Daniel 11:2-28; Season 11, Episode 12 (30min)

"The Conflicts of Kings"

 

The Outline: 

  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)

 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)

1. The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
2. The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
3. The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
4. The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
5. The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
6. The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
7. The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
8. The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)

***

F.  The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)

1. The Kings of Persia(11:2)
2. The Kings of Greece(11:3-4)
3. The Ptolemies vs Seleucids(11:5-20)
4. The Rise of Antiochus Epiphanes(11:21-28)

***

Supplement: Notes for the Exposition of Daniel 11:2-28[i]

1. The Kings of Persia(11:2)

11:2 

• “And now”; Notice: The previous verse seems better as a conclusion to the last verse of chapter 10 rather than a heading verse for chapter 11; Connect above: 10:21–11:1 (NASB); “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. 11:1 In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him.”.
  Note: This seems to be best because the conversation between this angel and Daniel is timestamped already as “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia” (10:1); Which makes the sentence a reflection by the angel for how long he had been on this assignment; Since “the first year of Darius” (11:1) or for 3 years now.
• Note: The entire previous chapter (10:1-11:1) can rightly be considered an ‘Introduction’ to the rest of the book and thereby the three chapters can be treated as one long single Vision (10:1-12:13); If that is the case then the significance of these upcoming predictions can be evaluated by the weight of the ‘Introduction’ by sheer volume.
• “Tell you the truth”; Connect above: 10:21; “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth.”; (NKJV) “The Scripture of Truth”
• Note: The accuracy of the details foretold in this chapter is enough to convince the School of Higher Criticism that this must have been written closer to the events (11:2-35; The Maccabean Period; 164bc); A much later date than traditionally assigned to Daniel (536bc); Note: They even have invented a ‘pseudo-Daniel’ to be the author so that they can avoid acknowledging ‘predictive prophecy.’
• “Three more kings”; These are:
  • Cambyses (529-522bc)
  • Pseudo-Smerdis (522-521bc)
  • Darius I Hystaspis (521-486bc)
• “A fourth”; This is:
  • Xerxes I (486-465bc); Otherwise known as ‘Ahasuerus’ of the Books of Ezra and Esther (Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1)
• “More riches”; This ruler was famous for his wealth and for possessing one of the largest armies.
• “Arouse”; This invasion was a disaster but it established a motivation for a later attack.
• “The realm of Greece”; Note: The Greek navy wiped out the Persian fleet in the Battle of Salamis (480bc).

 

2. The Kings of Greece(11:3-4)

v3

• Connect earlier: For the single “conspicuous horn” of the Goat; 8:5-21; (vs5, 8, 21; NASB) “While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous hornbetween his eyes. …8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. …21 The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.”
• “A mighty king”; This is the one whom we know as:
  • Alexander the Great (335-323bc)
• “Do as he pleases”; See: For that portion of Alexander’s military campaign that overcame the dominance of Persia in the region but bypassed the city of Jerusalem; Zechariah 9:2–5, 8 (NASB); “And Hamath also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. 3 For Tyre built herself a fortress And piled up silver like dust, And gold like the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her And cast her wealth into the sea; And she will be consumed with fire. 5 Ashkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza too will writhe in great pain; Also Ekron, for her expectation has been confounded. Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon will not be inhabited. …8 But I will camp around My housebecause of an army, Because of him who passes by and returns; And no oppressor will pass over them anymore, For now I have seen with My eyes.”
• Note: Alexander died at the age of 32 from what is believed to be a combination of both alcoholism and malaria.

v4

• “Four points”; The Kingdom was divided up after the Battle of Ipsus (301bc)
• Note: These events occurred 200 years after Daniel had received this from the revealing angel here!
• This has been represented by the Leopard with Four Heads; See earlier: 7:6; “After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.”;

         And the Four Horns of the Goat that came up when the “large horn” was “broken”; 8:8; “Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.”;
         8:22; “The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.” 

• “Not to his own descendants”; Alexander’s two sons were both killed; One before Alexander died and one afterward so that there was no one of “his own descendants” to take his place.
• “Given to others”; Parallel earlier: 8:22; “The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.”;

         Notice: The Four Heads (7:6) and the Four Horns (8:22) are the four generals in Alexander’s army who took charge of various parts of the empire:

• Cassander – Macedonia and Greece
• Lysimachus – Thrace and Asia Minor
• Seleucus Nicator – Syria
• Ptolemy – Egypt
• Note: The next portion of pre-recorded history (vs4-20) is to prepare Daniel and his readership for the “Little Horn” to come and the details that led up to his atrocities.

 

3. The Ptolemies vs Seleucids (11:5-20)

v5

• “The king of the South”; This is the ruler of Egypt:
  • Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt (323-285bc)
• “Great dominion”; This describes an alliance Ptolemy makes with:
  • Seleucus Nicator of Syria (311-280bc); and together they defeated Antigonus of Babylon

v6

• “Alliance”; This is made through a strategic marriage “arrangement”:
  • Ptolemy II Philadelphia of Egypt (285-246bc)
• “The daughter”: She was named:
  • Berenice
• “The king of the North”; This is what is called the Seleucid Empire in Syria and ruled at this time by:
  • Antiochus II Theos of Syria (261-246bc); He took Berenice (252bc) as his wife for this “arrangement”
• Notice: The focus now does not include all four divisions of the Greek Empire but only the two parts that affect the peace and livelihood of “the Beautiful Land” (v16) of Israel and the city “the Jewel” (v20) of Jerusalem.
• “Given up”; In order to make this political “arrangement” Antiochus II Theos divorced his wife Laodice; Later Bernice and her child were murdered and Antiochus took Laodice back and put his first son on the throne as:
  • Seleucus II Callinicus of Syria (246-226bc) 

v7

• “Her line”; This refers to Berenice’s brother:
  • Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt (246-221bc)
• Note: He avenged her death and conquered Syria defeating Seleucus II Callinicus and his mother

v8

• “Precious vessels”; This was calculated as 4,000 talents of gold, 40,000 talents of silver and 2,500 idols.

v9

• “Return”; In 240bc, Seleucus II Callinicus of Syria invaded Egypt, but lost an entire fleet of ships in a storm; Note: He later himself died from a fall off of his horse.

v10 

• “His sons”; This involves two:
  • Seleucus III Ceraunus of Syria (226-223bc)
  • Antiochus III the Great of Syria (223-187bc)
• “Pass through”; These will attack Egypt unopposed by:
  • Ptolemy IV Philopater of Egypt (221-203bc);
    Note: His reputation was one of lust and debauchery; Having multiple sexual partners both female and male.
• “Fortress”; This was located in Gaza.
• Note: The first brother was assassinated; The second brother Antiochus III the Great took the throne at 18 years of age.

vs11-12

• “Not prevail”; Note: Ptolemy IV Philopater of Egypt fought Antiochus III the Great of Syria and defeated him (217bc) at the Palestine border at Raphia.

v13

• “Interval”; Note: Antiochus III the Great of Syria escaped from that battle at Raphia and returned 14 years later with greater forces; Ptolemy IV Philopater of Egypt and his queen both die (203bc), but they were survived by their son:
  • Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt (203-181bc)

v 14

• “Violent ones”; Note: The Jewish historian Josephus speaks of these as ‘wicked Jews’ who helped Antiochus III the Great of Syria; Note: Philip V of Macedonia also joined in the fight.

v15

• “A well-fortified city”; This is Sidon. 

v16

• “Beautiful Land”; This is Israel subjected to the rule of Antiochus III the Great of Syria.

v17

• “Proposal of peace”; This treaty was between Antiochus III the Great of Syria and Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt (198-195bc)
• “The daughter of women”; This is the daughter of Antiochus III the Great of Syria. She was raised by her mother and grandmother and her name was:
  • Cleopatra; She was married to Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt (192bc). Note: He was only at the young age of 10 at that time
• “Not take a stand for him”; The treaty failed because Cleopatra sides with her husband against her father.
• Note: There will be many other women later that will take her name as well, and with numbers, too.

v18     

• “But a commander”; This happens to be a Roman by the name:
  • Lucius Scipio Asiaticus of Rome defeated Antiochus III the Great of Syria at Thermopylae (191bc) and at Magnesia (190bc)
• Notice: So Daniel’s messenger angel is already giving hints at the arrival of a new Empire: Rome, but for now it is only the influence of its military upon the region.

v19

• “Own land”; As Lucius (otherwise known as Cornelius) was trying to plunder the Temple of Belus in Elymas, he was mobbed by his own people and killed.

v20

• “In his place one will arise”; This would be:
  • Seleucus IV Philopater of Syria (187-176bc); Note: This ruler’s nickname was ‘Tax-Raiser’
• “Jewel of his kingdom”; This may be synonymous with the “Beautiful Land” or Judea and Jerusalem.
• “Oppressor”; His tax collector was named Heliodorus who eventually ended up poisoning his ‘boss’ Philopater
• Note also: So now the stage is set for the next “Antiochus” to take control of Syria – the ‘Anti-Christ of the Old Testament.’

 

4. The Rise of Antiochus Epiphanes(11:21-28)

v21     

• “In his place”; Note: For a perspective of the revelation of the angel and how it corresponds to the history as it plays out;
  11:1-4 covers about 200 years;
           11:5-20 covers about 130 years;
           11:21-35 covers about 10 years
• “A despicable person”; This is the “Small Horn” of chapter 8 arising from one of the Four Horns of the Ram.
• See earlier: 8:9-25; (vs9–12; NASB) “Out of one of them came forth a rather small hornwhich grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. 11 It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper.”;

         With: (vs23–25; NASB) “In the latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue. 24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. 25 “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency.”

• “Not been conferred”; He has no legitimate claim to the throne except through trickery and flattery. That place rightfully belonged to: Demetrius Soter who was being held in custody in Rome at the time. The one who is the main focus of this entire passage is:
  • Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria (175-163bc); Note: The name “Epiphanes” means: ‘Manifest One’ or ‘Illustrious One’; The Greek historian Polybius (145bc) gave him a nickname ‘Epimanes’ which means: ‘Madman’
• Contrast later: v36; “Then the king will do as he pleases”; That is because the character in that later paragraph (12:36-45) is a distinct person from this ruler here.

v 22

• “Overflowing forces”; The power of the military was overwhelming belonging to:
  • Ptolemy VI Philometor of Egypt (181-146bc)
• “The prince of the covenant”; This likely refers to the murder of the High Priest at that time:
  • Onias III of Jerusalem (172bc)

• Note: Before the vile and blasphemous action to come later (11:29-35) Antiochus IV Epiphanes:
  • Strictly enforced a Hellenization of Israel
  • Prohibited the reading of Jewish Scriptures and even burned copies of them
  • Looted the Temple (169bc)
  • Killed 80,000 Jewish people including the male children (169bc)
  • Demolished the city walls of Jerusalem (169bc)

v23

• “Alliance”; This is a contract with Philometor against
• “Small force”; This was a limited campaign against Memphis in Egypt.

v 24

• “Distribute plunder”; This may be the ‘redistribution of wealth’ of that day, essentially buying the loyalty of his subjects.
• “Schemes”; Using wealth to buy favor during peacetime, he took Pelusium, Naucratis and Alexandria in Egypt.

v 25

• “The king of the South”; This is now one of the Ptolemy’s successors:
  • Ptolemy VII Neos (But it is unclear if he actually ever officially reigned as king). See next entry…

v26     

• “Destroy him”; There is treason and civil war in his own camp:
  • Ptolemy VIII Physcon of Egypt (170-163, 145-116bc); He is the son of Ptolemy V Epiphanes

v27

• “Lies …at the same table”; Note: This is Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria with Philometor set in alliance against Physcon II Euergetes, but it all was a mere façade.

v 28

• “Set against the holy covenant”; These atrocities are recorded in the history of the Maccabees.
• Note: For a perspective of the revelation of the angel and how it corresponds to the history as it plays out;
  11:1-4 covers about 200 years; This includes, by the way, the entire career and death of the one historians now call: Alexander the Great!;
           11:5-20 covers about 130 years;
           11:21-35 covers about 10 years

 

 

 

 

[i] Scripture Text used throughout these notes (unless otherwise accredited):  New American Standard Bible® 1995 Update,

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