DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 11.13

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 III

Antiochus III the Great

 

Preface

For approximately 133 years, a long series of wars continued to be fought between the Seleicidae, rulers of the north, Syria, and the Ptolemies, rulers of the south, Egypt. Between verses thirteen and twenty, the focus of Daniel’s prophecy is upon Antiochus III Megas or the Great (223-187 B.C.) of the North.

 

Continuing from the preceding study, after the defeat of Antiochus III the Great at the Battle of Raphia, there had been about a fourteen-year peace period between the North and the South. This treaty was in effect until the death of Ptolemy IV Philopater.

 

 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.)

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

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

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.)

8. 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.

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

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

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

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

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

 

The Infant Ruler

Upon the death of Ptolemy IV Philopater (221-203 B.C.), his infant son Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-181 B.C.) assumed the Egyptian throne at the age of five. So, after a certain amount of years had passed, thirteen years after his defeat at Raphia, Antiochus III the Great, the king of the North noticed an opportunity to enlarge his dominion.

 

After successful campaigns in the East, namely, Persia, Bactria (modern-day Northern Afghanistan, and parts of southwestern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), and India, Antiochus III the Great envisioned an easy victory over the infant king to gain control over Egypt. So, he raised an immense army greater than the former. According to theologian and historian Jerome, 300,000 footmen, along with horsemen and elephants comprised this multitude.

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

 

Allied Forces

In 201 B.C., two forces confederated with Antiochus III the Great to fight against Ptolemy V Epiphanes, the young king of Egypt. Note the two militaries:

1. Philip V, king of Macedon (202-203 B.C.), and his army

a.  Philip conspired to invade and plunder Egyptian territories in Asia Minor for bounty. However, they failed after their fleet was defeated at the Sea of Chios. Amongst the Greek islands, Chios is the fifth largest in the Aegean Sea near Turkey.

 

2. Robbers of thy people

a.  The Hebrew phrase robbers of thy people is translated as, sons of the breakers of thy people. They were apostate violent Jewish mercenaries who joined the cause of Antiochus III the Great. These zealots asserted themselves to bring Antiochus's vision to fulfillment with the hope of obtaining freedom for the Jewish people. But, at the end of verse 14, they too failed by falling under the wrath of the Egyptians.

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

 

Showdown at Sidon

Antiochus III the Great fought an enlisted general Scopas, and the Egyptian forces at the Battle of Panion near the head-waters of the Jordan River. Upon their defeat, 10,000 Egyptian soldiers retreated to the city of Sidon.

 

In an attempt to recapture Judea, Antiochus III the Great, the king of the north, built a mount, i.e., a siege ramp, and besieged the walls of the well-fortified city of Sidon, north of Israel, about 200 B.C. Ptolemy V Epiphanes then sent select Egyptian commanders (his chosen people) to assist Scopas in fighting the Syrians. Consequently, they were unable to withstand, i.e., they had no strength to make a stand against the Syrian king’s military and were defeated by Antiochus II the Great.  

 

 

(Verse 16)

 

But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

 

The Defeat of Ptolemy V Epiphanes

Antiochus III the Great came against Ptolemy V Epiphanes and virtually did as he pleased after his conquest. None shall stand, that is to say, no one shall establish himself before him. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Egyptian forces were beaten.

 

Antiochus III the Great established Syrian control over the glorious land, i.e., the land of Palestine. When Antiochus returned from war with the Egyptians, it did not result in freedom for the paid mercenaries. However, he did allow the Jews-for-hire to worship in the temple.

 

Which by his hand shall be consumed [destruction]

Some Jews who had not helped Antiochus’s cause were either killed or imprisoned. The few remaining came under heavy taxation and Palestine was reduced to poverty.

 

 

(Verse 17)

 

He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

 

 A Political Alliance

So intent to gain control of Egypt by any means, Antiochus III the Great proposed a diplomatic plan whereby he would offer his young daughter Cleopatra I Syra to wed Ptolemy V Epiphanes, who was then about eight years old.

 

Cleopatra I Syra

Cleopatra’s name in Greek means the glory of her father. Cleopatra I Syra was not Elizabeth Taylor who had an affair in the movie with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. That notorious Egyptian queen was Cleopatra VII Philopater. But, this political alliance was intended to maintain peace between Syria and Egypt.

 

Cleopatra I Syra was Greek, but a Seleucid of Syria. She was the daughter of Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III. It is believed she was ten years old when she married Ptolemy V Epiphanes who was sixteen at the time. Her reign as queen of Egypt was from 193-176 B.C. and later she became co-monarch with her six-year-old son Ptolemy VI between 180-176 B.C. until her death.

 

And he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him

The expression, the daughter of [a] woman designated someone having a high feminine charm. It is also held to mean that she was a very beautiful woman, but still young enough to be under her mother’s control.

 

On the surface, the marriage alliance gesture seemed in good faith, however, the primary motive of Antiochus’s peace plan was to have his daughter act as a spy and relate the Egyptian affairs to him in hopes her loyalty would gain him possession over Egypt.

 

The scheme of Antiochus III the Great had failed considerably. As a result of their union at a young age, Cleopatra I Syra fell in love with Ptolemy V Epiphanes and pledged her loyalty to him instead of her father. Thus, the plan backfired and angered Antiochus the Great.

 

 

(Verse 18)

 

After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him.

 

The Rise of Rome

Upon his unsuccessful endeavor with Egypt, Antiochus III the Great then turned his attention to Greece and its islands on the  Aegean coast. But, a prince or commander, notably General Lucius Scipio Asiaticus of Rome brought about his defeat at the Battle of Magnesia some fifty miles north of Ephesus on the Maeander River around 191/190 B.C. This conflict was of particular interest to the Romans because they were exacting taxes from the people of this area.

 

 

(Verse 19)

 

Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

 

The Fall of Antiochus III the Great

Suffering defeat and underestimating the rising power of the Roman Empire, Antiochus III the Great not only acquired substantial debt but also forfeited much of his territory to Rome. Afterward, Antiochus III the Great returned to his homeland in Antioch.

 

Ultimately, Antiochus III the Great and his soldiers were slain in shame by the Persians while trying to plunder the temple of Belus or Bel in Elaymais (Modern day Iran) at night. Thus, the prophecy in this verse, he shall stumble and fall, was fulfilled. His body was most likely burned since he shall not be found.

 

 

(Verse 20)

 

Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle.

 

Seleucus IV Philopater

Successor to the Syrian throne was Seleucus IV Philopater, the eldest son of Antiochus III the Great. He stood up in his estate and reigned from 187-175 B.C. At that time he had control over Syria, Cilicia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Babylon, Media, and Persia.

 

A raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom [Judah]

As a result of his father’s defeat, Seleucus IV Philopater was forced to pay a tribute of 1,000 talents of silver per year as well as the surrender of his navy and elephants.

 

Seleucus IV Philopater was despised by the Jewish people by impelling exuberant taxation policies upon them.  So desperate to raise money, he even sent his Prime Minister Heliodorus to seize the temple treasury in Jerusalem.

 

But within a few days, he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle

Most scholars agree, within a brief period, Heliodorus quietly put Seleucus IV Philopater to death by poison as this verse predicted.  

 

Commentary

The prophecies in Daniel 11 may seem replete with details and some may question why God included such minute facts. By revealing such prophecy beforehand, He is demonstrating not only His sovereignty but also His omniscience.

 

God is determined to demonstrate His foreknowledge by writing history, in this case, 200 years in advance. Nothing can take place apart from His Sovereign will. Therefore, it baffles the minds of critics that the God of Creation knows the names, personalities, sequences of events, and intrigue before they occur.

 

 

In the subsequent studies, Verses 21 through 35 will address the next Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes who foreshadows the Antichrist during the Last Days.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. Who was the name of the infant ruler?

2. What was the demise of Antiochus the Great?

3. Who was the father of Cleopatra I?

4. Who did Cleopatra I Syra marry?

5. To whom did Seleucus IV Philopater pay tribute?

6. Who was Heliodorus?

7. How did Seleucus IV Philopater die?

 

 

 

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