30 "For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action ; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant . 31 "Forces from him will arise , desecrate the sanctuary fortress , and do away with the regular sacrifice . And they will set up the abomination of desolation . 32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant , but the people who know their God will display strength and take action . 33 " Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many ; yet they will fall by sword and by flame , by captivity and by plunder for many days . 34 "Now when they fall they will be granted a little help , and many will join with them in hypocrisy . 35 "Some of those who have insight will fall , in order to refine , purge and make them pure until the end time ; because it is still to come at the appointed time . 36 "Then the king will do as he pleases , and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods ; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished , for that which is decreed will be done . 37 "He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women , nor will he show regard for any other god ; for he will magnify himself above them all . 38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses , a god whom his fathers did not know ; he will honor him with gold , silver , costly stones and treasures .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 11:30-38
Commentary on Daniel 11:1-30
(Read Daniel 11:1-30)
The angel shows Daniel the succession of the Persian and Grecian empires. The kings of Egypt and Syria are noticed: Judea was between their dominions, and affected by their contests. From verse 21, to relate to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a cruel and violent persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God, in his providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as he pleases. This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict.
Commentary on Daniel 11:31-45
(Read Daniel 11:31-45)
The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, and commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the account seems to pass to antichrist. Reference seems to be made to the Roman empire, the fourth monarchy, in its pagan, early Christian, and papal states. The end of the Lord's anger against his people approaches, as well as the end of his patience towards his enemies. If we would escape the ruin of the infidel, the idolater, the superstitious and cruel persecutor, as well as that of the profane, let us make the oracles of God our standard of truth and of duty, the foundation of our hope, and the light of our paths through this dark world, to the glorious inheritance above.