Daniel 11:30

"“He will return at the appointed time and come into the south; but it won’t be in the latter time as it was in the former."

Key Reflection

The prophet Daniel speaks of a specific historical figure who will return at a predetermined time and invade the southern region, but this invasion will not follow the same pattern as previous invasions. For the original audience, this would have been a clear reference to current geopolitical events, using past conflicts like those between Egypt and Syria as a backdrop to understand the coming disruption. The emphasis on the difference from "the former" would highlight that while a similar conflict might be expected, the nature or outcome of this future event will differ significantly.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For the ships of Chittim shall come against him -The word rendered Chittim -כתיםkı̂ttı̂ym- according to Gesenius, properly means “Cyprians,” so called from a celebrated Phoenician colony in the island of Cyprus. In a wider acceptation the name came to comprehend the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, especially the northern parts, and therefore stands for the islands and coasts of Greece and the AEgean Sea. See Gesenius, Lexicon, and compare Josephus, “Ant.” b. i. ch. vi. 1. The Egyptian government had called in the aid of the Romans, and Antiochus, therefore, was threatened with a war with the Romans if he did not abandon his enterprise against Egypt.

Related Verses

Job 30:8

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