Daniel 11 20

Daniel 11:20 kjv

Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

Daniel 11:20 nkjv

"There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle.

Daniel 11:20 niv

"His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

Daniel 11:20 esv

"Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.

Daniel 11:20 nlt

"His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 20 Meaning

Daniel 11:20 describes a king who would succeed the previous mighty ruler, known for sending out a tax collector (or one who would cause a tax to pass through) in the glory of his kingdom. This king would have a short and inglorious reign, being "destroyed," but not by open rebellion or in conventional battle. This points to a reign characterized by economic pressure and a private, perhaps treacherous, end.

Daniel 11 20 Context

Daniel chapter 11 provides an exceedingly detailed prophetic account of the conflicts between the Ptolemaic kings (King of the South) and the Seleucid kings (King of the North), originating from the division of Alexander the Great's empire. This long section culminates in the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (the "contemptible person" of v. 21), a foreshadowing of the Antichrist. Verse 20 immediately follows the demise of Antiochus III the Great (the "King of the North" in vv. 10-19), who suffered a humiliating defeat by the Romans at the Battle of Magnesia and was forced to pay a massive indemnity. The verse sets the stage for the crucial next ruler.

Historically, Daniel 11:20 refers to Seleucus IV Philopator, who succeeded his father, Antiochus III the Great. His reign (187-175 BC) was largely dominated by the need to raise an immense war indemnity owed to Rome according to the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC). This financial burden led him to impose severe taxes and even attempt to plunder temple treasuries, including that in Jerusalem, which is recorded in 2 Maccabees 3. His end was not on the battlefield but by assassination, generally believed to be at the hands of his chief minister, Heliodorus, thus fitting the description of being destroyed "not in anger or battle."

Daniel 11 20 Word analysis

• Then shall stand up in his place:
  • Significance: Indicates a successor in the same dynastic line or position of authority, maintaining the established pattern of "King of the North." It highlights the seamless transition of power but not necessarily of character or might.
• a raiser of taxes / one who causes a tax collector to pass through:
  • Original: Hebrew nagash mas (נוגש מס).
    • Nagash (נוגש): Can mean "to exact, drive, press, oppress," or "taskmaster, oppressor." It implies harsh collection and possibly cruelty or exploitation, as seen in Egyptian taskmasters (Exo 3:7, 5:6-14).
    • Mas (מס): "Forced labor, levy, tribute, tax."
  • Significance: The emphasis is on fiscal policy. This king's primary focus and means of gaining resources would be through oppressive taxation to pay the massive Roman war indemnity. It suggests an economic focus rather than military conquest or expansion, reflecting the historical reality of Seleucus IV. It sets a less "glorious" tone than previous kings known for their military prowess.
• in the glory of the kingdom:
  • Original: Hebrew hod malkhut (הוד מלכות).
    • Hod: "Splendor, majesty, glory, honor."
    • Malkhut: "Kingdom, dominion, reign."
  • Significance: This phrase might describe the king's official title or the state of the kingdom when he took over—one still considered "glorious" despite the preceding defeat and indemnity. However, the contrast with the king's actions (sending out tax collectors) suggests a form of perverted glory where the kingdom's splendor is derived from harsh taxation rather than military victory or internal prosperity. It could also refer to his sending the collector into the "glorious land" (i.e., Judah, often called glorious, Ps 29:2, Zech 9:1), but the standard reading suggests it describes the king himself or his actions within his domain.
• but within a few days / for a few days:
  • Original: Hebrew b’yamim me’atim (בימים מעטים).
    • Yamim: "Days."
    • Me’atim: "Few, little."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the brevity of his reign. This brevity contrasts with the long and significant reigns of his father, Antiochus III, and his infamous successor, Antiochus IV. It highlights the fleeting nature of this particular rule, signaling its lesser impact compared to others.
• he shall be destroyed / shattered / broken:
  • Original: Hebrew yishaber (ישבר) - a passive form of shavar (שבר), meaning "to break, shatter, tear down, crush."
  • Significance: Implies a definitive end. The passive voice suggests an external force or event leading to his destruction, rather than self-destruction. This is a strong word, signifying complete ruin.
• neither in anger nor in battle:
  • Original: Hebrew lo b’ap u'vemilchamah (לא באף ובמלחמה).
    • Aph: "Nose, nostril; anger, wrath." Implies public fury, revolt, or an official, righteous judgment.
    • Milchamah: "Battle, war, fight."
  • Significance: This crucial negation clarifies the manner of his destruction. He would not die as a result of a popular uprising ("anger") or in open warfare. This points towards a covert, internal end, likely an assassination or sudden, unexpected death due to treachery within his own court, rather than external conflict or a divinely enacted plague, aligning with the historical account of Seleucus IV's assassination. It underscores the divine predetermination of specific means.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then shall stand up... a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom": This phrase paints a picture of a king whose public persona (or kingdom's appearance) is one of power and status ("glory"), yet his core activity and defining characteristic is fiscal extraction ("raiser of taxes"). This often implies burden and oppression for the populace, undermining any true glory.
• "but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle": This directly contrasts the preceding image. Despite the "glory," his reign is short-lived, and his end is inglorious, not through heroic or even publicly acknowledged struggle, but by a more discreet and perhaps ignoble means. This highlights God's sovereign control, bringing down kings through various, often unexpected, methods.

Daniel 11 20 Bonus section

The specific identification of the king in Daniel 11:20 as Seleucus IV Philopator is a widely accepted historical correlation among scholars who hold to the traditional understanding of Daniel as predictive prophecy. His attempt to tax the temple treasury in Jerusalem (recorded in 2 Maccabees 3) demonstrates the very characteristic of "raiser of taxes" described in this verse and his empire's desperate need for funds. This attempt led to divine intervention in 2 Maccabees, foreshadowing God's protection of His people even amidst a greedy and oppressive ruler. The swiftness and nature of his end directly paved the way for the ascension of his younger, more audacious brother, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the "contemptible person" who would significantly impact Israel's history and play a key role in end-time prophetic types. The specificity of "neither in anger nor in battle" illustrates that God's plan is not confined to the usual human conflicts but can operate through unexpected channels like internal treachery or quiet divine decree.

Daniel 11 20 Commentary

Daniel 11:20 succinctly encapsulates the reign of Seleucus IV Philopator, acting as a historical bridge between the significant figure of Antiochus III the Great and the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The king's identifying characteristic, "a raiser of taxes," highlights the primary preoccupation of his rule: collecting the heavy tribute demanded by Rome. This economic burden, rather than military glory or expansion, defines his time on the throne. The mention of the "glory of the kingdom" likely refers to the inherited grandeur or perception of the Seleucid Empire despite its recent setbacks, serving as a subtle contrast to the less heroic, more utilitarian nature of this particular reign. The prophecy precisely foretells his swift downfall ("within a few days," meaning a short reign in prophetic terms) and the unconventional manner of his demise: "not in anger nor in battle." This accurately describes his assassination, believed to be by his chief minister Heliodorus, emphasizing a sudden, inglorious end resulting from internal conspiracy rather than external warfare or popular revolt. The verse powerfully demonstrates the precise fulfillment of prophecy and God's sovereign hand in setting up and tearing down earthly rulers, often in ways that underscore the fragility of human power and its ultimate subjection to His will. This transient and fiscally burdened reign simply serves as a prelude to the "contemptible person" who follows, amplifying the significance of the coming events.