DANIEL 11: North & South Kingdoms

Verse 5 takes in Ptolemy I Suter of Egypt (king of the South) and Seleucid I Nicator (king of the North).  Verse 6 happened in about 252 BC when Antiochus II married Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy.

“Antiochus II (Theos). Antiochus II, who reigned 261-247 BC, continued the struggle with the Egyptians, but finally made peace by marrying Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt.”   Collier

“Berenice. d. c.246 BC Daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and his sister Arsinoe II; (Berenice married) (c.252) Antiochus II Theos and persuaded him to renounce (his) former wife Laodice and her children; after (the) death of Antiochus, (Berenice) was killed by supporters of Laodice, thus provoking her brother Ptolemy III Euergetes into (a) Third Syrian War against Laodice and Seleucus II.”  Infopedia

Verses 7 & 8 are historically correct in the revenge that Ptolemy III took on the king of the North for the murder of his sister Berenice.

“PTOLEMY III (282?-221 bc ), called Ptolemy Euergetes (“benefactor”), king of Egypt (246-221 bc ), the son of Ptolemy II. He reunited Cyrenaica and Egypt, invaded the Seleucid Kingdom of Syria to avenge the murder of his sister and her infant son, the heir to the Seleucid throne, and established Egyptian naval predominance in the Aegean Sea. Ptolemy III was a liberal patron of the arts and added to the collection of the Alexandrian library.  His rule marked the height of Egyptian power, prosperity, and wealth under the Ptolemies.”  Infopedia 

Verse 9 tells us that the king of the North would not like Ptolemy III for ransacking his kingdom.  Therefore Seleucus II turned on Egypt and invaded it.  But he was not successful.  Because of a revolt by his younger brother, Antiochus Hierax, he had to withdraw.

“Seleucus II Callius (r. 247-226 b.c.). With Antiochus II’s son, Seleucus II, a new factor, dynastic strife, enters the history of the dynasty.  When the king, at war with Egypt, appointed his younger brother, Antiochus Hierax (the Hawk), viceroy of all Asia Minor north and west of the Taurus Mountains, Antiochus revolted. With the Gauls as allies he inflicted a severe defeat on Seleucus at Ancyra (modern Ankara) in about 236 b.c. and forced him to cede the western half of his empire.”   Collier

In Verse 10 we are told that his sons “will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.”  In history, we have the fulfillment of this prophecy.

“ANTIOCHUS III, called The Great (242-187 bc ), king of Syria (223-187 bc ), the son of Seleucus II and brother of Seleucus III (r. 225-223 bc ), whom he succeeded.  He was the most distinguished of the Seleucids.  Having made vassal states out of Parthia and Bactria, he warred successfully against the Egyptian king Ptolemy V and in 198 bc obtained possession of all of Palestine and Lebanon.”  Infopedia

“Antiochus III, c.242-187 BC, succeeded to the throne of the SELEUCIDS in 223, when the kingdom was controlled by a powerful minister and rebellion was spreading in Iran.  He defeated the rebels, rid himself of the minister, and conquered much of Phoenicia, Syria, and Palestine from the Ptolemies of Egypt.”  Grolier

But the king of the South, “Ptolemy IV won (a) decisive victory over Antiochus at Raphia (217);”  Infopedia

War after war continued between the dynasties of the houses of the Ptolemy’s and the Seleucids.  During this time we take a little break from the wars that are going on between these two rivals and see one going on that involves the Jews.