Daniel 11:21-35
Verses 21-35 of chapter 11 focus on Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV) who also appeared in 8:9-14. This section can be divided as follows:
- Antiochus’s Rise and Consolidation of Power, vs 21-24.
- The First Egyptian Campaign, vs 25-28.
- The Third Egyptian Campaign, vs 29-30a.
- The Persecution of the Jews, vs 30b-35.
His Rise and Consolidation of Power, vs 21-24.
Verses 21-24 describe the events between 175 and 170 BC. Each verse emphasizes a different aspect of the early part of Epiphane’s reign. The events can appear a bit scattered, but overall, they paint a picture of what he was like.
Vs 21, He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.
When Antiochus III signed the treaty of Apamea conceding parts of western Türkiye to the Romans as well as exacting tribute he was forced to send one of his sons, Antiochus IV to Rome as a hostage to ensure payment. Antiochus III had another son, Seleucus IV who was his heir and remained in Syria. Upon Antiochus III death, Seleucus IV assumed the throne. He had two young sons, Demetrius and Antiochus. Demetrius I also went to Rome and he and Antiochus IV were exchanged in 176 BC (although it is not clear why). Seleucus IV died a year later in 175 BC under mysterious circumstances as it was supposed that Heliodorus, his chief tax collector, had poisoned him. As Demetrius was in Rome, next in line to the throne was his young brother, Antiochus. However, he was only about 5 years old, so Heliodorus seized control and named himself regent. Epiphanes was in Athens at the time but soon came to Syria and declared himself co-regent. He then had Heliodorus murdered and exiled his young nephew who died a few years later. Epiphanes thus took control of the Seleucid Empire. Other than the internal intrigue of succession, the empire had been at peace since Antiochus had been defeated by Rome. This fulfilled vs 21, He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.
Vs 22, Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.
Verse 22 notes an overwhelming army will be swept away before him. This was indeed the case as in 170 BC Epiphanes defeated the Ptolemaic kingdom. This invasion is further discussed in verse 25. The phrase “prince of the covenant” is a reference to the high priest. We know from our study of chapter 8:9-14 that upon taking power in 175 BC, Epiphanes replaced the high priest Onias III, with his brother Jason, who was a Hellenizer. Three years later Onias was murdered by his other brother Menelaus who then bribed Epiphanes to give him the position of high priest over Jason. This fulfilled the later part of the verse which states, and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.
Vs 23, After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.
Verse 23 references Epiphanes’s efforts at courting the Ptolemaic Empire. Remember his sister Cleopatra had married Ptolemy V when Ptolemy was only 7 years of age. She had acted as regent until he came of age. They eventually had a son, Ptolemy VI, who came to power in 181/180 BC about 5 years before Epiphanes. Epiphanes felt he could control Egypt through his sister and thus tried to make alliances to bend her to his will. The NLT renders this verse more in line with its original meaning as it notes with deceitful promises he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite only having a handful of followers.
Vs 24, When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot, and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.
Verse 24 then notes Antiochus’s wealth. He opportunistically seized lands and treasure when they were least expecting it. Again, this was a function of his deceitful promises and various alliances. He then made a point to play Robin Hood and spread this wealth among others to bribe their loyalty. Thus verse 24 was fulfilled: When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot, and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.
So, to summarize,
- Epiphanes comes to power through deceit, murder, and intrigue, vs 21.
- He begins to raise an army and deposes the high priest, replacing him with Greek sympathizers, vs 22.
- He tries to make alliances with the Ptolemaic kingdom through his sister, Cleopatra, but fails, vs 23.
- He redistributes the wealth of his provinces to bribe loyalty and allegiance, vs 24.
The First Egyptian Campaign, vs 25-28.
To understand this section and verses 29-30 requires a further understanding of the interrelationships of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic Empires. As noted above, Epiphanes had a sister, Cleopatra I, who was married off by her father, Antiochus III, to Ptolemy V when he was only 7. Cleopatra therefore became the effective monarch of Egypt. Eventually she and Ptolemy V had three children, Ptolemy VI Philometer, Ptolemy VIII Physcon, and a daughter, Cleopatra II. As we noted above, Ptolemy V died in 181/0 BC and his son Ptolemy VI took the throne. All three are mentioned in the discussion of Epiphanes’s 1st and 3rd Egyptian campaigns.
Vs 25a, with a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South.
Verse 25a details the start of Epiphanes 1st campaign. With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. There were two primary reasons why the war erupted. The first was for control of Israel. The land of Israel was a buffer state between the two Empires. It had been given to the Seleucids as a dowry when Berenice had married Antiochus II (see notes on 11:6). While Epiphanes was consolidating power, the Ptolemy’s sensed weakness and sought an opportunity to retake this territory (and here is the second reason) and they seized a portion of the very southwest border of Epiphane’s kingdom, and he wanted it back.
Vs 25b, 26, The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.
In 170 BC, Epiphanes mobilized his army and drove south where he met Ptolemy VI in battle in Gaza. Epiphanes defeated him as some of Ptolemy’s advisors betrayed him, and he was captured. This historical event fulfilled vs 25b, and verse 26, The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.
Vs 27a, The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other,
With the capture of Ptolemy VI, his brother, Ptolemy VIII Physcon, ascended to the throne. Epiphanes by now had taken most of Egypt, but Ptolemy VIII stood in his way with a remaining army garrisoned in Alexandria. Epiphanes therefore sought an alliance with his captured nephew, Ptolemy VI, promising to restore him to power if he would help Epiphanes depose his brother, Ptolemy VIII. However, Epiphanes had no intention of returning Ptolemy VI to power –he just wanted to use him to get rid of Ptolemy VIII. Ptolemy VI pretended to agree, but he had no intention of deposing his brother. Thus, the prophecy of verse 27 came to fruition, The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other.
Vs 27b, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.
History shows that Epiphanes set Ptolemy VI as a puppet king in Memphis, while he tried to overcome Ptolemy VIII in Alexandria. This campaign failed and Epiphanes was forced back towards Syria. Meanwhile, Ptolemy VI joined with his brother, Ptolemy VIII, and his sister, Cleopatra II, to expel Epiphanes and co-reign Egypt together. The prophecy states, the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other. but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. We should note this end is spoken of in verse 29, and we will examine it more closely when we get there.
Vs 28, The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
Frustrated at not conquering all of Egypt, Epiphanes retreated to Syria, crossing through Israel as he went home. While there, he vented his anger by indiscriminately slaughtering 40,000 Israelite men, women, and children, while enslaving another 40,000 for good measure. This fulfilled verse 28, The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
The Third Egyptian Campaign, vs 29-30a.
Vs 29, 30a, At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart.
Epiphanes embarked on a 2nd Egyptian campaign in an attempt to retake Egypt in 168 BC, but Daniel does not mention it. Rather the narrative starts again with Epiphane’s 3rd Egyptian campaign in 167 BC. To set all this in context it is helpful to remember the elephant in the room to the west which was Rome. By 170 BC Rome had expanded eastward and was embroiled with the Macedonians for control of the Grecian peninsula and parts of western Türkiye. This brought them into contact and conflict with the Seleucid Empire as the Seleucids had held territory in the western part of Türkiye and were sympathetic to the Macedonian opposition to Roman intervention. By this time, the Ptolemies had trading relationships with Rome as Egypt was an exporter of grain, figs, and olive oil. Though Rome and the Ptolemaic empire had no official military relationship, Rome saw Egypt economically as an ally and not a threat. However, with Epiphanes’s attempt to conquer Egypt in 170, Rome was worried about two things: First, Rome did not want an important trade partnership disrupted, but more importantly, the Ptolemaic empire extended far west across northern Africa into present day Libya. The annexation of this territory by the Seleucids would be a direct threat to Roman control of the Mediterranean. Therefore, when Epiphanes invaded again for a third time in 167 BC, Rome intervened and sent a flotilla of ships from Kittim (the Hebrew word for Cyprus) to Egypt. The Roman commander met Epiphanes and threatened him with war if he pressed further. Epiphanes backed down and retreated once again to Syria. This fulfilled the prophecy given in vs 29 and 30a, At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart.
The Persecution of the Jews, vs 30b-35.
Vs 30b-31, Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
Epiphanes now returns to Syria, and as he does so, he turns his attention and frustration towards Israel. Epiphanes was a strong advocate of spreading Greek culture throughout his kingdom. In many ways this is understandable as maintaining native customs and religious affiliations tend to promote dissimilation and rebellion (much like Islam in western countries today such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK). Epiphanes had replaced the Jewish high priest (Onias) with his Greek sympathizing brother Jason who was then replaced by his other brother Menelaus who had bribed Epiphanes for the position. As in any occupied country there were those natives who sympathized and allied themselves with the occupiers (think of French sympathizers to the Nazi’s in WWII). In Isreal’s case a sizeable number of the Israeli “elite” sought to ingratiate themselves into Greek culture and so abandoned their Jewish faith and traditions. Led by Menelaus, and backed by Syrian soldiers, the Levitical sacrificial system came under severe attack. The temple sacrifices were suspended, and Epiphanes placed an image of Zeus in the Holy of Holies and sacrificed a pig on the altar. These actions fulfilled the prophecy of vs 30b and vs 31, Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
Vs 32a, with flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant”.
Epiphanes made a point to bribe and reward those Jews who became Greek. He reasoned that if he could sway and change the elite, the rest of the nation would follow.
Vs 32b, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
Verse 32b notes there remained a remnant who, under great duress resisted, and tried to oppose Epiphanes (but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.) This remnant consisted of two distinct members. The first were the Maccabees, so named after their leader, Mattathias Maccabee who with his four sons, led a revolt against the Syrians (starting in 167 BC) and after a long bloody war, were able to recapture Jerusalem (165 BC) and then expel them (160 BC). The other member was the Hasidem (Hasideans in English) who were no relation to the Hasidem of Eastern Europe. The Hasidem were a forerunner of the Pharisees and were a conservative group, dedicated to God and his Word (they were probably responsible for the writing of the Dead Sea scrolls in Qumran about 150 BC).
Vs 33, Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.
Verse 33 notes the fate of the Maccabees and the Hasidem. Both suffered greatly in their resistance to the Seleucids.
Vs 34, When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
As the resistance picked up steam many of those who were Greek leaning switched their allegiance and joined the resistance. Thus verse 34 was fulfilled, When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
Vs 35a, some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end,
Verse 35a describes the fate of many of those who resisted Syrian Greek rule, some of the wise will stumble. This is another way of saying many were killed. The angel then describes the reason for their death, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end. God often uses trial and persecution to purify his people, and it is certainly true here. Note the end of verse 35a which notes, until the time of the end. This is then expanded on in verse 35b,
Vs 35b, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Verse 35b is a transition verse into the next section which deals with the Anti-Christ. The time of the end and the appointed time refer to the next section which we will address next week.
