Daniel 11

Daniel 11:20-45

Constable notes that "After Antiochus had grown strong enough, he marched his army against Ptolemy VI in 170 B.C. He was able to get all the way to the Nile Delta before the Egyptians discovered that he was approaching. He exercised much influence over Egypt usually pretending to be an ally and then using this enemy for his own advantage. Notice how the text highlights Antiochus’ deceptiveness. We can see how he was a forerunner of the future Antichrist. (Bolding added) Schemes will be devised against him - There was treason against the King of the South. The idea is that a carefully calculated plan would be orchestrated against the King of the South. The text does not say but the same Hebrew word is used in Da 11:24 where it says Antiochus Epiphanes devises schemes against strongholds. As described in more detail below, Antiochus defeated the army of Ptolemy Philometor, and in the next campaign made himself master of all Egypt, except Alexandria. While they had frequent conferences at the same table, they spoke lies to each other; and the former returned to Syria laden with riches. Wikipedia describes the main events related to the Sixth Syrian War which lasted from 170-168BC… The causes of this conflict are obscure. In 170, Eulaeus and Lenaeus, the two regents of the young king of Egypt Ptolemy VI Philometor, declared war on the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In the same year, Ptolemy's younger siblings Ptolemy VIII Physcon and Cleopatra II were declared co-rulers in order to bolster the unity of Egypt. Military operations did not begin until 169 when Antiochus quickly gained the upper hand, seizing the important strategic town of Pelusium. The Egyptians realised their folly in starting the war, Eulaeus and Lenaeus were overthrown and replaced by two new regents, Comanus and Cineas, and envoys were sent to negotiate a peace treaty with Antiochus. Antiochus took Ptolemy VI (who was his nephew) under his guardianship, giving him effective control of Egypt. However, this was unacceptable to the people of Alexandria who responded by proclaiming Ptolemy Physcon as sole king. Antiochus besieged Alexandria but he was unable to cut communications to the city and he also needed to deal with a revolt in Judaea so, at the end of 169BC, he withdrew his army. In his absence, Ptolemy VI Philometor and his brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon were reconciled. Antiochus, angered at his loss of control over the king (Ptolemy VI), invaded again. The Egyptians sent to Rome asking for help and the Senate dispatched Gaius Popilius Laenas to Alexandria. Meanwhile, Antiochus had seized Cyprus and Memphis and was marching on Alexandria. At Eleusis, on the outskirts of the capital, he met Popilius Laenas, with whom he had been hustlas during his stay in Rome. But instead of a friendly welcome, Popilius offered the king an ultimatum from the Senate: he must evacuate Egypt and Cyprus immediately. Antiochus begged to have time to consider but Popilius drew a circle round him in the sand with his cane and told him to decide before he stepped outside it. Antiochus chose to obey the Roman ultimatum. The "Day of Eleusis" ended the Sixth Syrian War and Antiochus' hopes of conquering Egyptian territory. (Reference) Daniel 11:26 THOSE WHO EAT HIS CHOICE FOOD WILL DESTROY HIM, AND HIS ARMY WILL OVERFLOW, BUT MANY WILL FALL DOWN SLAIN. that feed: 2Sa 4:2-12 2Ki 8:14 10:6-9 Ps 41:9 Mic 7:5,6 Mt 26:23 Mk 14:20 Jn 13:18 overflow: Da 11:10,22 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Lehman Strauss - Notice once more that the victory of Antiochus was to be credited to "devices." (schemes) Even those who worked closely with the king of the south, that is, men who ate at the king's table, turned against their ruler. We are not told how Antiochus successfully operated his conspiracy within the top administration in the Egyptian government, but we do know his wicked plan worked, at least for awhile. (BORROW The prophecies of Daniel) Daniel 11:27 AS FOR BOTH KINGS, THEIR HEARTS WILL BE INTENT ON EVIL, AND THEY WILL SPEAK LIES TO EACH OTHER AT THE SAME TABLE; BUT IT WILL NOT SUCCEED, FOR THE END IS STILL TO COME AT THE APPOINTED TIME. Will be: 2Sa 13:26 Ps 12:2 52:1 58:2 64:6 Pr 12:20 23:6-8 26:23 speak lies: Ps 62:9 Jer 9:3-5 41:1-3 but: Pr 19:21 Eze 17:9 But: Da 11:29,35,40 8:19 10:1 Hab 2:3 Ac 1:7 17:31 1Th 5:1 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time - Once again we note that God appoints the time, the starts and the stops! He is sovereign over all. Lehman Strauss - The two kings are Antiochus and possibly Philometor, however we cannot be certain as to the occasion referred to in the text. We are told that when they sat down at the bargaining table neither had honorable motives nor employed honorable methods. They spoke lies to each other, and in the end neither prospered as the result of their treachery. Deceit and lying must ultimately fail because there is a “time appointed” when all that man builds up must face the final verdict of Almighty God. We have seen this principle at work in our own lifetime when the treaties of men who deceived and lied proved worthless and the men themselves toppled to the dust. Yes, such men appear to prosper for a season! (BORROW The prophecies of Daniel) Daniel 11:28 THEN HE WILL RETURN TO HIS LAND WITH MUCH PLUNDER; BUT HIS HEART WILL BE SET AGAINST THE HOLY COVENANT, AND HE WILL TAKE ACTION AND THEN RETURN TO HIS OWN LAND. the holy: The Jews having rejoiced at a report of his death, he took Jerusalem, and slew 40,000 of the inhabitants, and polluted the temple. Da 11:22,30-32 8:24 Ac 3:25 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ANTIOCHUS RETURNS TO SYRIA Time: 168BC Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land. Lehman Strauss - Antiochus returned to Syria with many possessions which were the spoils of his military conquests. As he passed through Palestine to get to Syria he showed his hatred against the Temple of God and the holy covenant. But as the following verses show, his second campaign in Egypt was not successful. (BORROW The prophecies of Daniel) Gaebelein - In 168BC he returned from his expedition and had great riches. Then he marched through Judea and did his awful deeds. A report had come to his ears that the Jewish people had reported him dead. In the first and second book of the Maccabees we read of his atrocities. Then he retired to Antioch. (The Prophet Daniel: Key to the Visions & Prophecies of the Book of Daniel) Comment: See 1Macc 1:20-28 and 2Macc 5:11-17 for a detailed description of the violent atrocities of Antiochus and his murder of thousands of Jews as he marched through Judea Daniel 11:29 AT THE APPOINTED TIME HE WILL RETURN AND COME INTO THE SOUTH, BUT THIS LAST TIME IT WILL NOT TURN OUT THE WAY IT DID BEFORE. time: Da 8:19 10:1 Isa 14:31 Ac 17:26 Ga 4:2 as the former: Da 11:23,25 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries At the appointed time - The sovereign God is in control of time. (compare "appointed time in Da 11:27) He will return - Antiochus IV become angry when Ptolemy VI and his brother, Ptolemy Physcon were reconciled and invaded Egypt a second time. Will not turn out - Egypt's call for help from Rome resulted in dispatch of the Roman commander Gaius Popillius Laenas (described in the next verse as "ships of Kittim"), who confronted Antiochus IV, telling him to withdraw from Egypt or face the wrath of Rome. As described in Da 11:30 Antiochus withdrew in great anger which he avenged on the "Holy Covenant", the Jews. Daniel 11:30 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. ships: Ge 10:4 Nu 24:24 1Ch 1:7 Isa 23:1,12 Jer 2:10 Eze 27:6 enraged: Da 11:28 7:25 Rev 12:12 have intelligence: Ne 6:12 Mt 24:10 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Ships of Kittim will come against him - This verse continues the story of Antiochus IV's unsuccessful second invasion of Egypt described in the previous passage. The ships of Kittim refer to the Roman forces that turned Antiochus IV away from his designs on Egypt. NET Bible Note on Kittim - 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 (Septuagint - LXX) has "Romans," an interpretation followed by a few English versions (e.g., TEV). A number of times in the Dead Sea Scrolls the word is used in reference to the Romans. (Daniel 11 Commentary Notes) Wikipedia describes the events as follows… being confronted with the Roman demands that he abort his attack on Alexandria, Antiochus IV played for time; Popillius Laenas is supposed to have drawn a circle around the king in the sand with his cane, and ordered him not to move out of it until a firm answer had been given. The Syrians withdrew. According to Livy, "After receiving the submission of the inhabitants of Memphis and of the rest of the Egyptian people, some submitting voluntarily, others under threats, [Antiochus] marched by easy stages towards Alexandria. After crossing the river at Eleusis, about four miles from Alexandria, he was met by the Roman commissioners, to whom he gave a friendly greeting and held out his hand to Popilius. Popilius, however, placed in his hand the tablets on which was written the decree of the senate and told him first of all to read that. After reading it through he said he would call his friends into council and consider what he ought to do. Popilius, stern and imperious as ever, drew a circle round the king with the stick he was carrying and said, "Before you step out of that circle give me a reply to lay before the senate." For a few moments he hesitated, astounded at such a peremptory order, and at last replied, "I will do what the senate thinks right." Not till then did Popilius extend his hand to the king as to a friend and ally. Antiochus evacuated Egypt at the appointed date, and the commissioners exerted their authority to establish a lasting concord between the brothers, as they had as yet hardly made peace with each other." Ab Urbe Condita, xlv.12. He will be disheartened and will return - Antiochus IV submits to the request of the Roman Senate not to invade Egypt again. Become enraged at the holy covenant and take action - Antiochus IV Epiphanes takes out his wrath on Jerusalem and the Temple Enraged (02194) (za'am) properly means to "foam at the mouth", and thus means to become angry, to express intense anger or indignation (divine indignation - Ps 7:11, Isa 66:14, Zech 1:12, Mal 1:4). Given the root meaning (foaming at the mouth) it is not surprising that such anger can show in one's face (Pr 25:23). The related verb form (za'am) is used to indicate both the state of being indignant and the activity giving expression to that state. It is used in reference to man, but more often to God. Isaiah foretells a day when God's "indignation" will be experienced by Israel's enemies (Isaiah 66:14). Gilbrant- This verb is used of both the actions of God and man referring to either the action or the state of indignation. Such indignation can take the form of a curse, a denunciation, anger or an accusation. With reference to an action by man, Num. 23:7f has three uses of the word where it is used with other Hebrew words for "curse." In this passage, Balaam told how Balak asked him to curse Jacob and defy or denounce Israel (v. 7). In the next verse, he asked how he could curse anyone whom the Lord had not cursed or defy or denounce whom the Lord had not defied or denounced. Obviously, the first two uses of the word refer to the action of man, and the last to the action of God, with the point being that man's action is dependent upon the attitude and action of God. Anyone who tells the wicked they are righteous shall be cursed and hated by the nations (Prov. 24:24). The KJV translates Prov. 25:23 to read that the north wind drives away rain, and an indignant countenance drives away a backbiting tongue. However, the NASB translates it to read that the north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue brings an angry countenance. Daniel 11:30 tells of a prince who will be grieved and have hatred or indignation against the holy covenant. Micah 6:10 states that the use of a false measure of weights is abominable to God. With reference to action by God, this word is also used to express God's anger or indignation toward the wicked (Ps. 7:11), toward his enemies (Isa. 66:14), toward Jerusalem and the cities of Judah for seventy years (Zech. 1:12), and toward Edom forever (Mal. 1:4). Finally, Prov. 22:14 says that the mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit, and the one cursed of the Lord will fall into this pit. Humans may be the subject of the verb, cursing other humans. This formula is often part of an oral contract, as violation of the wishes of the speaker shall incur the curse, which is divinely sanctioned and guaranteed. Balaam's inability to curse the Israelites is an example of how curses work, as Balaam could only speak a curse against those who were cursed (Num. 23:6, 12, 28). Only Yahweh can sanction blessing and cursing (cf. Prov. 24:24). Yahweh appears as the righteous Judge in the usages of this verb. His rage occurs with the violation of the Covenant, a legal environment where enforcement of the curse is expected by the original audience. Curses are actually enforced when they involve Yahweh and have his sanction, for He is the lone Power in the universe capable of enforcing them. (Complete Biblical Library) Za'am - 12x in 11v - Nu 23:7, 8; Ps 7:11; Pr 22:14; 24:24; 25:23; Isa 66:14; Da 11:30; Mic 6:10; Zech 1:12; Mal 1:4. NAS = abhor(1), angry(1), become enraged(1), been indignant(1), cursed(2), denounce(2), denounced(1), indignant(2), indignation(1). Show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant (berit/berith/beriyth) - Antiochus showed favor to those Jews who apostatized and locked arms with his agenda (which was clearly an anti-Semitic agenda!). Daniel 11:31 "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. forces: Da 8:24 Rev 17:12 desecrate: Da 8:11 12:11 La 1:10 2:7 Eze 7:20,21 9:7 24:21,22 Do away with: Da 8:12,13,26 9:27 abomination: Da 8:13 9:27 12:11 Mt 24:15 Mk 13:14 Lk 21:20 Ac 13:40,41 Daniel 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination (shiqquts) of desolation. Forces (02220) (zerowa') is literally the arm, a physical part of the body, but is used repeatedly in the OT as a picture or symbol of might, power or strength. Zerowa' - 92x in 85v -NAS = arm(53), arms(19), forces(3), help(1), mighty(1), position(1), power(4), shoulder(2), strength(8).Ge 49:24; Ex 6:6; 15:16; Num 6:19; Deut 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 18:3; 26:8; 33:20, 27; Jdg 15:14; 16:12; 1 Sam 2:31; 2 Sam 1:10; 22:35; 1Kgs 8:42; 2Kgs 9:24; 17:36; 2Chr 6:32; 32:8; Job 22:8f; 26:2; 35:9; 38:15; 40:9; Ps 10:15; 18:34; 37:17; 44:3; 71:18; 77:15; 79:11; 83:8; 89:10, 13, 21; 98:1; 136:12; Prov 31:17; Song 8:6; Isa 9:20; 17:5; 30:30; 33:2; 40:10f; 44:12; 48:14; 51:5, 9; 52:10; 53:1; 59:16; 62:8; 63:5, 12; Jer 17:5; 21:5; 27:5; 32:17, 21; 48:25; Ezek 4:7; 13:20; 17:9; 20:33f; 22:6; 30:21f, 24f; 31:17; Dan 10:6; 11:6, 15, 22, 31; Hos 7:15; 11:3; Zech 11:17. Sanctuary (04720) (miqdash) refers to the consecrated thing or place, especially the sanctuary, the Holy place, the hallowed part. The noun miqdāsh is used most frequently in the OT as the designation of the tabernacle and the temple. It is frequently translated "sanctuary," in these cases. In keeping with the basic meaning of the word group that it represents (qdsh), miqādsh denotes that which has been devoted to the sphere of the sacred. When it refers to the sanctuary, it connotes the physical area devoted to the worship of God. This area was sacred because it was the place where God dwelled among the people (Exodus 25:8) and its sanctity was not to be profaned (Leviticus 12:4; Leviticus 19:30; Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 21:12, 23). Miqdash - 76x in 72v - NAS = holy(1), holy place(2), holy places(1), places(1), sacred part(1), sanctuaries(5), sanctuary(65).Ex 15:17; 25:8; Lev 12:4; 16:33; 19:30; 20:3; 21:12, 23; 26:2, 31; Num 3:38; 10:21; 18:1, 29; 19:20; Josh 24:26; 1 Chr 22:19; 28:10; 2 Chr 20:8; 26:18; 29:21; 30:8; 36:17; Neh 10:39; Ps 68:35; 73:17; 74:7; 78:69; 96:6; Isa 8:14; 16:12; 60:13; 63:18; Jer 17:12; 51:51; Lam 1:10; 2:7, 20; Ezek 5:11; 7:24; 8:6; 9:6; 11:16; 21:2; 23:38f; 24:21; 25:3; 28:18; 37:26, 28; 43:21; 44:1, 5, 7ff, 11, 15f; 45:3f, 18; 47:12; 48:8, 10, 21; Dan 8:11; 9:17; 11:31; Amos 7:9, 13. Fortress (04581) (mauz) refers to a place or means of safety or protection. Māʿôz is used to denote various strongholds, such as fortresses (e.g., Dan. 11:31), cities which are fortified (Isa. 23:4) and lands where one seeks refuge (Isa. 30:2f). It can also denote an area which is strategically defensible, as in a hill (Judg. 6:26). The noun is also frequently used as a simile for the protection of Yahweh, Who is the Protector, the Fortress of the righteous (2 Sam. 22:33) and the poor and defenseless (Ps. 52:7). Mauz - 35x -Judg 6:26; 2 Sam 22:33; Neh 8:10; Ps 27:1; 28:8; 31:2, 4; 37:39; 43:2; 52:7; 60:7; 108:8; Prov 10:29; Isa 17:9f; 23:4, 11, 14; 25:4; 27:5; 30:2f; Jer 16:19; Ezek 24:25; 30:15; Dan 11:1, 7, 10, 19, 31, 38f; Joel 3:16; Nah 1:7; 3:11 Desecrate the sanctuary fortress - Literally - "the sanctuary, the fortress" Do away with the regular sacrifice - The parallel passage in Daniel 8 records that Antiochus Epiphanes… even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. (Daniel 8:11+) Abomination (08251) (shiqquts) is a very strong word referring to that which is filthy, detestable or abhorrent, disgusting (abominable filth). In the OT shiqquts was always used in connection with idolatrous practices, either referring to the idols themselves as being abhorrent and detestable in God's sight, or to something associated with the idolatrous ritual. Idols generally are referred to as an abomination (Jer 16:18; Ezek 5:11, Ezek 7:20). In one of the more incredible uses of this word in the OT we see the wisest man in the OT is described as "going after" the detestable idols (1Ki 11:5) and even building a high place for them (1Ki 11:7). Woe! Before you cast a stone read 1 Cor 10:12! Shiqquts is translated in the Lxx most often with the noun bdelugma which means something that is extremely abhorred (an abomination, often associated with idolatry - Rev 17:4, cp Mt 24:15). Bdelugma is found only 6x in the NT (Mt 24:15, Mk 13:14, Lk 16:15, Rev 17:4, 5, 21:27) but over 100x in the Septuagint including 14x in Leviticus - Lev 5:2; Lev 7:21; 11:10, 12, 13, 20, 23, 41, 42; 18:22, 26, 27, 29; 20:13. Abomination of desolation - KJV has "the abomination that maketh desolate." While this abomination was fulfilled in 168BC, the abomination of Da 12:11-note refers to a yet future abomination of desolation which Jesus alluded to in Mt 24:15. Desolation (08074) (shamen/samen) means ruin or waste and is a primary root which refers to a desolation caused by some great disaster, usually a result of divine judgment and is used of people (2 Sam. 13:20; Lam. 1:13, 16) and places (Lev. 26:31, 32; Isa. 61:4; Ezek. 35:12).Shamem also refers to the reaction to such a ruin, including consternation, astonishment, or being appalled (Job 18:20; Isa. 52:14; Jer. 18:16). Shamen often describes a person’s reaction on seeing desolation and destruction (1Ki 9:8) Lev 26:32 uses shamen/samen twice and conveys both of the ideas of this word the desolation and the reaction to the desolation = 'I will make the land desolate (shamen) so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled (shamen) over it. Webster's English definition of desolate - Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; devoid of inhabitants and visitors; joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one, showing the effects of abandonment and neglect; barren, lifeless (desolate landscape). Verb = to lay waste, to make wretched. Webster's English definition of appalled - to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay; causing extreme dismay, horror, or revulsion James Swanson on shamen/samen . (1) (qal) be desolate, be devastated, destitute, laid waste, ravaged, ruined, deserted, i.e., be in a destroyed and ruined state, implying the object or area destroyed is now abandoned from all help, deserted, or in personal poverty (Ge 47:19; 2Sa 13:20; Isa 49:8, 19; 54:1; 61:4; La 1:4, 13, 16; 3:11; 5:18; Eze 6:6; 12:19; 19:7; 33:28; 35:12, 15; 36:3, 4; Da 9:18, 26); (nif) desolate, deserted (Lev 26:22; Ps 69:25; Isa 33:8; 54:3; Jer 12:11; 33:10; La 4:5; Eze 6:4; 25:3; 29:12; 30:7; 32:15; 36:34, 35,36; Joel 1:17; Am 7:9; 9:14; Zep 3:6; Zec 7:14); (polel) cause desolation (Da 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11+), note: some parse Da 8:13; 9:27b as qal; (hif) lay waste, cause ruin (Lev 26:31, 32; Nu 21:30; 1Sa 5:6; Job 16:7; Ps 79:7; Jer 10:25; 49:20; 50:45; Eze 20:26; 30:12, 14; Hos 2:12; Mic 6:13+); (hof) lie desolate (Lev 26:34, 35, 43; 2Ch 36:21+), note: 2Ch 36:21 some parse as 2021 + 9014; (hitpolel) destroy oneself (Ecc 7:16+); (2). (qal) be appalled, horrified, terrified, dismayed, i.e., have an emotion or attitude of horror and great fear, implying also dismay and discouragement (Lev 26:32; 1Ki 9:8; 2Ch 7:21; Job 17:8; Ps 40:15; Isa 52:14; Jer 2:12; 18:16; 19:8; 49:17; 50:13; Eze 26:16; 27:35; 28:19; (nif) be appalled (Job 18:20; Jer 4:9; Eze 4:17); (polel) be appalled (Ezr 9:3, 4+); (hif) cause to be appalled (Job 21:5; Eze 3:15; 32:10+); (hitpolel) be appalled (Ps 143:4; Isa 59:16; 63:5; Da 8:27), (Dictionary of Biblical Languages) Shamem - 86v - Usage in NAS = appalled(13), astonished(8), astounded(1), become desolate(1), causes horror(1), causing consternation(1), desolate(22), desolated(4), desolating(1), desolation(5), desolations(3), destitute(1), destroy(1), devastations(1), horrified(2), laid desolate(1), laid waste(4), lie deserted(1), lies desolate(1), made me desolate(1), made you desolate(1), made desolate(3), make the desolate(2), make their desolate(2), make them desolate(1), make your desolate(1), make… appalled(1), make… desolate(1), makes desolate(2), ravaged(1), ruin(1), ruined(1), ruins(1). Leviticus 26:22 (see context Lev 26:21 "seven times") 'I will let loose among you the beasts of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle and reduce your number so that your roads lie deserted. 31 'I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas. 32 'I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it. 34 ¶ 'Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 'All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it. 43 'For the land will be abandoned by them, and will make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them. They, meanwhile, will be making amends for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and their soul abhorred My statutes. Numbers 21:30 "But we have cast them down, Heshbon is ruined as far as Dibon, Then we have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba." 1 Samuel 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and smote them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories. 2 Samuel 13:20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart." So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 1 Kings 9:8 "And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' 2 Chronicles 7:21 "As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' 2 Chronicles 36:21 to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete. Ezra 9:3 ¶ When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering. Job 16:7 "But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company. Job 17:8 "The upright will be appalled at this, And the innocent will stir up himself against the godless. Job 18:20 "Those in the west are appalled at his fate, And those in the east are seized with horror. Job 21:5 "Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth. Psalm 40:15 Let those be appalled because of their shame Who say to me, "Aha, aha!" Psalm 69:25 May their camp be desolate; May none dwell in their tents. Psalm 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob And laid waste his habitation. Psalm 143:4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is appalled within me. Ecclesiastes 7:16 Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Isaiah 33:8 The highways are desolate, the traveler has ceased, He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, He has no regard for man. Isaiah 49:8 Thus says the LORD, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; 19 "For your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land-- Surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, And those who swallowed you will be far away. Isaiah 52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men. Isaiah 54:1 ¶ "Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD. 3 "For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations And will resettle the desolate cities. Isaiah 59:16 And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him. Isaiah 61:4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Isaiah 63:5 "I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me. Jeremiah 2:12 "Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 4:9 ¶ "It shall come about in that day," declares the LORD, "that the heart of the king and the heart of the princes will fail; and the priests will be appalled and the prophets will be astounded." Jeremiah 10:25 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You And on the families that do not call Your name; For they have devoured Jacob; They have devoured him and consumed him And have laid waste his habitation. Jeremiah 12:11 "It has been made a desolation, Desolate, it mourns before Me; The whole land has been made desolate, Because no man lays it to heart. Jeremiah 18:16 To make their land a desolation, An object of perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head. Jeremiah 19:8 "I will also make this city a desolation and an object of hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its disasters. Jeremiah 33:10 "Thus says the LORD, 'Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, "It is a waste, without man and without beast," that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, Jeremiah 49:17 "Edom will become an object of horror; everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss at all its wounds. 20 Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them. Jeremiah 50:13 "Because of the indignation of the LORD she will not be inhabited, But she will be completely desolate; Everyone who passes by Babylon will be horrified And will hiss because of all her wounds. 45 Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Babylon, and His purposes which He has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them. Lamentations 1:4 The roads of Zion are in mourning Because no one comes to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests are groaning, Her virgins are afflicted, And she herself is bitter. 13 "From on high He sent fire into my bones, And it prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me desolate, Faint all day long. 16 "For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul. My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed." Lamentations 3:11 He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces; He has made me desolate. Lamentations 4:5 Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those reared in purple Embrace ash pits. Lamentations 5:18 Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Foxes prowl in it. Ezekiel 3:15 Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the river Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them. Ezekiel 4:17 because bread and water will be scarce; and they will be appalled with one another and waste away in their iniquity. Ezekiel 6:4 "So your altars will become desolate and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. 6 "In all your dwellings, cities will become waste and the high places will be desolate, that your altars may become waste and desolate, your idols may be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out. Ezekiel 20:26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."' Ezekiel 25:3 and say to the sons of Ammon, 'Hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you said, 'Aha!' against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, Ezekiel 26:16 "Then all the princes of the sea will go down from their thrones, remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble every moment and be appalled at you. Ezekiel 27:35 'All the inhabitants of the coastlands Are appalled at you, And their kings are horribly afraid; They are troubled in countenance. Ezekiel 28:19 "All who know you among the peoples Are appalled at you; You have become terrified And you will cease to be forever."'" Ezekiel 29:12 "So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands." Ezekiel 30:7 "They will be desolate In the midst of the desolated lands; And her cities will be In the midst of the devastated cities. 12 "Moreover, I will make the Nile canals dry And sell the land into the hands of evil men. And I will make the land desolate And all that is in it, By the hand of strangers; I the LORD have spoken." 14 "I will make Pathros desolate, Set a fire in Zoan And execute judgments on Thebes. Ezekiel 32:10 "I will make many peoples appalled at you, and their kings will be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they will tremble every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of your fall." 15 "When I make the land of Egypt a desolation, And the land is destitute of that which filled it, When I smite all those who live in it, Then they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 33:28 "I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and the pride of her power will cease; and the mountains of Israel will be desolate so that no one will pass through. Ezekiel 35:12 "Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard all your revilings which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel saying, 'They are laid desolate; they are given to us for food.' 15 "As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be a desolation, O Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD."' Ezekiel 36:3 therefore prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "For good reason they have made you desolate and crushed you from every side, that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have been taken up in the talk and the whispering of the people."'" 4 'Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the forsaken cities which have become a prey and a derision to the rest of the nations which are round about, 34 "The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 "They will say, 'This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.' 36 "Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it." Daniel 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?" 27 Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king's business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it. Daniel 9:18 "O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Daniel 11:31 "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. Daniel 12:11 "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Hosea 2:12 "I will destroy her vines and fig trees, Of which she said, 'These are my wages Which my lovers have given me.' And I will make them a forest, And the beasts of the field will devour them. Joel 1:17 The seeds shrivel under their clods; The storehouses are desolate, The barns are torn down, For the grain is dried up. Amos 7:9 "The high places of Isaac will be desolated And the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste. Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword." Amos 9:14 "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. Micah 6:13 "So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating you because of your sins. Zephaniah 3:6 "I have cut off nations; Their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, With no one passing by; Their cities are laid waste, Without a man, without an inhabitant. Zechariah 7:14 "but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate." Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who has been labeled the "Antichrist of the Old Testament", caused an altar to be set up in the Jewish Temple and on this altar he placed an idolatrous image of Zeus (cf 2Macc 6:2 = He was also to defile their Temple by dedicating it to the Olympian god Zeus. The temple on Mount Gerizim was to be officially named. Temple of Zeus the God of Hospitality, as the people who lived there had requested.). In addition, he turned the priest's chambers into brothels, creating the "abomination that causes desolation". In other words, the Temple was desolate to pious Jews because of the desecration of the altar which destroyed its true purpose. They had no desire to worship in such a polluted environment and thus the Temple was deprived of Jewish worshippers. Just so will the Antichrist establish an abomination in the sanctuary, a demonic counterfeit worship (Da 9:27-note; Da 12:11-note). Even more blatantly defiant of God, the Antichrist will command worship of himself and his image! (2Th 2:3,4, Rev 13:14-note, Rev 13:15-note) God will allow this gross evil because He is using this devilish man to fulfill His purging and purifying purpose in the nation of Israel. While the infinitely good and holy God does not cause evil, in His infinite wisdom and omnipotence is able to bring good out of what others mean for evil. (cf Ge 50:20, Ro 8:28-note) Henry