Daniel 11:20-24

We ended our last meditation with the fulfillment of the prophecy of DAN 11:19 regarding the fall of Antiochus the Great, the king of Syria, or, as the prophecy names him, the king of the north. Now let’s see what happened next.

Daniel 11:20  Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

Then Seluecus Philopater stood up in his estate, that is, in the estate left by his father Antiochus the Great. Seluecus is called a raiser of taxes since he had to raise large sums of money to pay the tribute to Rome and to satisfy his own greed. He raised these taxes from the wealthy and the nobility, the glory of his kingdom, and also from Judea, the glorious land. After he had reigned twelve years, which was a few days in comparison to the 37 years his father reigned, he was poisoned by his treasurer Heliodorus. Therefore, he was destroyed, neither in anger, as in a mass revolt of his subjects, nor in battle.

Commenting on the foregoing verses Matthew Henry wrote:

“This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men’s lusts, and make it a theatre of sin and misery. All the changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, even the most minute and contingent, were plainly and perfectly foreseen by the God of heaven, and to him nothing is new.”

And this brings us in the next verse to the rise of of the infamous Antiochus Epiphanes as the king of Syria after Seluecus Philopater.

Daniel 11:21  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

The reign of this Antiochus Epiphanes is described through to verse 35 of Daniel 11. He is the same as “the little horn” prophesied of in DAN 8:23-25.

Daniel 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

25  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

He is called a vile person and history recounts him to have been very immoral, base, perverse, and a violent persecutor of the Jews as the above passage of Daniel 8:23-25 prophesied he would be.

Now consider the precise fulfillment of Daniel 11:21. The kingdom of Syria was intended for Antiochus’ nephew Demetrius, son of his eldest brother. Hence, Antiochus was not given the honour of the kingdom. Demetrius was then being held as a hostage in Rome as a result of the Roman conquest mentioned in the previous verses. Antiochus pretended to reign for Demetrius until he was released and returned to Syria. Therefore, under this guise he came in peaceably. By flattering speeches to the nobles and distributing gifts to the citizens he obtained the kingdom by flatteries. How this all sounds like modern politics! He also secured his power by enlisting the help of Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and his brother Attalus, who were neigbouring princes. Now let’s follow the sordid career of Antiochus.

Daniel 11:22  And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

23  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

24  He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

Heliodorus, who poisoned the predecessor of Antiochus, tried to usurp the kingdom of Syria for himself. However, with the help the Eumenes, Attalus, and the forces of Pergamos, called here the arms of a flood, Heliodorus and those who sided with him were overflown from before Antiochus and broken. Antiochus’ nephew Demetrius was the prince of the covenant in that Antiochus covenanted him that he would resign when Demetrius returned from being held hostage in Rome. But the prince of the covenant was broken in that Antiochus seized the power with no intent of relinquishing it.

Antiochus entered into a league with Ptolemy Philometer, who was the son of his sister Cleopatra. After the league that Antiochus made with Ptolemy he worked deceitfully. He came up to Egypt with a small group of soldiers so as to arouse no suspicion and placed some of his men in the strongholds of Egypt. Thus he became strong with a small people. This was the first of three times he came up against Egypt.

Antiochus entered peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province of Egypt. He insinuated himself into the affections of the people by scattering among them the prey, and spoil, and riches of those he conquered as well as his own. This he did in excess of his fathers and his fathers’ fathers. 1Maccabees 3:30 says of him that in liberally giving gifts “he had abounded more than the kings that were before him.” He enjoyed greater conquests against Egypt than his forefathers had. He forecast his devices against the strongholds of Egypt, contriving ways to get them into his possession. He did this even for a time until the king of Eygpt, Ptolemy Philometer was of age and resisted him or until the Romans stopped him. We will pick up what happened further between Antiochus and Ptolemy in our next installment. In the meantime, marvel with me at the precise fulfillment of this prophecy of Daniel. Indeed, the Bible is in truth the word of God!

Daniel 11:10-19

In our last meditation we left Seleucus Callinicus, the king of the north, defeated by Ptolemy Euergetes, the king of the south. After Euergetes defeated Callinicus, he returned to Egypt enriched with the spoils of his victory. Now the story continues.

Daniel 11:10  But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

Seleucus Callinus left two sons, Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus. These are his sons mentioned in the opening verse of today’s passage that shall be stirred up. They stirred up and assembled a multitude of great forces to come against Egypt. Seleucus Ceraunus, the elder son, was murdered after reigning only two years, whereas Antiochus reigned 37 years and became known as “the Great.” He was the one that the angel said would certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then…return, words indicating his campaign against Egypt in which he regained territory his father had lost. His being stirred up, even to his fortress refers to his campaign against Raphia, a fortified city in Egypt.

Daniel 11:11  And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12  And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

Ptolemy Philopater, the king of the south, was moved with choler (indignation) against Antiochus the Great, the king of the north, and came against him with a great multitude consisting of 70,000 footmen, 5000 horse, and 73 elephants. Antiochus force was also a multitude in that it consisted of 62,000 footmen, 6000 horse, and 102 elephants. Ptolemy won the battle and thus the multitude of Antiochus was given into his hand. However, Ptolemy Philopater having won his victory became lifted up with pride and gave himself up to luxury and uncleanness rather than completing the conquest of Syria. He also let Antiochus escape out of his hands. In his pride he forced his way into the Holiest of all in the temple at Jerusalem to offer sacrifice for his victory over Antiochus. This, of course, provoked the God of Israel. And thus Ptolemy was not strengthened by his victory even though he had cast down many ten thousands.

Daniel 11:13  For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

14  And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

Antiochus the Great, the king of the north, returned to Egypt and set forth a multitude greater than the former,...with a great army and much riches to sustain it. This was prophesied to certainly occur after certain years (about 14 years). It did certainly occur upon the death of Ptolemy Philopater, whose son Ptolemy Epiphanes succeeded him when but a child, which gave the advantage to Antiochus.

At that time many stood up against the king of the south. Antiochus the Great formed an alliance with Philip of Macedon against Ptolemy Epiphanes to seize his kingdom and divide it between themselves. The apostate Jews called here the robbers of Daniel’s people exalted themselves and sought to capitalize upon the unrest caused by this conflict. They came to the aid of Antiochus thus helping to accomplish this prophecy (establish the vision). But this alliance proved a calamity to them in the end as the angel predicted: but they shall fall.

So Antiochus the Great, the king of the north, is poised to invade Egypt and overthrow the kingdom of Ptolemy, the king of the south. Now let’s see what happened in this campaign.

Daniel 11:15  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16  But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

So Antiochus the Great did come, and cast up a mount against Ptolemy Epiphanes, the king of Egypt. The most fenced cities being taken by Antiochus refer to his taking of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, which were then part of the kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy’s general, Scopas, who had been sent to Coelesyria was put to flight by Antiochus. Scopas fled to Sidon with 10,000 troops where he tried to hold up and resist. Ptolemy’s choicest commanders (his chosen people) were sent to relieve him, but to no avail. The arms of the south (Egypt) had no strength to withstand. Scopas and his troops were besieged by the king of the north and forced to surrender.

He that cometh against him in verse 16 refers to Antiochus the Great coming against Ptolemy Ephiphanes. Antiochus being victorious over Ptolemy did according to his own will and Ptolemy was powerless to resist: none shall stand before him. Antiochus seized control of Judea, the glorious land. Antiochus sustained his large army with the fruits of the earth that were found there. Thus by his hand the land was consumed. Nevertheless, the leaders of Judea welcomed Antiochus as the liberator from the oppression of the Egyptians. Antiochus granted the inhabitants of Judea many favours and privileges.

Daniel 11:17  He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

Antiochus the Great then set his face…with the strength of his whole kingdom to enter Egypt. In pursuing this end he enlisted the help of many pious Jews, the upright ones. In order to assist him in gaining Egypt Antiochus gave his daughter Cleopatra in marriage to Ptolemy Epiphanes hoping she would betray her husband. This is what is meant when the angel said: he (Antiochus) shall give him (Ptolemy) the daughter of women (Cleopatra), corrupting her. This scheme backfired when Cleopatra sided with her husband instead of her father. As a father of the daughters of women, I should hope that I would have more sense than to expect my daughters to side with me against their husbands! Cleopatra and her husband sent ambassadors to the Romans to congratulate them on their victory over Antiochus in driving him out of Greece and to urge them to extend their campaign to Asia. Thus it was fulfilled which was spoken by the angel that she did not stand on his side, neither was for him.

Daniel 11:18  After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.

19  Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Failing in his designs against Egypt, Antiochus the Great turned his face unto the isles, which were provinces of the Romans. With a large fleet he sailed into the Aegean sea (the sea between Greece and modern Turkey) and took many of their isles such as Rhodes, Samos, etc. and several of the cities of Greece and Asia. But this reproach offered by him against the Romans was caused to cease by a Roman general, here called a prince, named Lucius Scipio, who defeated Antiochus’ army of 70,000 with an army of 30,000 at the hill of Sipylus. Thus Scipio turned Antiochus’ reproach upon Antiochus without himself (Scipio) incurring reproach (without his own reproach).

Being totally defeated by the Romans and placed under heavy tribute, Antiochus had to abandon all he had gained in Europe and return to the fort of his own land. Needing to raise money to pay the tribute, he attempted to rob the temple of Jupiter. This so enraged his own subjects against him that they killed him. So the words of the angel were fulfilled: he (Antiochus the Not So Great) shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

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.