Bible Commentaries

Daniel 12. follows immediately upon the preceding paragraph, and there should be no break between the two chapters. 1-3 forms the ending of the revelation which the angel makes to Daniel, and describes the deliverance of Israel and the resurrection of the just.

Daniel 12:1. at that time: at the overthrow of Antiochus.—the great prince: the guardian angel of Israel (cf. Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21).—in the book: i.e. the book of life (cf. Psalms 69:28, Revelation 3:5 et passim).

Daniel 12:2. The doctrine of the resurrection. The OT has no very clear or definite teaching about the future life. The idea of a resurrection appears first in a national sense (Hosea 6:2, Ezekiel 37:1-14). The resurrection of the individual is first enunciated in a post-exilic passage in Isaiah 26:19*. where it is expressly limited to Israelites. The present passage is the earliest in which the resurrection of the wicked is definitely taught. Even here it is not universal (cf. the phrase "many of them that sleep").—everlasting life: this is the first occurrence of this phrase, which, however is frequently found in Apocryphal literature.

Daniel 12:3. wise: does not refer to intellectual gifts but rather to moral stability (cf. Daniel 11:33; Daniel 11:38). The martyrs and leaders of the people in its time of trial are here promised a counterbalancing "weight of glory," to use the phrase of Paul.

Daniel 12:4. The closing of the vision.—many shall run to and fro: this is usually taken to mean "run to and fro in the book," i.e. diligently study and appropriate its teaching. Charles, however, thinks the text is corrupt and on the basis of the VSS translates, "many shall apostatise and evils shall be multiplied upon the earth."

Daniel 12:5-13. Conclusion. The vision of the two angels who answer Daniel's inquiry as to the duration of the troubles.

Daniel 12:5. other two: i.e. angels.—the river: Daniel 10:4*.

Daniel 12:6. one said: i.e. one of the angels.—to the man: the angel described in Daniel 10:5 f.

Daniel 12:7. a time, times, and an half: 3 years (see Daniel 7:25, Daniel 8:14).

Daniel 12:8. Daniel fails to understand the answer and asks again, "What shall be the final issue?" but in Daniel 12:9 is refused any further explanation.

Daniel 12:10. Daniel 11:35*.

Daniel 12:11. continual burnt offerings . . . abomination: Daniel 11:31*. 1290 days seems to be another way of describing the 3 years. In Daniel 8:14 the number of days is given as 1150. How the discrepancy is to be explained is uncertain. Charles thinks that the numbers in Daniel 12:11 f. are later glosses.

Daniel 12:12. Why the 1290 is increased by 45 days or 1 months, is not easy to explain. All that can be said is, that while the 1290 days are supposed to witness the cessation of the "abomination," 45 more days are expected to elapse before complete blessedness is restored to Israel.