Daniel 11:31
Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "sanctuary of strength" is more than just a description of the Temple's fortifications; it highlights its role as a spiritual stronghold, the very place where God's presence offered power and refuge to His people. This makes the subsequent desecration and removal of the daily sacrifice an attack not just on a building, but on the heart of Israel's divine protection and worship.
Following Antiochus IV Epiphanes' initial retreat from Egypt, his forces return to Judea. They act with brutal force, defiling the Jerusalem Temple, halting its daily sacrifices, and erecting a pagan idol—an "abomination"—that renders the sacred space desolate. This event marks a severe desecration and a profound crisis for the Jewish people.
Have you ever felt like a sacred place or a cherished tradition was violated? This verse describes a horrific violation of God's dwelling place.
The Temple as a 'Sanctuary of Strength'
The text calls the Temple a "sanctuary of strength." This wasn't just about its physical fortifications. It was the place where God's presence dwelled, the spiritual stronghold for His people.
Foreign Forces and Pagan Intrusion
When the verse speaks of "forces from him shall appear," it points to military power acting on behalf of a hostile ruler. These forces didn't just attack the city; they directly targeted the heart of Israel's worship. They "pollute the sanctuary," bringing in practices and idols that were anathema to God's law, effectively banishing true worship.
Imagine your most vital daily routine being abruptly halted. For ancient Israel, the daily sacrifice was the pulse of their covenant life.
The 'Daily Sacrifice' as Central to Worship
The "regular burnt offering" (or "daily sacrifice") was a cornerstone of worship in the Temple, offered morning and evening. It symbolized continuous atonement, dependence on God, and ongoing communion with Him. Its removal wasn't just an inconvenience; it was a severing of the lifeline between God and His people.
A Mandated End to Divine Connection
When the verse states, "And they shall take away the regular burnt offering," it signifies a deliberate act to stop the divinely ordained worship. This action aimed to dismantle Israel's unique relationship with God, silencing the voice of prayer and sacrifice.
This phrase sounds ominous, doesn't it? It signifies a profound desecration that leaves devastation in its wake.
Understand the original words
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
A sacred place or building dedicated to the worship of God, in the Old Testament referring specifically to the tabernacle or temple in Jerusalem as the place of His presence.
chalal · Hebrew Verb
An act of treating something holy with irreverence, contempt, or using it for common or unholy purposes.
tamid · Hebrew Noun
The daily sacrifice offered morning and evening in the temple, representing the continuous devotion and reconciliation between God and His people under the Mosaic law.
shiqquz · Hebrew Noun
An object, idol, or practice that is detestable to God and contrary to His holiness, frequently associated with idolatry and resulting in judgment or abandonment.
This verse points to a specific, brutal historical moment: the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This event, marked by the stopping of daily sacrifices and the erection of pagan altars, ignited the Maccabean Revolt and serves as a stark example of religious oppression.
171 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Ascends Throne
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, begins his reign, which will later see intense persecution of the Jews.
c. 169 BC
First Sack of Jerusalem
Antiochus IV Epiphanes sacks Jerusalem during a military campaign in Egypt, plundering the Second Temple and intensifying tensions.
167 BC— this verse
Temple Desecration Begins
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' forces, led by Apollonius, desecrate the Second Temple, stopping the daily sacrifices and imposing pagan practices.
167 BC
Abomination of Desolation Set Up
An idol altar (likely to Zeus Olympios) is erected on the altar of burnt offerings in the Jerusalem Temple, a pivotal act of desecration.
This passage directly echoes Daniel 11:31 by describing the historical event of the 'abomination of desolation' being set up on the altar, providing a concrete example of the prophecy's fulfillment.
These verses detail the profanation of the temple by Antiochus, including the removal of sacrifices and the dedication to pagan deities, illustrating the 'polluting of the sanctuary' and the 'abomination' mentioned in Daniel.
Jesus directly references the 'abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel, connecting the historical event to future prophetic significance and a greater fulfillment.
Daniel 9:27This earlier prophecy in Daniel also speaks of an 'abomination that makes desolate,' offering a thematic parallel and showing a consistent prophetic pattern concerning the defilement of God's sanctuary.
Isaiah 6:11-13This passage describes a desolation of the land and the city due to sin and judgment, providing a broader biblical context for the concept of a 'desolate' sanctuary and land as a consequence of unfaithfulness.
ellicottDaniel 11:31: "And 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."
(31) Arms. —A further statement of the assistance which the king obtains in his attacks upon all sacred institutions. The word “arms,” as in Daniel 11:5 , means “assistance,” especially military assistance, or some other aid, with which is contrasted in the next verse the help given by the apostate…
barnesDaniel 11:31: "And 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."
And arms shall stand on his part - Up to this verse there is a general agreement among commentators, that the reference is to Antiochus Epiphanes. From this verse, however, to the end of the chapter, there is no little diversity of opinion. One portion suppose that the description of Antiochus and…
The phrase "sanctuary of strength" is more than just a description of the Temple's fortifications; it highlights its role as a spiritual stronghold, the very place where God's presence offered power and refuge to His people. This makes the subsequent desecration and removal of the daily sacrifice an attack not just on a building, but on the heart of Israel's divine protection and worship.
Following Antiochus IV Epiphanes' initial retreat from Egypt, his forces return to Judea. They act with brutal force, defiling the Jerusalem Temple, halting its daily sacrifices, and erecting a pagan idol—an "abomination"—that renders the sacred space desolate. This event marks a severe desecration and a profound crisis for the Jewish people.
Following Antiochus IV Epiphanes' initial retreat from Egypt, his forces return to Judea. They act with brutal force, defiling the Jerusalem Temple, halting its daily sacrifices, and erecting a pagan idol—an "abomination"—that renders the sacred space desolate. This event marks a severe desecration and a profound crisis for the Jewish people.
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What is an 'Abomination'?
In the Old Testament, an "abomination" is something that is detestable to God, often referring to idols or practices associated with pagan worship. It represents impurity and defiance against divine holiness.
'Desolation' by Divine Absence
The "abomination that makes desolate" is more than just an idol placed in the Temple. It's an act that results in the absence of God's presence and the cessation of His worship. It brings about spiritual barrenness and destruction. Historically, this referred to Antiochus setting up an idol (likely of Zeus Olympius) on the altar. The phrase also carries a prophetic weight, pointing to future desecrations that would leave the Temple and Jerusalem in a state of ruin and emptiness.
Impact on God's People
This act represents the ultimate violation – the defilement of God's dwelling place with something utterly opposed to Him, leading to the desolation of His people's spiritual life.
166-160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt, a Jewish uprising against Seleucid rule and religious persecution, begins under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus.
141 BC
Temple Rededication
After years of conflict, Judas Maccabeus and his followers successfully cleanse and rededicate the Jerusalem Temple, celebrating the festival of Hanukkah.
"Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate." — The phrase "sanctuary of strength" is more than just a description of the Temple's fortifications; it highlights its role as a spiritual stronghold, the very place where God's presence offered power…
