John Calvin Commentary Daniel 11:28

"Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [his pleasure], and return to his own land." — Daniel 11:28 (ASV)

Here the angel predicts the calamitous nature of that peace for the people of God, because Antiochus would turn his arms against Jerusalem and the whole Jewish people. It is said, He shall return to his own land, because he would not possess Egypt. This return implies the victory of Antiochus, and yet his confining himself within the boundaries of his own realm.

When he adds, with great pomp, or great riches, he shows the source from where that wealth would be derived—his heart should be against the holy covenant. He partially destroyed Jerusalem and the temple of God. He was compelled to leave the temple and many treasures, through either shame, reverence, or a miracle, as we read in the Second Book of Maccabees . He would willingly have stripped the whole temple, but God then restrained him, though he had gathered great wealth for himself.

Hence the angel joins the two events: he would return to Syria with great wealth, and his heart would be against the holy covenant. Some refer this to persons, as if the angel meant the people who were in covenant with God. But the simpler sense pleases me better—he would carry on war against God because he was not enriched with such ample spoils as he had expected. We have mentioned his making peace with his enemy; therefore, lest this expedition be fruitless, he plundered the temple of God. Thus his heart was elated against God and against his holy covenant. The other exposition is too cold and too forced.

And he shall do it and shall return to his own land. This return at the end of the verse is taken in a different sense from that at the beginning, as now he would act according to his own will as a conqueror, and no one would oppose his arrival in his own territories.

These two expressions are to be read together, — he shall do it and return to his own dominions. The meaning of the word “do” we have already explained. The angel signifies the absence of any obstacle that could prevent Antiochus from destroying the city and temple.

This was a severe trial, and it would cause the minds of the faithful to be disturbed and tossed about, because God gave up His temple to this cruel tyrant and permitted the sacred vessels and the hidden treasures to be carried off with the greatest ignominy. It was necessary, then, to inform the faithful beforehand of this grievous slaughter, lest its novelty should astonish them and overthrow the constancy of their faith.

Hence we gather this practical instruction: God often predicts many sorrowful events for us, and yet this instruction should not embitter our feelings, for He wishes to fortify us against the trial that the novelty of the event must cause.

Thus the angel, while speaking of events that were by no means agreeable, was a useful herald of all the calamities that must happen, lest anything unusual or unexpected should befall the pious.

In this way, they would acknowledge that the affliction proceeded from God’s hand; and while they were exposed to the tyrannical desires of Antiochus, yet God, by His certain and incomprehensible counsel, allowed much license to this impious tyrant. It follows after this.