Daniel 11:5-9

In verses 5-30 of Daniel 11 we have a prophecy of the affairs of the two kingdoms of Egypt and Syria which arose upon the breaking apart of the Grecian empire of Alexander. The kingdom of Egypt, which lies to the south of Israel, was governed by the Ptolemies, referred to as the king of the south. The kingdom of Syria, which lies to the north of Israel, was governed by the Seluecids, referred to as the king of the north. The nation of Israel was thus sandwiched between these two kingdoms and was greatly affected by the affairs between them. Again, this prophecy deals with what would befall Daniel’s “people in the latter days” (Daniel 10:14). Recall that the Bible reports the history of the other nations as they have a bearing upon His church and people.

Much of the information in the following verses is found in the writings of Josephus and in the apocryphal books of the Maccabees. Although not inspired Scripture, the books of the Maccabees do contain valuable historical information. In order to expound this section we will break them down by verses. Let me suggest that as you read the exposition of the verses, that you have them in front of you to compare with the explanation. In my explanations I will cite phrases from the verses in italics to help you see the literal fulfillment of the predictions made in these verses. We begin with verse 5.

Daniel 11:5  And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

This king of the south was Ptolomaeus Lagus, one of Alexander’s captains. His kingdom was strong possessing several countries including Egypt. However, one of Alexander’s princes, Seleucus Nicanor, was stronger than Ptolomaeus Lagus or strong above him. Seleucus was the most powerful of Alexander’s successors. He eventually possessed the largest portion of what remained of Alexander’s empire thus having a great dominion. Included in his portion was Syria, which, as we said, lies to the north of Israel. He is called the king of the north. Thus we have the kingdom of Egypt in the hand of the Ptolomies and the kingdom of Syria in the hand of the Seleucids squaring off for all manner of war and intrigue with Israel sandwiched in the middle.

Daniel 11:6  And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

In the end of about 70 years of fighting between Egypt and Syria the two kingdoms joined themselves together in an agreement. Ptolemy Philadelphus, then the king of the south, gave his daughter Berenice along with a huge dowry in marriage to Antiochus Theos, the king of the north, on condition that he divorce his wife Laodice, which Antiochus agreed to do. Thus the two kings joined themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. Antiochus and Berenice wed and had a son. Later, however, Antiochus put away Berenice and took his former wife Laodice back. Hence, Berenice did not retain the power of the arm, just as Daniel 11:6 predicted. Laodice subsequently had Antiochus poisoned and arranged to have Berenice, her son, and those who accompanied her to Syria murdered. Laodice set up her own son by Antiochus, Seleucus Callinicus, to be king of Syria. So neither did Antiochus and his son (his arm) by Berenice stand. So Berenice, they that brought her, Ptolemy Philadelphus that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times were given up. The entire attempt at an alliance proved a colossal failure.

So the story continues to unfold in verses 7-9.

Daniel 11:7  But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:

8  And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

9  So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

The branch of her roots refers to Ptolemy Euergetes, the king of Egypt who succeeded Ptolemy Philadelphus and thus stood up in his estate. Ptolemy Euergetes was the brother of Berenice and thus branched out of the same roots as she. In order to avenge his sister’s death, he came with an army against Seleucus Callinicus, the king of Syria. Meeting with little to no resistance Euergetes entered into Syria, the fortress of the king of the north, and took control of much of the realm. He took the capital city of Selucia, the fortress, and stationed a garrison of Egyptians in it which held it for twenty-seven years. He carried captive into Egypt 2500 images of their gods, with their princes, and 40,000 talents of silver and all the precious vessels of silver and of gold exactly as verse 8 predicted he would do. He continued more years than the king of the north in that he outlived Callinicus four years. Hearing of a rebellion in Egypt he returned to Egypt and thus came into his kingdom and returned into his own land.

We will pick up the story in our next meditation, God willing.