Welcome back to another episode of NachDaily with the 11th perek in sefer Doniel. This and the next perek are continuations of the previous chapter.

[May this segment be a merit for the aliyas neshamos of Raizel bas

Moshe and Avraham Aharon ben Yisroel Yitzchok]

This is an extremely difficult chapter, and is 45 pessukim long. All of the Meforshim grapple with understanding so much history, bringing from Josephus and other sources to try and place the events mentioned here.

They specifically highlight the question of the identity of the “Kings of the North and South.” Rashi seems to leave this question unanswered, while the Malbim and Abarbenel primarily deal with the historical context and the kingdoms to which this may be referring. I have primarily followed the Living Nach’s interpretation and translation for this chapter.

The last 5 pessukim in the chapter speak more directly about the end of days and the final redemption. This will continue into the next perek, which will bring us to the end of sefer Doniel, after which we hope to move on to sefer Ezra.

The angel Gavriel picks up from where he left off in the last chapter regarding his war with the angel of Persia and Michoel’s intervention in helping him.

Gavriel reveals the next several hundred years of Jewish history to Doniel, stressing that what he is saying is true.

4 Kings will come from Persia, but the 4th one will be greater and stronger than the previous 3. As the 4th King grows in wealth and strength, he will wage war against Greece. Then a “mighty King” will arise who will rule widely. When he is at his strongest, his kingdom will fall apart, be uprooted, and his people spread out through the entire world. Rashi learns that this is talking about Alexander the Great.

The King of the South will then dominate, and his dominion will spread. His daughter will visit the King of the North, but she will be unsuccessful in gaining power from him.

Eventually though, the King of the South’s daughter will have a descendant who will be able to rule over the King of the North for several years, which will be a consolation for having lost those other wars.

Eventually, the King of the North will invade the South. The King of the South will become enraged and fight back with all his strength.

Although he will kill many people, ultimately the North will win.

This is possibly all referring to the monarchies of the Seleucids of Assyria and Ptolemies of Egypt who will spend many years, spanning generations, sparring with each other.

Over time, the King of the North will attack the South. During that time period, many people will attempt to rise up against the South. This is in reference to Antiochus III trying to conquer Egypt again.

Eventually, the King of the North will try to invade a fortified city while the forces of the South will offer no assistance. He will try to attack the “desirable land.” To wipe out the enemy, he will try to marry his enemy’s daughter, but she will not have him and he will eventually fall.

This could be in reference to Antiochus [not the Antiochus from Chanukah], who really only attacked Yerushalayim as a way to coax the king of Egypt into battle. Antiochus will eventually fail.

Now we reach Antiochus Epiphanes, to whom Chazal referred as Antiochus harasha, the evil one. As we go further along in history, verse 21 tells us that a “vile man will arise.” He will be deceitful. He will loot the Beis Hamikdash, something none of his ancestors dared to do.

Then Antiochus Epiphanes will wage war against the King of the South, Ptolemey VI. Both their hearts will be focused on evil while engaging in fierce battle with each other.

Eventually the Beis Hamikdash will be destroyed. Even the wise people in Eretz Yisrael will be killed.

Then there will be a “King” who will act as God and do whatever he pleases. Some of the Meforshim learn that this is the Roman emperor who pretended to be a god, while others say that this is Mohammad, who claimed to be God’s son. He will completely disregard history, lavishly honoring only those who he feels will help him.

At the end of days, the King of the South will engage the forces of the North, but the North will prevail with its many ships. The King of the South will continue to try invading many places until he becomes alarmed by the news from the East and North. He will go on a killing spree, and destroy many people before meeting his end with no one to help him.

The Meforshim explain that this has to do with modern day Iran and Iraq against the western world, and how Yishmael will ultimately be defeated.

I am aware that this was a very difficult perek! Thanks for hanging in there.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily when we’ll finish sefer

Doniel and the vision of the end of days.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.