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clear. Certainly it would be a good idea if all translations followed this practice and then
everyone could see what the translators have needed to add.
The R.S.V. translates without having to supply an extra word; "I will remove the
northerner far from you". Other translations are:
"The foe from the north I will drive out" (Moffatt).
"I will remove the northern peril far away from you" (N.E.B.).
"I will drive the northern army far away from you" (N.I.V.).
Perhaps the most significant translation of this verse is supplied by J. N. Darby:
"I will remove far from you him that cometh from the north" (J.N.D.).
With reference to `drive him', `his face', `his hinder par', `his stink', `his ill savour'
and `he hath done' a singular noun, rather than a collective one, would best fit the context
and the translator's need.
Who is this northern army? Who is this northerner? The army has been described in
Joel 2: 2-10 but who is its leader? Some claim that Joel 2: 2-10 and verse 20 refer to
nothing more than a plague of locusts but not only do such verses as 2: 7 and 8 make
this highly unlikely, verse 20 makes it impossible. Locusts do not attack the land of
Israel from the north. Thus who is this northerner? Who is he "that cometh from the
north?".
Daniel 11: is a difficult chapter and at verse 21 there is a distinct break. The first 20
verses may now be history but "in his estate shall stand up a vile person" (Dan. 11: 21)
heralds in the still future "king of the north". The whole of Dan. 11: 21-45 is about the
exploits of this king of the north and a future king of the south--with the people of Israel
stuck in the middle. It helps in understanding these passages to remember that north and
south are with respect to Jerusalem and the land surrounding it. All nations entering
Israel `on foot' must enter either from the north or from the south. Who is this king of
the north? Who is this king of the south? That was, and still is, only one nation near
Israel to the south and that is Egypt. Thus many agree that the king of the south is Egypt
but . . . . . The king of the north? which is that? To answer would require another book!
Suffice it to say that there are several nations near to the land of Israel which would have
to use the northern route. It is one of these but which one is not clearly revealed in
Scripture. A detailed study will narrow down the possibilities but those alive at that day,
during that Day of the Lord, will know.
Note that Dan. 11: 36 says that this king of the north "shall do according to his will;
and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God, and shall speak
marvelous things against the God of gods and shall prosper . . . . .".
In Joel 2: 20 the expression "he hath done great things" can be translated "he
magnified himself to do great things". This expression occurs also in Dan. 8: where
his same being is termed the `little horn' but he doesn't stay little for long!