Barnes New Testament Notes

Verse 15. The abomination of desolation. This is a Hebrew expression, meaning an abominable or hateful destroyer. The Gentiles were all held in abomination by the Jews, Ac 10:28. The abomination of desolation means the Roman army; and is so explained by Lu 21:20. The Roman army is farther called the abomination, on account of the images of the emperor and the eagles, carried in front of the legions, and regarded by the Romans with divine honours.

Spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Da 9:26,27; 11:31; 12:11.

Stand in the holy place. Mark says, "standing where it ought not," meaning the same thing. All Jerusalem was esteemed holy, Mt 4:5. The meaning of this is, when you see the Roman armies standing in the holy city, or encamped around the temple, or the Roman ensigns or standards in the temple. Josephus farther relates, that when the city was taken, the Romans brought their idols into the temple, and placed them over the eastern gate, and sacrificed to them there. Jewish Wars, book vi., chap.6, 1.

Whoso readeth, etc. This seems to be a remark made by the evangelist, to direct the attention of the reader particularly to the meaning of the prophecy by Daniel.

{q} "spoken of" Da 9:27; 12:11