DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 11.7

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Eleven

Daniel’s Final Vision

The Prophecy

The Ptolemaic and Seleucidae Wars

(Continued)

Part II

 

Preface

From the prior study, one can ascertain the complexity of historical events. As the rivalry of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms continue from this point forward, keep in mind, the prophecies of Daniel have taken place exactly as God had revealed them to him. 

 

 

CAST of CHARACTERS

A. Kings of the South – The Ptolemaic Dynasty (305-30 B.C.)

1. Ptolemy I Soter [meaning saviour] (323-285 B.C.)

a.  Berenice I, fourth wife

b.  At least 12 children

2. Ptolemy II Philadelphus [brother-loving] (285-246 B.C.)

a.  Berenice II Syra, daughter

3. Ptolemy III Euergetes [benefactor] (246-221 B.C.)

a.  Son of Ptolemy II Philadelphus

b.  Brother of Berenice II Syra (Syria)

c.  Berenice II, second wife

d.  Berenice II, co-regent with Ptolemy III and IV

4. Ptolemy IV Philopator [father-loving] (221-203 B.C.)

a.  Arsinoe III, wife, and older sister

5. Ptolemy V Epiphanes [god manifest] (203-181 B.C.)

a.  Cleopatra I Syra, wife

                                                i.    Daughter of Antiochus III the Great

6. Ptolemy VI Philometor [mother-loving] (180-164; 163-145 B.C.)

7. Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator [father-loving god] (145-116 B.C.)

[some dates may vary]

B. Kings of the North – The Seleucid Dynasty (312-64 B.C.)

1. Seleucus I Nicator [victor] (305-281 B.C.)

     a. Apama. first wife

     b. Antiochus I Soter, son

2. Antiochus I Soter [savior] (281-261 B.C.)

3. Antiochus II Theos [the Divine] (261-246 B.C.)

     a. Laodice I Syra wife

     b. Berenice II Syra, second wife

     c. Laodice I Syra, remarried

     d. Six children

4. Seleucus II Callinicus [beautiful Victor] (246-225 B.C.)

     a. Son of Laodice I Syraand Antiochus II Theos

     b. Laodice II, wife

     c. Co-regent with his mother Laodicea I for a short time

d. Seleucus III Ceraunus, son

e. Antiochus III the Great, son

5. Seleucus III Ceraunus [thunderbolt] (225-223 B.C.)

6. Antiochus III Megas [the Great] (223-187 B.C.)

     a. Laodice III, wife

     b. Fathered 8 children, 3 sons, and 5 daughters

     c. Cleopatra I Syra, daughter, married Ptolemy V

7. Seleucus IV Philopator [father-loving] (187-175 B.C.)

     a. Heir and successor to Antiochus III the Great 

8. Antiochus IV Epiphanies [god manifest] (175-163 B.C.)

     a. Succeeded his older brother Seleucus IV

              

Historical sidebar:

1. The city of Laodicea of Revelation 3:14 was named after Laodice I

2. The city of Antioch in Asia Minor was named after Antiochus I Soter

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail.

 

The Branch of Her Roots

The account is a continuation of verse 6. Ptolemy II Philadelphus fathered four children, two of which are mentioned in this verse. A sibling of Berenice II was Ptolemy III Euergetes, a branch of the roots of Berenice II. The phrase, one stand up in his estate, means Ptolemy III Euergetes assumed the position of Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

 

And [Ptolemy III Euergetes] shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north [Seleucus II Callinicus], and shall deal {come, fight] against them [his armies], and shall prevail [triumph]

Ptolemy III Eugueretes was determined to avenge his sister Berenice II’s death and disgrace by Laodice I Syra. So, Ptolemy III Euergetes amassed an army, invaded the territory of Seleucus II Callinicus, the king of the north who was co-regent with his mother Laodice I Syra and killed Laodice I Syra. This was known as the Third Syrian War. As a result, Ptolemy III Euergetes was victorious.

 

 

(Verse 8)

 

And [Ptolemy III Euergetes] shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes [molten images], and with their precious vessels of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

 

The Spoils of War

After a successful campaign against Seleucus II Callinicus, the king of the North, Ptolemy III Euergetes returned to Egypt with bounty from the temples and treasure houses in Syria. Among those was part of the formerly taken dowry of Laodice I Syra. Thus, Ptolemy III was named Euergetes which means benefactor.

 

Christian priest and historian, Saint Jerome also lists 40,000 talents of silver, 4,000 talents of gold, and 2, 500 molten images of their gods being carried back to Egypt. The transportation of their idols is an indication of total subjugation of the northern kingdom (cf. Isaiah 46:1-2; Jeremiah 48:7; Hosea 10:5).

 

And he [Ptolemy III Euergetes] shall continue more years than the king of the north

Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221 B.C.) outlived the reign of his rival Seleucus II Callinicus (246-225 B.C.), king of the North for about five years.

 

 

(Verse 9)

 

So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

 

About 240 B.C., Seleucus II Callinicus attempted to retaliate but with little success. His fleet perished in a storm and he was forced to flee back to Syria. Incidentally, Seleucus II Callinicus, while riding, accidentally fell from his horse and died in 225 B.C.

 

 

 (Verse 10)

 

But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

 

The Sons of Seleucus II

His sons shall be stirred up [unto anger, to make war upon]

In an attempt to recover his father’s dominions, the war with Egypt was reassumed by the two sons of Seleucus II Callinicus:

1.  Seleucus III Ceraunus (225-223 B.C.)

a.  Ceraunus was a weak, vicious, and undisciplined prince. Being unpopular amongst his military, he was poisoned by a member of his army in Anatolia at the age of twenty.

 

2. Antiochus III Magas (Magnus), the Great (223-187 B.C.)

a.  Upon his brother's death, Magnus was proclaimed king of the North. Antiochus III Magas, not to be confused with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, assumed the throne at the age of eighteen and reigned until he was thirty-six.

 

Antiochus III the Great immediately took control of the army and recovered Seleucia and Syria. His ultimate desire was to reunite the empire of Greece to its grandeur that it once was under Alexander the Great.

 

And one [Antiochus III the Great] shall certainly come [to Egypt], and overflow [like a flood, overwhelm, engulf, conquer], and pass through [the Holy Land]

Additionally, Antiochus III the Great pushed back the Egyptian army under Ptolemy IV Philopater and passed through Palestine to its southern borders.

 

Then shall he [Antiochus III the Great] return, and be stirred up [unto anger], even to his [Raphia] fortress

The Defeat of Antiochus III the Great

In the following year, Ptolemy IV Philopater IV and his Egyptian forces defeated Antiochus III the Great at the Battle of Raphia, a stronghold Palestinian border town of Egypt near Gaza. The Egyptians had subdued the country of Syria, including Palestine.

 

 

(Verse 11)

 

And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

 

Even though Antiochus III the Great was defeated in the previous verse, Ptolemy IV Philopater, the king of the South was moved with choler, i.e., he became extremely frantic, moved by great anger and wildly embittered with rage at the conduct of Antiochus III the Great for invading his provinces in Syria, particularly Palestine. Hence, another war between the South and the North ensued.

.

And he [Antiochus III the Great] shall set forth a great multitude [vast army]; but the multitude shall be given into his [Ptolemy IV Philopater] hand

The Battle of Raphia

June 27, 217 B.C.

One of history’s greatest battles in antiquity was fought as part of the Fourth Syrian War. The capabilities and casualties of both the North and South combat units are listed as follows:

[Note: Historians Jerome, Eusebius, and Polybius vary somewhat in their numbers.]

I.   Army of the South under Ptolemy IV Philopater

b.  73,000 infantry

c.  5,000 cavalry

d.  73 elephantry

 

II.   Army of the North under Antiochus III the Great

a.  68,000 infantry

b.  6,000 cavalry

c.  102 elephantry

 

War Elephants

In ancient times, from North Africa to Rome to the Far East, Elephants were trained and used in warfare to charge, break ranks, and instill terror in the enemy. For further reference, visit:

War elephant - Wikipedia.

 

The Battle of Raphia is the only known battle in which African and Asian elephants were harnessed against each other. Although Antiochus the Great lost, however, he did have an advantage, since Asian elephants, mostly from India, were larger than the African forest elephant.

 

 Causalities of War

I.           Army of the South under Ptolemy IV Philopater

a.  1,500 footmen

b.  700 horses

c.  16 elephants

d.  20 prisoners of war 

 

II.       Army of the North under Antiochus III the Great

a.  10,000 footmen

b.  300 horses

c.  5 elephants

d.  4,000 Prisoners of war

He will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail (Daniel 11:12b).

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

 

The Fate of Ptolemy IV Philopater

So great was his victory, Ptolemy IV Philopater became lifted with great pride after acquiring Palestine.  As a result, Ptolemy decided to celebrate. On the way back to Egypt and after being warned by the temple high priest, Ptolemy IV Philopater entered the Holy of Holies and became struck with paralysis, thus requiring him to be carried back to Egypt.

 

But he shall not be strengthened by it [victory]

Because of his paralytic condition, Ptolemy IV Philopater led a life of dissolution produced by sensual pleasures. Consequently, his kingdom was in constant decline.

 

During this period Ptolemy IV became embittered against the Syrians and overly anti-Semitic. Philopater died a drunkard and was succeeded by his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes.

 

 

As the ongoing saga shifts to the North, it expounds on the exploits of Antiochus III the Great in the following Part III study…

 

 

 QUESTIONS:

1. Who was the branch of her roots?

2. Who were the sons of Seleucus II Callinicus?

3. Who returned the spoils of war to Egypt?

4. What does the word choler mean?

5. Who won the Battle of Raphia?

6. How were elephants used in warfare?

7. What was the fate of Ptolemy IV Philopater?

 

 

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