Daniel 11:2-6

Daniel 11:2-6

Daniel chapter 11 is one of the most confusing and perplexing chapters in the WOG.  However, it can be deciphered and understood.  It just requires some historical context and a way to break it down: which we will attempt to do! Chapter 11 provides two things: The first is a summary of the historical period extending from Cyrus the Great to the revolt of the Maccabees in 165 BC (verses 2-35). The second is verses 36-45 which gives more detail as to the Anti-Christ who is yet to come. This is the basic division of the chapter and is an effective way to think about it.

Hopefully, we can make a dent in the first section today. There is a lot of history to cover, and I do not want to get too bogged down in it, rather I wish to give you an overview so you can go back, research, and then fill in any area you may want to pursue.

The first section can be further divided as follows:

1. The Kings of Persia, vs 2.
2. The Kings of Greece, vs 3-4.
3. The Kings of the South (Egypt) and the Kings of the North (Syria), vs 5-20.
4. Antiochus Epiphanes, vs 21-35. (though Antiochus E is a king of the North we will give him his own section).

The Kings of Persia, vs 2.

Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

Daniel 10:1 tells us Daniel received this vision while Cyrus was King (In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel).  The angel reveals that four more kings will come after Cyrus, and the fourth will be far richer than the previous three.  The verse also notes that this fourth king, will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

Historically this is exactly what happened. Following Cyrus, four more kings ascended the throne. These were,

1. Cambyses, 530-522 BC (also called Ahasuerus or Xerxes in Ezra 4:6).
2. Pseudo-Smerdis, 522 BC (also known as the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4;7).
3. Darius 1, 522-486 BC (who is mentioned in Ezra 4:24).
4. Xerxes 1, 486-465/464 BC (also called Ahasuerus in Esther).

Xerxes 1 was indeed richer and more powerful than his predecessors and as in the case of many, this combination led him to want to expand his empire. He therefore invaded Greece in 480 BC (of note this occurs between chapters 1 and 2 of Esther). Though he conquered most of what is now Türkiye and northern Greece, Xerxes was repulsed from Greece at the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.  This event marked the beginning of the decline of his empire. 

Though there were other kings to follow Xerxes, the angel stops with him as he marked the beginning of the end.  The angel then moves on to the next great world power which is Greece.

The Kings of Greece, vs 3-4.

Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. ⁴ After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

Verse 3 starts with a prediction of a great king who historically was Alexander the Great.  We have studied Alexander before, but a brief synopsis of his life is again warranted.  Born in 356 BC, educated in part by Aristotle, he took power at the age of 20 after his father, Philip of Macedon, had been assassinated.  Within a year, Alexander removed all other threats to his position and moved southward from Macedon to consolidate and subdue the Greek city states on his southern border.  After defeating Thebes in 335, he effectively united Greece and Macedon under one ruler-himself.  He then turned his attention to driving the Persians from what is now Türkiye with hopes that he could move eastward and conquer them.  He set out in 334 BC and after three major battles with the Persians (Granicus 334, Issus 333, and Gaugamela 331 BC) he defeated the Persian Empire and kept moving eastward ultimately to the Indus River in what is now Pakistan, before his men said, “no more” and he turned back westward in 325.  In 323 while in Babylon he was struck by a mysterious illness and died at the age of 33. Note the angel made three statements regarding Alexander:

1. He would be mighty, which is a reference to his military might. Though Alexander’s army was only about 30,000 strong it was the most formidable fighting force of the ancient world due to Alexander’s tactical genius and the formations he used.
2. He will rule with great power. Other translations have rule with great dominion. This is a reference to the extent of his kingdom, which stretched from Greece and Macedon in the west to what is now Pakistan in the east, over 2000 miles.
3. He will do as he pleases.  This is a reference to his absolute sovereignty and power and is a good description of his personality. 

Following his death, a struggle ensued regarding his succession.  Alexander had two sons, one of whom was not yet born at the time of his death, therefore his generals competed among each other for control of the empire.  Finally, after a several year struggle, his empire was partitioned among four of his generals as one of them murdered Alexanders son, and the other son was by a mistress, hence had no legitimate claim to the throne. The empire was partitioned into four regions: one west (Macedonia and Greece-Cassander), one north (Thrace and Türkiye—Lysimachus),  one south (Egypt-Ptolemy) and one east (Seleucus). Each of these smaller kingdoms were not as powerful as the whole. Thus, the angel’s prophecy was correct, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

The Kings of the South (Egypt) and the North (Syria) vs 5-20.

This is where things get complicated but the important thing to remember is this section is a prophecy regarding the conflict between the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt and the Seleucid Empire in Syria and covers the time between 323 BC till 164 BC. 

Here is  a historical listing of the various kings mentioned in the passage and in what verses they appear:

The Ptolemies of Egypt -Kings of the South

Name of Ruler	Years of Reign	Verses in Daniel
Ptolemy I Soter	323-282 BC	11:5
Ptolemy II Philadelphus	282-246 BC	11:6
Ptolemy III Euergetes	246-221 BC	11:7-9
Ptolemy IV Philopator	221-204 BC	11:10-12
Ptolemy V Epiphanes	204-181/0 BC	11:14-17
Ptolemy VI Philometer	181/0-145BC	11:25-27

The Seleucids of Syria -Kings of the North

Name of Ruler	Years of Reign	Verses in Daniel
Seleucus I Nicator	312-280 BC	11:5
Antiochus I Soter	280-261/0 BC	Not mentioned
Antiochus II Theos	261/0-246/5 BC	11;6
Seleucus II Callinicus Pogon	246/5-226/5 BC	11;7-9
Seleucus III Ceraunus	226/5-223 BC	11;10
Antiochus III the Great	223-187/6 BC	11;10-19
Seleucus IV Philopater	187/6-175 BC	11:20
Antiochus IV Epiphanes	175-164 BC	11:21-35
Antiochus V Eupator	164-162 BC	Not mentioned
Demetrius I Soter	162-150 BC	Not mentioned
Alexander Balas	150-145 BC	Not mentioned

Verses 5-20 can be further divided into sections as follows:

1. Ptolemy I and Seleucus I, vs 5.
2. Ptolemy II and Antiochus II, vs 6.
3. Ptolemy III and Seleucus II, vs. 7-9
4. Ptolemy IV and Antiochus III, vs. 10-12.
5. Ptolemy V and Antiochus III, vs 13-19.
6. Seleucus IV Philopator, vs 20.

Ptolemy I and Seleucus I, vs 5.

The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

After Alexanders death, we noted his generals fought for control of his empire. Initially, Seleucus I Nicator was named satrap (or governor) of Babylon. However, one of Alexander’s generals named Antigonus seized Babylon and forced Seleucus to flee to Egypt where he became a general under Ptolemy I. In the meantime, Antigonus attempted to expand his control westward and threatened Ptolemy, whereupon Ptolemy and his new general, Seleucus, defeated Antigonus and Seleucus then took over what is now Syria in 312 BC.  He took the title of king in 304 BC. Soon Seleucus expanded his territory eastward to include Babylonia and Media. Hence his kingdom became greater than Ptolemy’s. Hence the angel was correct in predicting he will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

Ptolemy II and Antiochus II, vs 6.

After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power^[a] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father^[b] and the one who supported her.

Ptolemy II succeeded his father, Ptolemy I, and took the throne of Egypt in 282 BC. He then proceeded to expand his empire.  He attacked Seleucus I from 275-271 BC and was able to gain control of Cilicia and Caria (what is now central and western Türkiye).  He then tried to gain control of the Aegean Sea by attacking Macedonia but was defeated and lost most of what he had gained.  He regrouped back in Egypt and moved against the Seleucids once again in 260 BC, although by this time the Seleucid empire was now under the control of Antiochus II. After several years of conflict, Ptolemy proffered a deal to end the war.  He offered his daughter (Berenice) marriage to Antiochus along with the revenues of Judea, in exchange for peace and territorial stability. Antiochus was married to a woman named Laodice and they  had two sons. Though polygamous marriage was common in the ancient world, Ptolemy stipulated that Antiochus divorce Laodice as he feared that Berenice’s life would be in danger if Laodice remained at court. Ptolemy also desired a son of Berenice to succeed Antiochus instead of the two sons of Laodice.  This would ensure Ptolemy’s influence over the future of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus finally agreed to the deal. This pact fulfilled the first part of the prophecy: After some years, they will become allies.  The daughter of the king of the south will go to the king of the North to make an alliance. 

However, not all plans go as well as intended. Following their marriage in 252 BC, Berenice did indeed have a son. Soon thereafter, her father, Ptolemy II died in 246 BC.  Antiochus no longer saw the utility in his and Berenice’s marriage and he proceeded to divorce her. This fulfilled the second part of the prophecy: but she will not retain her power.

Antiochus then proceeded to remarry Laodice, who quite understandably,  no longer trusted Antiochus and soon poisoned him.  She then proclaimed her son, Seleucus II Callinicus as king. This fulfilled the third part of the prophecy: and he and his power will not last. 

Laodice continued in her revenge and then had Berenice, and her son poisoned, as well as her support staff who had accompanied her from Egypt, thus fulfilling the fourth part of the prophecy: in those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort.

The last part of the prophecy, her father and the one who supported her, was fulfilled when her father died in 246 and Antiochus was poisoned by Laodice in the same year.

In summary, the alliance through marriage between Ptolemy II and Antiochus II failed. In the end all parties were dead save for the vengeful Laodice who successfully placed her son on the throne.