Who are the "violent ones" mentioned in Daniel 11:14? Text “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. The violent among your people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail.” (Daniel 11:14) Immediate Literary Setting Verses 11–19 survey the Third Syrian War through the early reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (c. 204-175 BC). The “king of the South” is Ptolemy V Epiphanes; the “king of the North” is Antiochus III the Great. Daniel’s “people” are the Jews living under the tug-of-war between the Seleucids and Ptolemies. Primary Identification: Apostate Jewish Factions (c. 200-170 BC) 1. Historical record. Josephus (Ant. 12.138-146) and 2 Maccabees 3–4 describe Hellenizing Jews—Jason, Menelaus, the Tobiads—who courted Antiochus’ favor, built a Greek gymnasium, and violently opposed High-Priest Onias III. 2. Their motive. They “exalted themselves” by seizing political and religious power, imagining they were cooperating with God’s prophetic plan (“in fulfillment of the vision”) but acting in unbelief (contrast Numbers 14:40-45). 3. Their failure. Antiochus eventually stripped them of authority, plundered the temple (1 Macc. 1:20-24), and persecution followed—exactly the opposite of their hoped-for triumph. Supporting data: • Coins of Antiochus III found in Judea (Israel Museum, Jerusalem) confirm Seleucid control in this window. • The gymnasium and Hellenistic quarter unearthed south-west of the Temple Mount (Givati Parking Lot excavation, 2015-19) match the account of 2 Macc. 4:12-13. Secondary Proposal: Roman Interventionists (63 BC Onward) A minority of conservative historicists point to Judean leaders who invited Rome—Pompey in 63 BC, Herod’s supporters in 40 BC (Josephus, Ant. 14.47-79). These “robbers of your people” broke the city’s walls so Romans could enter, yet Rome soon subjugated them; thus they “failed.” The Hebrew term can embrace foreign-allied aggressors, and the sequence of vv. 14-19 flows naturally into Rome’s later conquest (cf. v. 17, “daughter of women,” possibly Cleopatra). Futurist/Eschatological Application Daniel 11:14 also foreshadows end-time Israel. Revelation 13–17 predicts an apostate alliance between unbelieving Jews and the final Antichrist. Jesus alludes to Daniel’s pattern in Matthew 24:15-16, warning about coming deceivers within Israel who will side with global powers and ultimately be overthrown. Thus the “violent ones” serve as a type: covenant people who grasp at prophecy by carnal means and are judged. Why the Prophecy Matters 1. Scriptural coherence. Daniel’s prediction, placed at c. 536 BC (per Ussher, 3467 AM), accurately anticipates events 350+ years later, displaying verbal inspiration (2 Peter 1:19-21). 2. Historical verification. Concordance between Daniel, Maccabees, Josephus, and archaeology reinforces the Bible’s reliability. Over 30 Daniel manuscripts among the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QDana-g) preserve the passage essentially unchanged—showing it is not a post-event insertion. 3. Theological lesson. Human schemes cannot advance God’s kingdom; salvation hinges on the resurrected Christ alone (Acts 4:12). Those who grasp power violently become object lessons in futility. Practical Takeaways • Guard against worldly shortcuts to fulfill spiritual goals (James 4:1-3). • Trust prophetic Scripture; its precision undergirds confidence in Christ’s promises (John 14:1-3). • Pray for Israel and all peoples to embrace the Messiah rather than political saviors (Romans 10:1-4). Summary The “violent ones” in Daniel 11:14 are first the Hellenizing Jewish faction that, aligning with Antiochus, tried to force God’s plan and were crushed. By extension, the term can encompass later collaborators with Rome and prefigure final apostate forces. The prophecy’s exact fulfillment, documented by inter-testamental history and archaeology, showcases the Bible’s divine authorship and warns every generation that only humble faith in the risen Christ prevails. |
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