Smoodock's Blog

Out of the four divisions of Alexander the Great’s empire, two would affect the Jews, according to how they live, and according to how they worship God. They are the kings of Syria (the king of the north) and the kings of Egypt, the king of the south. These are the main characters of the historical drama that developed between Alexander’s death and the coming of the fourth kingdom (Rome). The first king of the south would be Ptolemy the Great, also called Soter (the savior), and “one of his princes,” being one of his father’s generals, would become the king of the north. This would be Sleucius Nicator (conqueror). He would extend his realm to Babylon and Media (Daniel 11:5).

The angel begins by telling Daniel that the king of the south would be strong in the beginning, stronger than the king of the north, so his kingdom would be a great dominion, ruling his realm according to his will. Through subtlety, he would plunder the Temple, under the guise of wishing to worship by sacrificing to God. Once in the city, he took Jerusalem, looted the Temple treasury and stole away tens of thousands of Jews, whom he enslaved and took to Egypt (Daniel 11:5).

The angel continues with “in the end (H7093) of years” (cp. 2Chronicles 18:2; where “certain” (H7093) years (H8141) was only three years 1Kings 22:1-2), so after a number of years, “…they shall join themselves together;” vis-à-vis Ptolemy II Philadelphius and Antiochus II Theos (the god) will seek to end their conflicts by making a league together. This treaty would involve “the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north.” In other words, Bernice, daughter of Philadelphius of Egypt is given in marriage to Theos (the god) of the North. So, Antiochus II divorced his wife Laodice and disinherited her son Seleucius Callinicus (Daniel 11:6).

Nevertheless, “…but she shall not retain the power…” vis-à-vis Bernice shall not succeed in uniting the two thrones to make peace. Ptolemy died and was unable to achieve his desire. Bernice was given up in divorce, and Antiochus took Laodice back. Laodice then poisoned him, Bernice and her son. So, the effort to unite the kingdoms failed, and Laodice set up her own son, Seleucius II Colinicus on the throne.

“But out of a branch of her roots…” (Daniel 11:7), vis-à-vis Bernice’s brother, Ptolemy III, avenged her death by over-running Syria, even to the Euphrates River. Moreover, “…he shall enter the fortress…” meaning he dealt with the Syrians according to his pleasure and killed Laodice. Afterward, he returned to Egypt carrying away the statues of their gods [2400] including their own precious vessels, which Cambyses had carried away to Persia. Not only so, but Ptolemy regained the provinces lost by his father, Ptolemy II (Philadelphus), to Antiochus II Theos (the god). Under Ptolemy III, Hellenistic Egypt reached its zenith. His reign lasted 26 years, 4 years longer than that of Seleucus II Calemicus (Daniel 11:8). Finally, Egypt was so won over by the return of their idols and the great spoil that they surnamed Ptolemy III “Euergates” Benefactor (Daniel 11:9).

Seleucus III and Antiochus III, the Great made war against Ptolemy III Euergetes, but Seleucus died, and Ptolemy was killed by his son, Ptolemy IV, Philopater. Antiochus the Great continued the war against Philopater, until he had recovered all the parts of Syria taken by Ptolemy Euergetes. Finally, Antiochus would “…pass through…” penetrating to Dura near Caesarea, then to Philopater’s Egyptian fortress in Edom (Petra), and Antiochus was stopped there (Daniel 11:10-11). Philopater became so enraged over losing so much of his kingdom that he came out against Antiochus the Great, and defeated his 75,000-man army, killing or capturing one fifth. However, instead of pursuing Antiochus and conquering all of Syria, Philopater made peace and gave himself up to a wasteful and extravagant lifestyle. (Daniel 11:12).

After 14 years and a successful campaign against India and Persia, Antiochus renewed the war with Ptolemy V, Epiphanes (Philopater’s son), who was a mere child at the time, thus, making the land of the Jews the battleground for the war. This time, Antiochus returned with “a multitude greater than before” (Daniel 11:13-14). Rebels in Egypt and Philip, King of Macedon, allied themselves to Antiochus. Even factious men of the Jews, hoping to gain freedom and independence, revolted against Ptolemy V to join Antiochus, believing their hopes would be established with him, but they failed.

Antiochus the Great fought against the Egyptian general, Scopus, who fled to a stronghold, and, although Egypt’s choice army was sent to rescue him, he was forced to surrender. So, Ptolemy V Epiphanes was defenseless against Antiochus the Great, who took the land of the Jews away from him and made them his servants (Daniel 11:15-16). Moreover, Antiochus wanted to enter Egypt in a powerful way with the “upright ones” (Jews) who betrayed Ptolemy. The text doesn’t mean righteous Jews, but upright, meaning they were God’s people. Antiochus thought to permanently subjugate Egypt by giving his daughter, Cleopatra, to Ptolemy for a wife, thus corrupting the dynasty. He needed peace here so he could make war with Rome; but Cleopatra became loyal to her husband and frustrated her father’s plans for an Egyptian alliance (Daniel 11:17).

In his war with Rome, Antiochus took many islands in the Aegean, but a Roman general, Lucius Scipio Asiaticus routed Antiochus at Magnesia. Thus, he brought an end to the war, forcing Antiochus to return all the territories he had won up to Tarsus. Nevertheless, Antiochus did not have to give up any of his own lands though he returned defeated. Finally, he fortified the cities he had left, but before he could plan and finance another war, he met his end plundering the temple of Jupiter at Elymais (Daniel 11:18-19).