1Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 2And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 3And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
5¶ And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 6And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.11.6 join…: Heb. associate themselves11.6 an…: Heb. rights11.6 he that begat…: or, whom she brought forth 7But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:11.7 in…: or, in his place, or, office 8And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.11.8 their precious…: Heb. vessels of their desire 9So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 10But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.11.10 shall be…: or, shall war11.10 return…: or, be stirred up again 11And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. 13For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.11.13 after…: Heb. at the end of times, even years 14And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.11.14 the robbers: Heb. the children of robbers 15So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.11.15 the most…: Heb. the city of munitions11.15 his…: Heb. the people of his choices 16But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.11.16 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. land of ornament 17He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.11.17 upright…: or, much uprightness: or, equal conditions11.17 corrupting: Heb. to corrupt 18After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.11.18 for…: Heb. for him11.18 the reproach…: Heb. his reproach 19Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 20Then 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.11.20 estate: or, place11.20 a…: Heb. one that causeth an exacter to pass over11.20 anger: Heb. angers
21And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.11.21 estate: or, place 22And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.11.24 peaceably…: or, into the peaceable and fat, etc11.24 forecast…: Heb. think his thoughts 25And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. 26Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. 27And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.11.27 hearts: Heb. their hearts 28Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 29At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
30¶ For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.11.31 maketh…: or, astonisheth 32And 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.11.32 corrupt: or, cause to dissemble 33And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.11.35 try them: or, try by them 36And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.11.38 in…: or, as for the Almighty God, in his seat he shall honour yea, he shall honour a god, whom, etc11.38 estate: or, stead11.38 forces: or, munitions: Heb. Mauzzim, or, God’s protectors11.38 pleasant: Heb. things desired 39Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.11.39 most…: Heb. fortresses of munitions11.39 gain: Heb. a price 40And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.11.41 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. land of delight, or, ornament 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.11.42 stretch…: Heb. send forth 43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.11.45 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. mountain of delight of holiness
Kongerigerne Egypten og Aram
1-2Men lad mig nu fortælle dig, hvad der skal ske i fremtiden. Efter at endnu tre konger har regeret i Persien, skal en fjerde træde frem, som er meget rigere end nogen af de andre. Med sin rigdom og magt vil han sætte alt ind i kampen mod det græske rige. 3Derefter kommer en mægtig konge til magten i Grækenland, og han får magt til at gøre fuldstændig, som han vil. 4Men når hans magt er på sit højeste, sprænges hans rige og deles i fire svagere riger, som hverken tilfalder hans efterkommere eller bliver så stærke, som da han regerede. Han mister sin magt fuldstændigt, og hans storrige bliver delt. 5Den ene af de fire nye konger, den egyptiske, vil opnå stor magt. Men så gør en af hans egne ledere oprør imod ham, tager magten i riget og gør det endnu stærkere.
6Nogle år senere slutter kongen af Aram forbund med kongen af Egypten.11,6 På hebraisk: „nordens konge” og „sydens konge”. Den egyptiske kongedatter bliver gift med den aramæiske konge for at besegle samarbejdet. Men hun vil blive forstødt, og hun selv, hendes mand, hendes barn11,6 Eller: „hendes far”. og deres egyptiske tjenere mister livet. 7Kort efter overtager en af hendes slægtninge magten i Egypten, og han drager med sin hær mod den aramæiske konge, stormer hans fæstning, og vinder over hans hær. 8Egyptens konge hjemfører endog deres afgudsbilleder som krigsbytte tillige med deres kostbare sølv- og guldkar. Derefter lader han i lang tid den aramæiske konge være i fred.
9Senere gør den aramæiske konge et fremstød imod Egypten, men må hurtigt trække sig tilbage til sit eget territorium. 10Hans sønner tager derefter kampen op og samler en stor hær, der skyller ind over Egypten som en flodbølge, der når helt frem til kongens fæstning. 11Det gør kongen rasende, så han rykker ud mod den aramæiske konge, der trods sin store hær bliver slået. 12Efter sejren nedslagter den egyptiske konge tusindvis af sine fjender. Men sejrsrusen varer ikke ved, 13for nogle år efter samler den aramæiske konge en større og bedre udrustet hær end den første, 14og andre nationer slutter sig til ham i kampen imod Egyptens konge. Krigere fra dit eget folk vil søge at opfylde det profetiske syn ved at gøre oprør mod Egyptens overherredømme, men de bliver slået. 15Den aramæiske konge vil belejre en stærkt befæstet by11,15 Byen Sidon, som var under egyptisk herredømme. og indtage den. Selv Egyptens bedste krigere kan ikke stå sig i kampen.
16Den aramæiske konge marcherer derefter frem uden at møde modstand, ingen kan standse ham. Han overtager kontrollen med Israels herlige land. 17Hans plan er at angribe Egypten med hele sin hærstyrke. Derfor indgår han en fredsaftale med den egyptiske konge og giver ham sin datter til ægte med det formål at ødelægge ham, men hans planer mislykkes.
18Så vender han opmærksomheden mod landene langs Middelhavets kyst og erobrer en del af dem. Men en hærfører standser ham og gør ende på hans overmod ved at besejre ham i et knusende nederlag. 19Derefter trækker han sig tilbage til sit eget lands fæstninger, men han bliver besejret og forsvinder ud af billedet.
20Hans efterfølger vil opkræve skatter i de besatte områder, men efter en kort regeringsperiode dør han, dog ikke i krig eller åben kamp.
21Den næste, der kommer til magten, er en ondsindet person, som ikke er den retmæssige tronfølger. Han tilraner sig pludselig magten ved hjælp af intriger og løgn. 22Enhver, der modsætter sig ham, ryddes af vejen, også en af ypperstepræsterne. 23Han indgår alliancer, men føler sig ikke selv bundet af dem. Ved hjælp af nogle få lydige håndlangere får han mere og mere magt.
24Han gør noget, som ingen af hans forfædre kunne finde på: Uden varsel plyndrer han sit eget lands rigeste områder og deler byttet ud til sine håndlangere. Selv de stærkeste fæstninger har han planer om at indtage, dog kun for en tid.
25Han samler sine styrker og sit mod og rykker ud mod Egypten med en mægtig hær. Egyptens konge går imod ham, også med en mægtig hær, men kan ikke slå ham, for han bliver offer for intriger. 26Hans egne rådgivere modarbejder ham, en del af hæren deserterer, og mange bliver dræbt under flugten. 27De to konger har begge ondt i sinde. De mødes og forhandler, men lyver for hinanden. De får intet ud af det, for det er Gud, der har fastsat, hvad der skal ske.
28Da den aramæiske konge er på vej hjem med store rigdomme, lader han sine frustrationer gå ud over Israels folk, som Gud har indgået en pagt med.
29Senere, når tiden er inde, drager han igen mod Egypten, men denne gang går det ikke som sidst. 30Krigsskibe der kommer ned fra Kittim,11,30 Navnet „Kittim” var oprindeligt en henvisning til Cypern, men blev senere også brugt om det romerske rige. LXX siger „romerske”. angriber ham, og han bliver bange og vender om. Han lader så igen sin frustration gå ud over Israels folk og belønner dem, der frasiger sig pagten med Gud. 31Han sætter sin hær til at vanhellige templet, standse de daglige ofre og opstille et afskyeligt afgudsbillede på tempelområdet. 32Med smiger lokker han de frafaldne over på sin side. Men de, som kender deres Gud, står fast og handler på deres overbevisning.
33De ledere, som har åndelig indsigt, vil undervise mange, men må i en periode lide under forfølgelse, blive udplyndret og fængslet eller dræbt med sværd eller ild. 34Nogle få blandt befolkningen vil oprigtigt prøve at hjælpe dem, men mange andre vil slutte sig til dem for at udspionere dem. 35Nogle af lederne vil blive fristet til at give op. Men modgangen vil resultere i, at de bliver renset og lutret inden afslutningen. Men den fastsatte tid for afslutningen kommer først senere.
Den store spotter i endetiden
36Nordens konge11,36 Mens de foregående afsnit blev opfyldt gennem de egyptiske og aramæiske konger indtil Antiochus Epifanes, henviser dette og de følgende afsnit måske til den sidste tid før verdens ende. gør præcis, som han vil. Han udnævner hovmodigt sig selv til at være den højeste gud og taler hånligt imod den almægtige Gud. En tid har han lykken med sig, men kun indtil Guds straf over Israels folk har nået sit mål, for det Gud har fastsat, må nødvendigvis ske. 37Kongen forkaster både sine forfædres guder, kvindernes foretrukne gud og alle andre guder, og han hævder, at han er større end dem alle. 38I stedet dyrker han fæstningsværkernes gud, som hans forfædre ikke kendte til, og han ofrer guld, sølv, juveler og andre kostbare gaver til den. 39Ved hjælp af denne fremmede gud vil han angribe og nedbryde sine fjenders største fæstninger. Dem, der støtter ham, giver han ære og høje positioner, og han giver dem land som belønning.
40-41I verdenshistoriens afsluttende fase prøver sydens konge kræfter med ham. Men nordens konge stormer imod ham med mængder af vogne, ryttere og krigsskibe. Han besætter mange lande og løber dem aldeles over ende—det gælder også Israel, det herlige land—mens Edom, Moab og Ammons ledere undslipper. 42Egypten og mange andre nationer bukker under for ham. 43Han tilraner sig alle Egyptens kostbarheder, guld- og sølvskatte, og folk fra Libyen og Kush11,43 Kush svarer nogenlunde til Nubien, området syd for Egypten. bliver hans tjenere.
44Men da kommer der meldinger fra øst og nord, som gør ham bange, og i stor vrede drager han af sted for at ødelægge mange af disse lande. 45Så gør han holdt og slår lejr mellem havene11,45 Sikkert Middelhavet og Det Døde Hav, da de to have angiver Israels vest- og østgrænse. tæt ved tempelbjerget i Jerusalem. Men han går sin undergang i møde, og da er der ingen, som vil hjælpe ham.
