דניאל, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״א

A vision of escalating conflict reveals a moment when arrogance and destruction reach the peak of holiness, striking directly at the heart of Israel's spiritual life. The primary approach among commentators is that the enemy displayed profound audacity, daring to challenge Heaven itself. In their arrogance, they attacked God, the ultimate commander of Israel's army, and struck at His house, the Temple [רש״י, מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In sharp contrast, a completely different perspective views this moment as a positive turning point. According to this view, the military commanders are actually Mattathias the Priest and his Hasmonean sons, who gathered strength as the leaders of God's army and successfully defeated their enemies [מלבי״ם].

The fate of the daily offering reflects these conflicting events. The primary approach among commentators is that enemy troops forcibly removed and abolished the daily sacrifice, completely stopping its offering on the altar [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some specifically identify this disruption with the armies of Nero Caesar that were sent to Jerusalem [רש״י]. On the other hand, following the positive narrative of the Hasmoneans, the removal of the offering is understood instead as an uplifting. Because of their victory, the daily sacrifice that the Greeks had previously abolished was raised up and restored, bringing the service of God back to its rightful place [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, the vision turns to the physical devastation of the sanctuary's very foundation [מצודת ציון]. The enemy forces ruined, burned, and cast down the base of the Temple [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Even the interpretation that highlights the earlier Hasmonean triumph understands this final stage as a harsh look into the future. It reveals that after the Temple was successfully rebuilt and secured by the Hasmoneans, it was ultimately destined to be thrown down and destroyed a second time by the Romans [מלבי״ם].