Daniel 11 — The People That Do Know Their God Shall Be Strong, and Do Exploits
The most detailed prophetic chapter in the Old Testament. The angel rehearses the wars between the kings of the north and south — the Persian kings, Alexander the Great, the Ptolemies and Seleucids, ending with Antiochus Epiphanes's desecration of the temple. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Some shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. He shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
— Daniel 11:32
- v.1-20 The Persian and Greek wars
- v.21-35 Antiochus Epiphanes
- v.36-45 The willful king's end
Fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white. Some of the faithful die under persecution — and the death itself purifies the community. Suffering is part of the calendar.
Yet for a time appointed. Persecution has limits set by God. It does not run forever.
Verse 32's second half is the church's motto in every persecution. The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Personal knowing precedes public exploit. Cultivate the first; the second will follow when its hour comes.
The chapter's historical preview ends pointing forward — toward the One who will end every willful king. Christ's coming kingdom is the answer to the chapter's long catalogue of human kings rising and falling.
Corrupt by flatteries. The half-hearted are bought off with compliments. Tyrants do not always need to threaten — they offer.
The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Personal knowledge of God produces public boldness. The verse forecasts the Maccabees and every faithful resistance since.