Daniel 11:38

38 Instead, he will honor the god who protects fortresses. He will offer gold, silver, jewels, and other rich gifts to a god his ancestors never worshiped.

Daniel 11:38 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 11:38

But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces
Or god Mahuzzim ^F17; departed saints and their images, whom the Papists make their protectors, defenders, and guardians: the word signifies towers, strong holds, fortresses; and by these titles the martyrs, saints departed, are called by the ancient fathers, who first introduced the worship of them: So Basil ^F18, speaking of the forty martyrs, says,

``these are they, who obtaining our country, like certain towers, afford us a refuge against the incursion of enemies:''

and a little after thus addresses them,

``O ye common keepers of mankind, the best companions of our cares, the suffragans of our prayers and wishes, "most powerful" ambassadors with God:''

and elsewhere ^F19 he prays,

``that God would keep the church unmoved, and fortified with the great towers of the martyrs;''

so Chrysostom ^F20 calls them patrons and protectors. Or, "with God he shall honour" ^F21; these along with him, or besides him; these shall be the objects of religious worship and honour, as they are: and that "in his estate"; or in his room and stead, that is, of the true God, our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man; and yet angels and departed saints are set up as mediators in his stead: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour;
the host, the wafer, the breaden god, made a god by the words of a muttering priest; this is such a god as the apostles, and Peter particularly, from whom the popes of Rome pretend to, derive their succession, never knew, nor once dreamed of; and yet this is received as a god, bowed unto, and worshipped, and honoured: with gold, silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things;
with rich and costly ornaments, with which the pyxis or box, in which it is carried in procession, is adorned.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Myzem hwhlalw) "deum Mahuzim", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.
F18 Homil. in 40. Martyr. p. 151.
F19 Homil. de Martyr. Mamant. p. 167.
F20 Sermo in Berenice, Homil. l. in 1 Thess. See Mede's Works, B. 3. p. 673, 674.
F21 "Ad, [vel] juxta deum Mahuzzimos in sede ejus honorabit", Medus, p. 667, 671.

Daniel 11:38 In-Context

36 "The king of Syria will do as he pleases. He will boast that he is greater than any god, superior even to the Supreme God. He will be able to do this until the time when God punishes him. God will do exactly what he has planned.

37 The king will ignore the god his ancestors served, and also the god that women love. In fact, he will ignore every god, because he will think he is greater than any of them.

38 Instead, he will honor the god who protects fortresses. He will offer gold, silver, jewels, and other rich gifts to a god his ancestors never worshiped.

39 To defend his fortresses, he will use people who worship a foreign god. He will give great honor to those who accept him as ruler, put them into high offices, and give them land as a reward.

40 "When the king of Syria's final hour has almost come, the king of Egypt will attack him, and the king of Syria will fight back with all his power, using chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade many countries, like the waters of a flood.