Daniel 11:22–28

God is never surprised by what is happening here on earth. 

He is always in control! 

From the beginning of time to the coming of the Kingdom of God His plan for mankind will prevail!

Daniel 11:22–28

22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. 26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. 28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

The high priest Onias III, was murdered in the time of Antiochus IV. An alliance is probably a reference to Greek sympathizers among the Jews. Those who desired to remain faithful to their Jewish roots far outweighed those who desired to embrace Greek culture. 

Antiochus’ standard operating procedure was, after infiltrating the wealthiest ranks of society and garnering their support, to be generous to them—almost to a fault. 

Antiochus attacked Egypt in 170 bc.. Ptolemy VI, who was a boy when Antiochus attacked, was poorly influenced by his two advisors, Eulaeus and Lenaeus. Ptolemy VI’s mother was Cleopatra Syra, Antiochus’ sister. Ptolemy agreed to meet with his uncle in Memphis. Antiochus IV feigned friendship and allegedly took control of his nephew’s kingdom.

As is typical in apocalyptic literature, events have a predetermined course that cannot be altered. On his way back from Egypt, Antiochus was short on funds and plundered the gold of the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus influenced his nephew, Ptolemy VI, to control Egypt. Faithlife Bible.

They shall be swept away is probably a reference to the Egyptians. The prince of the covenant refers to Onias III, the high priest in Jerusalem who bore that title. 

The king of the South at this time was Ptolemy Philometor (181–145 b.c.) of Egypt. The trusted counselors of Ptolemy Philometor who ate at his table betrayed him. Both Antiochus and Ptolemy resorted to deceit and betrayal. On his way back to Syria, Antiochus looted the temple in Jerusalem and killed many people. NKJ Bible.

These verses 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. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Psalm 12:2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Daniel 8:19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.