The Living Bible (521 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
8:14
Twenty-three hundred days,
literally, “Twenty-three hundred mornings and evenings.”
8:23
with great shrewdness and intelligence,
literally, “who understands riddles”; an alternate rendering might read, “skilled in intrigues.” Probably a reference to Antiochus Epiphanes and further future fulfillment by the Antichrist at the end of human history.
8:24
but it will be satanic strength and not his own,
implied; literally, “but not with his power.”
8:26
This number is literal, and means just that,
literally, “The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true.” Verse 14 is the basis for the meaning expressed in the paraphrase.
9:2
Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years,
see Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10. This interval had now almost expired.
9:3
to end our captivity and send us back to our own land,
implied.
9:24
490 years,
literally, “seventy weeks” or “seventy sevens” (of years). These were not in uninterrupted sequence. See vv. 25-27.
9:25
It will be 49 years plus 434 years.
This totals 483 years, instead of the 490 years mentioned in v. 24, leaving 7 years unaccounted for at the time of Messiah’s death. For their future fulfillment, see v. 27 and the Revelation. Or, consider the destruction of Jerusalem in
A.D.
70 by Titus and the subsequent slaughter of one million Jews during the following three and a half years as at least a partial fulfillment of this prophecy.
10:13
the mighty Evil Spirit,
literally, “the prince of Persia.”
10:20-21
your people Israel,
literally, “your prince.”
11:2
by a fourth,
perhaps Xerxes (486–465
B.C.
) who launched an all-out effort against Greece.
11:3
and accomplish everything he sets out to do.
Doubtless Alexander the Great.
11:5
the king of Egypt,
literally, “the southern king”—Ptolemy II.
11:6
the king of Syria,
literally, “the king of the north,” and so also throughout this passage. These prophecies seem to have been fulfilled many years later in the Seleucid wars between Egypt and Syria.
as a gesture of peace.
In 252
B.C.
Ptolemy II of Egypt gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to Antiochus II of Syria to conclude a treaty of peace between their two lands.
11:7
when her brother,
literally, “from a branch.” Berenice, murdered in Antioch by Antiochus II’s former wife, Laodice, was the sister of Ptolemy III, who now ascended the Egyptian throne and declared war against the Seleucids to avenge his sister’s murder.
11:9
the king of Syria,
Seleucus II.
11:10-11
the king of Egypt,
Ptolemy IV.
11:13
the Syrian king,
possibly Antiochus III the Great, who was later defeated by the Romans at Magnesia; compare v. 18.
11:14
thus fulfilling prophecy,
literally, “in order to fulfill the vision.”
11:20
His successor.
Seleucus IV, successor to Antiochus III, sent Heliodorus to rob and desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem.
11:21
Next to come to power will be an evil man not directly in line for royal succession.
This may refer to Antiochus IV Epiphanes who, when his brother Seleucus was assassinated, ingratiated himself with the Romans and took over.
11:22
including a leader of the priests,
probably Jason, treacherously removed by the Hellenist Menelaus.
11:27
Both these kings,
probably Antiochus IV and Ptolemy IV.
11:30-31
For Roman warships,
or “From Cyprus.”
pollute the sanctuary,
by offering swine on the altar. This event was fulfilled in 168–167
B.C.
worshiping idols inside the Temple,
literally, “they shall set up the abomination that astonished.”
11:32
He will flatter those who hate the things of God.
Menelaus, the High Priest, who conspired with Antiochus against the Jews who were loyal to God’s laws.
But the people who know their God,
perhaps the valiant Maccabees and their sympathizers. But a further fulfillment may lie in the future.
11:37
the god beloved of women,
probably Tammuz-Adonis, whose worship was popular among women; compare Ezekiel 8:14.
11:38
the Fortress god,
literally, “the god of Fortresses.”
11:40
at the time of the end.
The prophecy takes a turn here. Antiochus IV fades from view, and the Antichrist of the last days becomes the center of attention from this point on.
12:1
and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces,
implied.
12:5
two men,
Hebrew, “two others,” probably angels.
12:7
three and a half years after the power of God’s people has been crushed,
literally, “a time, times, and half a time when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end.”
12:11
1,290 days.
Three and a half years (v. 7) plus one month.
12:13
of those last days,
literally, “at the end of the days.”
1:4-5
avenge the murders he committed.
He went far beyond God’s command to execute the family of Ahab. See 1 Kings 21:21 and 2 Kings 10:11.
breaking the power of the nation in the valley of Jezreel,
a prediction of the Assyrian conquest of Israel twenty-five years later.
1:7
I will personally free her from her enemies without any help from her armies or her weapons.
Shortly after defeating Israel, the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem. He was driven off by special intervention of God’s angel (Isaiah 36–37).
1:11
the day when God will sow his people in the fertile soil of their own land again,
literally, “the day of Jezreel (‘God sows’)”; see 2:23.
2:1
Jezreel
is implied in the preceding chapter and verse.
2:16
“My Husband” instead of “My Master,”
literally, “My Baal,” meaning “My Lord,” but this was a tainted word because it applied to idols, so it will no longer be used in reference to the true God.
2:21-22
“God sows,”
literally, “Jezreel.”
2:23
“not pitied,”
see 1:6, 9-10.
3:2
back from her slavery,
implied.
3:5
to the Messiah, their King,
literally, “to David, their king.” Christ was “the Greater David.”
4:12
through tea leaves,
literally, “through their staff.” There is no modern parallel to this ancient practice used by sorcerers, whose predictions were based on how their staffs landed on the ground when thrown or allowed to fall.
4:18
Their love for shame is greater than for honor.
The Hebrew text is uncertain. The translation follows the Greek version.
4:19
a mighty wind shall sweep them away.
The Assyrian invasion came about twenty years later, and the nation disappeared.
5:10
the lowest sort of thieves,
literally, “as those who move a boundary marker”; see Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17.
6:2
In just a couple of days,
literally, “In two days.”
7:7
They kill their kings one after another.
Three Israelite kings were assassinated during Hosea’s lifetime—Zechariah, Shallum, and Pekahiah.
9:9
what they did in Gibeah,
see Judges 19:14ff.
9:10
But then you deserted me for Baal-peor,
the god of Peor, a city of Moab (Numbers 23).
9:15
Gilgal,
the town where Baal-worship flourished (4:15; 12:11), and where the monarchy, hated of God, was instituted (1 Samuel 11:15).
10:9
that awful night in Gibeah,
see Judges 19–20.
10:14
Shalman:
probably Salaman, king of Moab, who invaded Gilead around 740
B.C.
11:4
As a man would lead his favorite ox,
implied.
11:8
Admah and Zeboiim,
cities of the plain that perished with Sodom and Gomorrah; see Deuteronomy 29:23.
12:1
a dangerous game,
implied.
12:11
fools,
or “vanity.”
13:11
I gave you kings in my anger, and I took them away.
Probably an allusion to the kings of Israel assassinated during her last tempestuous years: Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah.
1:6
A vast army of locusts,
literally, “A nation.”
1:15
this terrible day of punishment,
or “the Day of the Lord.”
3:2
Valley Where Jehovah Judges,
or “Valley of Jehoshaphat.”
1:1
All day long he sat . . . keeping them from straying,
implied.