The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com
Daniel Chapter 11
The spirit of prophecy here returns to that which more immediately concerned Daniel and his royal masters -- the near future of the empire in which he was so great a personage. Four kings were yet to follow in Media-Persia. Then will come Alexander the "mighty king" of Grecia (Dan 11:3). The division of Alexander's empire into four parts (Dan 11:4) as already predicted (Dan 8:22) is foretold. The troublous course of affairs in two parts of the disintegrated Alexandrian empire, Syria and Egypt, is then traced down to verse 20 (Dan 11:20). Here Antiochus Epiphanes, the "little horn" of Chapter 8, occupies the vision down to verse 36 (Dan 11:36). His pollution of the sanctuary is again mentioned.
(See Scofield) - (Dan 8:9).
From verse 36 (Dan 11:36), the interpretation is of the final "little horn" (Dan 7:8); (Dan 7:24-26);
(See Scofield) - (Dan 11:35).
three kings
Ahasuerus, (Ezr 4:6); Artaxerxes, (Ezr 4:7); and Darius called "Hystaspes" (Ezr 4:24).
fourth
Xerxes, who invaded Greece BC 483-480.
king
Alexander the Great, B.C. 332. See (Dan 8:5-8); (Dan 8:21); (Dan 8:22).
south
That is, "south" of Palestine. Egypt is meant.
his princes
That is, One of Alexander's princes; historically Ptolemy Lagidae.
he shall
Not the "king of the south" (Ptolemy Lagidae, to whom Egypt was given), but the "king of the north" (Dan 11:6); Seleucus, to whom Syria was given:
they shall
That is, the descendants and successors of Ptolemy Lagidae and Seleucus, not those very personages. The prediction was fulfilled in the marriage of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, to Antiochus Theos, third king of Syria, B.C. 285-247.
branch of her roots
Ptolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice, who invaded Syria as described in (Dan 11:7-9).
but his sons
(Mat 11:10-19); prophetic foreview of the wars of Egypt and Syria, Palestine, (Dan 11:17); the battleground, B.C. 284-175.
king of the north
Antiochus the Great, B.C. 198.
daughter of women
Probably a reference to the marriage of Cleopatra to an Egyptian king, Ptolemy Philometor.
isles
That is, of Greece.
prince for his own
That is, Historically on of the Scipios: the power of Rome felt in the East for the first time.
a raiser of taxes
A reference to the tribute exacted of the son of Antiochus the Great by the Romans.
south
Egypt.
come toward the south
Antiochus Epiphanes' second expedition against Egypt. Stopped by the mandate of Rome, (Dan 11:30); he turns against the Jews:
abomination
This is historic -- the act of Antiochus Epiphanes. (Mat 24:15) refers to (Dan 12:11);
(See Scofield) - (Dan 9:27).
strong
for example the Maccabees. B.C. 168 and following.
the time of the end
Here the prophetic foreview, having traced the history of the two parts of Alexander's empire which had to do with Palestine and the Jews, namely, Syria and Egypt, to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and having described his career, overleaps the centuries to "the time of the end," when he of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was a type, the "little horn" of (Dan 7:8) the "Beast out of the sea" of (Rev 13:4-10) shall appear (cf) (See Scofield) - (Dan 7:8). Prophecy does not concern itself with history as such, but only with history as it affects Israel and the Holy Land. Antiochus Epiphanes was insignificant as compared with historical personages whom the Bible does not mention, but he scourged the covenant people and defiled God's altar, thus coming into prophetic light. From verse 36 (Dan 11:36), the "little horn" of (Dan 7:8); (Dan 7:24-26) fills the scene. His prosperity lasts until "the indignation" (the "time of trouble" of; (Dan 12:1); (Mat 24:21) is accomplished (Dan 11:36). This is parallel with; (Rev 17:10-14); (Rev 19:19-21). (Dan 11:37-45) supply details not mentioned in the New Testament The expression "God of his fathers" (Dan 11:37) has been held to indicate that the "king" is an apostate Jew, but this does not accord with (Dan 9:26) which was fulfilled by the Gentile armies of Rome. The "little horn" is an apostate, but from Christianity, not Judaism (compare Jo1 2:18); (Jo1 2:19). (Dan 11:38-45) describe his career. Substituting "the god of forces" (that is, Forces of nature) for the true God (Dan 11:38); (Dan 11:39), he soon presents himself as that god (cf) (Th2 2:3); (Th2 2:4). While his career lasts he is an irresistible conqueror (Dan 11:40-44). He established his palace in Jerusalem, probably at the time of his supreme act of blasphemous impiety; (Dan 9:27); (Dan 12:11); (Mat 24:15); (Th2 2:4). From this time begins the great tribulation; (Dan 12:1); (Mat 24:21) which runs its course during the last half of Daniel's seventieth week, namely, three and one half years; (Dan 7:25); (Dan 12:7); (Dan 12:11); (Rev 13:5).
(See Scofield) - (Rev 19:20).
he shall exalt
The Beast. (Dan 11:36-45); (Dan 12:11); (Dan 7:8); (Rev 19:20).
palace
(See Scofield) - (Dan 11:2).