Discovery BoxDaniel 10:1
Context10:1 1 In the third 2 year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar). This message was true and concerned a great war. 3 He understood the message and gained insight by the vision.
Daniel 11:6
Context11:6 After some years have passed, they 4 will form an alliance. Then the daughter 5 of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she will not retain her power, 6 nor will he continue 7 in his strength. 8 She, together with the one who brought her, her child, 9 and her benefactor will all be delivered over at that time. 10
[10:1] 1 sn This chapter begins the final unit in the book of Daniel, consisting of chapters 10-12. The traditional chapter divisions to some extent obscure the relationship of these chapters.
[10:1] 2 tc The LXX has “first.”
[10:1] 3 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word צָבָא (tsava’) is uncertain in this context. The word most often refers to an army or warfare. It may also mean “hard service,” and many commentators take that to be the sense here (i.e., “the service was great”). The present translation assumes the reference to be to the spiritual conflicts described, for example, in 10:16–11:1.
[11:6] 4 sn Here they refers to Ptolemy II Philadelphus (ca. 285-246
[11:6] 5 sn The daughter refers to Berenice, who was given in marriage to Antiochus II Theos.
[11:6] 6 tn Heb “the strength of the arm.”
[11:6] 7 tn Heb “stand.” So also in vv. 7, 8, 11, 13.
[11:6] 8 tn Heb “and his arm.” Some understand this to refer to the descendants of the king of the north.
[11:6] 9 tc The present translation reads יַלְדָּה (yaldah, “her child”) rather than the MT יֹלְדָהּ (yolÿdah, “the one who begot her”). Cf. Theodotion, the Syriac, and the Vulgate.
[11:6] 10 sn Antiochus II eventually divorced Berenice and remarried his former wife Laodice, who then poisoned her husband, had Berenice put to death, and installed her own son, Seleucus II Callinicus (ca. 246-227
