites [will be] at his footsteps.”
¹⁰⁰sn Presumably seas refers to the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea.