Daniel 11:26

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Daniel 11:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
Daniel 11:26 — American Standard Version

Context — Daniel 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, etc.] Those of his own household, his familiar friends, his courtiers and counsellors, and the generals of his army; his destruction, or the loss of the battle, was owing either to the bad counsels they gave him, or to their desertion of him, being corrupted by Antiochus: and his army shall overflow: that is, the army of Antiochus, like a mighty inundation of water, which carries all before it, should overflow, or bear down and destroy, the army of Ptolemy, and overrun all Egypt, as it did, as before related; no more resistance being to be made to it than to a rapid flood of water: and many shall fall down slain: of the army…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“they that feed of . . . his meat--those from whom he might naturally have looked for help, his intimates and dependents (Psa 41:9; Joh 13:18); his ministers and guardians. his army shall overflow--Philometer's army shall be dissipated as water. The phrase is used of overflowing numbers, usually in a victorious sense, but here in the sense of defeat, the very numbers which ordinarily ensure victory, hastening the defeat through mismanagement. many shall fall down slain--(1 Maccabees 1:18, "many fell wounded to death"). Antiochus, when he might have slain all in the battle near Pelusium, rode around and ordered the enemy to be taken alive, the fruit of which policy was, he soon gained Pelusium…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him - They of his own family; they who are nourished at his table; they who are his cabinet counselors, and professed and confidential friends. The meaning is, that they would prove treacherous and unfaithful. This is by no means improbable. Antiochus was powerful, and had seized upon Pelusium, and upon Memphis, and upon the fairest portions of Egypt. He was also in possession of the person of the lawful king, and had a fair prospect of subduing the whole country. In these circumstances, nothing would be more natural than that the very inmates of the palace - the persons around the reigning king - should begin to doubt whether he…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yea - His most familiar friends and confidants; for he shall be overthrown with a great slaughter, as when the Nile overflows the country. Daniel 11:27”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“that feed: Sa2 4:2-12; Kg2 8:14, Kg2 10:6-9; Psa 41:9; Mic 7:5, Mic 7:6; Mat 26:23; Mar 14:20; Joh 13:18 overflow: Dan 11:10, Dan 11:22 Daniel 11:27”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification