Daniel 11:1-35 is a remarkable passage in Biblical prophecy, offering a detailed account of the political intrigue between the "king of the South" and the "king of the North." These titles refer to historical rulers who occupied territories south and north of Israel, respectively.
The king of the South generally refers to the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, which ruled from Alexandria, while the king of the North refers to the Seleucid dynasty ruling from Antioch in Syria. This prophecy is particularly striking for its accuracy and specificity, providing a narrative that aligns closely with historical events over several centuries.
For those interested in deeper historical validation, several reliable sources such as The Expositor's Bible Commentary provide extensive details on the fulfillment of this prophecy. We will refer to these sources throughout the analysis. While the complete scriptural passage is not quoted here, readers are encouraged to follow along in their own Bibles for a more comprehensive study.
Daniel 11:2 - The Persian Kings and the Invasion of Greece
Verse: "And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece."
Historical Fulfillment:
- The "three more kings" are:
- Cambyses II (530–522 B.C.), the elder son of Cyrus the Great.
- Pseudo-Smerdis (522 B.C.), an impostor who falsely claimed to be Cyrus’s younger son.
- Darius I (Darius the Great) (522–486 B.C.), who consolidated the Persian Empire.
- The "fourth" and richest king is Xerxes I (486–465 B.C.), known for his immense wealth and his military campaign against Greece, which included the famous Battle of Thermopylae.
- The Expositor's Bible Commentary confirms that Xerxes amassed an army from all 127 provinces of his empire, stirring up "all" against Greece (Expositor's, p. 128).
Daniel 11:3-4 - The Rise and Fall of Alexander the Great
Verses:
- "Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills." (v. 3)
- "And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these." (v. 4)
Historical Fulfillment:
- The "mighty king" is Alexander the Great (336–323 B.C.), whose military conquests created one of the largest empires in history within a brief span of eight years.
- Alexander died unexpectedly in 323 B.C. at the age of 32, leading to the fragmentation of his empire.
- His kingdom was divided among his generals, known as the Diadochi (Successors):
- Cassander – Ruled Macedonia and Greece.
- Lysimachus – Controlled Thrace and Asia Minor.
- Ptolemy I – Established the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.
- Seleucus I Nicator – Founded the Seleucid Empire in Syria and Mesopotamia.
- As noted in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Alexander’s son was murdered, and his illegitimate brother was assassinated, ensuring that "his kingdom was not divided among his posterity" (Expositor's, p. 129).
Daniel 11:5 - The Kings of the South and North Emerge
Verse:
- "Then the king of the South shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority."
Historical Fulfillment:
- The "king of the South" refers to Ptolemy I Soter in Egypt.
- The "prince" who became stronger is Seleucus I Nicator, initially a general under Ptolemy who eventually established the Seleucid Empire, controlling vast territories including Syria and Mesopotamia.
- This marked the beginning of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, whose conflicts would shape the political landscape for over a century (Expositor's, p. 130).
Daniel 11:6 - The Laodicean War and Betrayal
Verse:
- "After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South shall come to the king of the North to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times."
Historical Fulfillment:
- To seal peace, Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II (king of the South), married Antiochus II (king of the North).
- Antiochus II divorced his first wife, Laodice, to marry Berenice.
- Laodice later poisoned Antiochus II and orchestrated the murder of Berenice and her son, regaining power for her own son, Seleucus II.
- This act of betrayal fulfilled the prophecy that Berenice "shall be given up" (Expositor's, p. 131).
Daniel 11:7-9 - Retaliation and the Laodicean War
Verses:
- "And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail."
Historical Fulfillment:
- Ptolemy III, brother of Berenice, avenged his sister’s death by invading Syria, capturing Antioch, and looting temples.
- He secured Egyptian dominance but did not permanently hold the territory.
- This marked the Laodicean War, with intermittent peace until the death of Ptolemy III in 221 B.C. (Expositor's, p. 131).
Daniel 11:10-12 - The Sons of Seleucus II
Verses:
- "His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress."
Historical Fulfillment:
- The sons of Seleucus II, Seleucus III and Antiochus III (the Great), sought revenge.
- Seleucus III was assassinated after a brief reign, and Antiochus III launched campaigns against Egypt, briefly conquering Judea.
- Ptolemy IV defeated him at the Battle of Raphia, regaining control over Judea (Expositor's, p. 132).
Daniel 11:13-19 - Antiochus III and the Rise of Rome
Key Events:
- Antiochus III returned with a stronger army and allied with Philip V of Macedon, capturing Judea.
- Rome intervened, defeating Antiochus at the Battle of Magnesia (190 B.C.).
- Antiochus was forced to pay heavy tribute and later died attempting to loot a temple.
Daniel 11:20-35 - The Rise of Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Key Events:
- Seleucus IV was assassinated, leading to the rise of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- He imposed Greek culture and persecuted Jews, outlawing Jewish religious practices.
- Antiochus IV desecrated the temple, fulfilling the prophecy of the “abomination of desolation.”
- His tyranny led to the Maccabean Revolt, a successful Jewish uprising (Expositor's, p. 141).
Notice:
I found it interesting that the book kind of leaves off here here at verse 35, however, you have 10 more verses, it goes to verse 45. It seemingly drops off leaving people wondering about the rest of the prophecy. However, it is hard to believe that no one is picking up on the fact that Jesus Christ is making reference to the rest of this chapter for the Antichrist in Matthew 24:15. Many people are mistaken that quote with Daniel 9:27 but that verse is speaking about our LORD Jesus. This is what we will discuss in future posts! However, make sure you catch up on the Beasts in Revelation 13 so that you can understand the rest of this prophecy.
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Conclusion:
The historical fulfillment of Daniel 11:1-35 demonstrates the precision of Biblical prophecy. The geopolitical struggles between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties are vividly depicted, aligning seamlessly with secular historical records. This serves as a compelling testament to the authenticity and reliability of Scripture.
For a more comprehensive understanding, consult The Expositor's Bible Commentary and other reputable historical references.
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