Daniel 11:33

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many,.... Such as had a better understanding of divine things than others, had more light and knowledge in the sacred Scriptures, in the law

And 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.

Such as Eleazar, that old scribe, /APC , and some others learned in the laws of God, and holy in heart and life, shall instruct many in the righteous ways of God, and retain them from apostacy when others fall off: yet many of the people shall fall, yea, of their pious and learned teachers, as well as their disciples, /APC ,56; 2Mac 6

Daniel 11:33 And 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.Ver. 33. And they that underaand, &c.] God shall provide, in the worst of times, that his people shall have teachers and faithful monitors. I find in the registers (and wonder at it, saith Mr Foxe) that, in Queen Mary’ s days, one neighbour resorting to, and conferring with another, eftsoons, with a few words of their first or second talk, did win and turn their minds to that wherein they desired to persuade them touching the truth of God’ s Word and sacraments. Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame.] The instructors especially shall. Of this persecution the apostle seemeth to speak. Acts and Mon.

(33) They that understand.—This is the name by which those are called who were spoken of in the last verse as “knowing their God.” (Comp. Daniel 12:10; Psalms 111:10.) Shall instruct many.—That is, their example shall give instruction to “the many” who yield to the flatteries mentioned in the last verse. They show them whither they are drifting. For illustration, see 1Ma 2:1, &c.; 2Ma 6:18. Others may be found in the history of any religious persecution. Yet they shall fall.—The prophecy obviously refers to martyrdom, but whether to the sufferings of “those who understand” or of “those who are instructed” is not clear. Probably both are intended, as appears from Daniel 11:35. The deaths mentioned in 1Ma 1:57, &c., 3:41, 5:13, may be taken as typical of the sufferings of the Church in the last times.

Verse 33. And they that understand] The apostles and primitive Christians in general, who understood from the prophets, and his own actions, that JESUS was the true MESSIAH. Instruct many] Preach the Gospel every where, and convert multitudes to the faith. Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.] They were exposed to the malice and fury of their enemies, during TEN STATE PERSECUTIONS, and suffered all kinds of tortures, with but little intermission, for three hundred years.-Newton.

33. And they that be wise] as the same word is rendered in A.V. of Daniel 12:3; Daniel 12:10. The verb means properly to shew understanding and discernment, such as may lead a man to act judiciously and bring him success; hence it is sometimes rendered prosper, or have good success, &c. See examples of the word in Joshua 1:7-8, 1 Samuel 18:5, Psalms 2:10, Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 10:19 ‘he that refraineth his lips sheweth understanding,’ i.e. ‘acts judiciously,’ Isaiah 52:13. Here it is used, as a term of approbation, to denote those who, in a time of severe trial, shewed wisdom, by choosing the right course, and strenuously refusing to give up their faith. The name given to the loyal party in the Maccabees is the Hasidaeans, i.e. ḥ ?asξdξm, or ‘godly’: see 1Ma 2:42, ‘Then were gathered together unto them (i.e. unto Mattathias and his friends, who appear to have been the first to assume the aggressive against Antiochus’ decree) a company of Hasidaeans (συναγωγὴΑσιδαίων), mighty men out of Israel, every one that offered himself willingly (= ξִ ?ϊְ ?πַ ?γֵּ ?α, Judges 5:2; 2 Chronicles 17:16; Nehemiah 11:2) for the law. And all they that fled from the evils were added to them, and became a stay unto them’; 1Ma 7:13; 2Ma 14:6. shall cause the many to understand] The ‘wise’ (maskξlξm), the leaders of the patriotic party, will, by their influence and example, teach the masses, especially such as were halting between two opinions, to understand their duty. yet they shall fall, &c.] alluding to the persecutions and martyrdoms in which many of the loyal Jews perished; see 1Ma 1:60; 1Ma 1:63; 1Ma 2:31-38; 2Ma 6:10-11; 2Ma 6:18-31 (the aged scribe Eleazar), 7 (the mother and her seven sons). ‘Fall,’ here and Daniel 11:34-35, is properly stumble (Daniel 11:14). many days] viz. till an effectual stand was made by the Maccabees.

And they that under stand among the people - Among the Hebrew people.

33. And they that understand — “They that be wise;” that is, the “pious.” (Compare 1Ma 2:27, and Psalms 14:1.) They shall fall — See note Daniel 11:32.