Dan. 10:10-11:1; 11:5-13, Prophecy of the Nations (2)

3. The Prophecy Concerning Kings of the North and South (11:5-20). 

(11:5) The first king of the south (i.e. Egypt, v8, henceforth abbreviated here as KS) was Ptolemy Lagus (called “Soter”).  Associated with him as his general was Seleucus Nicator, who had been forced to flee from Babylonia by defeating Antigonus at Gaza (312 BC) and built the Seleucid Empire (Syria) which greatly exceeded that of the Ptolemies, reaching from Phrygia to the Indus.

(11:6) After a number of years, new kings were on the thrones of their respective countries, but they were still kings of the north (Syria) and the south (Egypt).  Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus (KS, 280-247), married Antiochus II (king of the north, or Syria, henceforth abbreviated here as KN), 261-246.  This was a political marriage, and Antiochus II was forced to put aside his own wife Laodiceia in order to marry Berenice.  Two years later when Ptolemy died, Antiochus II abandoned Berenice and returned to his former wife.  The former wife gained revenge by having Antiochus II poisoned, and having Berenice murdered.  Thus the attempted alliance ended in bloodshed and complete failure.

(11:7) Ptolemy Philadelphus was succeeded by Ptolemy Euergetes (III, 246-222), who was the brother of Berenice and thus of “her roots.”  He invaded Syria and had great success against Seleucus Callinicus (KN, 246-226), even to putting to death Laodiceia, the murderess of Berenice.

(11:8) According to Jerome, Ptolemy took back to Egypt with him 40,000 talents of silver and 2,500 idol statues.

(11:9) ASV is to be preferred over the redundant AV.  Seleucus Callinicus (KN) conducted an invasion of Egypt (c. 240 BC), but was unsuccessful and had to return home.

(11:10) His two sons, Seleucus Ceraunus (227-224) and Antiochus the Great (III, 224-187), stirred themselves for war.  After Ceraunus was killed in Asia Minor, Antiochus the Great moved south through Egyptian territory and captured the Egyptian fortress Gaza.  Ptolemy Philopator (KS, 222-205) offered no serious resistance at this time.

(11:11) Ptolemy Philopator (KS) eventually raised a huge army of 73,000 men, 5,000 cavalry and 73 elephants and overcame Antiochus the Great (KN), so that the army of Antiochus came into the hands of Ptolemy.

(11:12) Ptolemy Philopator defeated Antiochus at Raphia, and caused the Syrians to lose 10,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, 5 elephants and 4,000 prisoners (according to Polybius).   However, Ptolemy did not press his victory, but resumed his dissolute life.

(11:13) Actiochus the Great (KN) raised an even greater army because of successes in the East, and 13 or 14 (203 BC) years after the defeat at Raphia he came again against Egypt.

(We will resume this “Prophecy of the Kings of the North and South” in our next post.)