The Pre-Written War Story
Dan. 11:1 – 20
Introduction
No other chapter in the Word of God has stirred up the wicked hearts of so-called Higher Critics more than Dan. 11. This is because it contains a detailed and accurate of Jewish and Gentile history primarily covering the “Four Hundred Silent Years” between Malachi and Matthew – the 62 Week” period of Daniel 9. To the unbelieving mind, this chapter had to account have been written after the fact. Only someone with supernatural insight could have penned this “prewritten history”.
To properly understand this chapter, it is important to remember the following:
1. This chapter is part of Daniel’s 4th vision, which began with chapter 10 and was recorded in 534 B.C.
2. The Law of Perspective applies here. The further away the prophesied event was from 534 B.C., the less detailed it appeared to Daniel
3. Daniel is primarily concerned with Gentile history as it affects the Jews.
Daniel 11 is divided into two sections: the first (vs. 1-35) has long been fulfilled and has to do mainly with the PRE-WRITTEN HISTORY of the wars between the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt (the “Kings of the South”) and the Seleucid dynasty of Syria (the “Kings of the North”); the second (vs. 36-45) gives us a prophecy of the character and career of the Antichrist. Although this chapter outline is brief, it is important to read the accompanying HISTORICAL PARAPHRASE of Daniel 11:2-35.
I. Prophecies Concerning Persia (vs. 1, 2)
A. The Angel Reminisces (v. 1) This verse follows on from Daniel 10:21, and hearkens back to a time (539 B.C.) when angelic assistance was rendered either to:
1. Darius the Mede – this would take us back to the events of Dan. 6 and the conspiracy to destroy Daniel (Dan. 6:7) where angelic intervention (Dan. 6:22) reversed the situation (Dan. 6:26) or:
2. The Archangel Michael- since Michael is the prince and protector of Israel, the same comments above would apply.
B. Persian Kings after Darius (v. 2) Darius would be followed by 4 prominent kings. There would be other kings following, but after Xerxes I the empire began its decline. (This prophecy concerns itself with the important events and characters.)
C. The 4th King (V.2). This was Xerxes I (486-465 B.C.), who was proverbial for his riches. With a massive army he attacked Greece, but was defeated-thus paving the way for the ultimate collapse of Persia. These details add to those given in Dan. 8.
D. A Time Gap – Between verse 2 and verse 3 is a time gap over 100 years. These were the declining years of the Persian empire.
II. Prophecies Concerning Grecia (vs. 2 & 3)
A. The rise of Alexander the Great (v. 3). Not forgetting the aggression of the Persian “Ram” under Xerxes I, the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great (and moved with choler – Dan. 8:7), conquered Persia and afterwards vast territories.
B. The Division of Alexander Empire (v. 4)
1. At the height of his power – “when he shall stand up
2. Four winds, four head, Four Notable horns
3. Not to his Posterity – Alexander has no heir
C. A few years after Alexander’s death, his kingdom was divided among his four generals (cf. 8:22): Seleucus (over Syria and Mesopotamia), Ptolemy (over Egypt), Lysimacus (over Thrace and portions of Asia Minor), and Cassander (over Macedonia and Greece).
D. This division was anticipated through the four heads of the leopard (7:6) and the four prominent horns on the goat (8:8). Alexander founded no dynasty of rulers; since he had no heirs, his kingdom was divided and the empire was marked by division and weakness.
III. Prophecies of the Wars between the Ptolemies & the Seleucids (vs. 5-20)
A. All directions Have Reference to Jerusalem- the events prophesied are those which affect the Jews and “thy holy city”-Jerusalem. Dan. 10:14.
B. The Kings of the South- are the kings of the Ptolemaic Dynasty which ruled Egypt
C. The Kings of the North- These are Kings of the Seleucid Dynasty, which ruled Syria
D. The Glorious land (vs. 16, 41, 45)- This is Palestine. The “Holy Land” lay between the Kingdom of the North, and South, and like the proverbial “meat in the sandwich” became the perennial battlefield for their wars. For centuries, Daniel’s people would be ground between the “upper and lower millstones.” Scofield described Palestine as lying “between the anvil and the hammer.”
E. The time of the Events – the time period spanned by verses 5-20 is approximately 150 years. Therefore, the King of the South and the King of The North are not the same individuals throughout.
IV. Historical Paraphrase of Daniel 11:2-35
1. This paraphrase must be used alongside the verses in the word of God. Although it has been written in the future tense, all the events have long since been literally fulfilled.
2. And now will I (Gabriel) show thee (Daniel) the truth. Behold there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia (apart from Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Great); they are Cambyses (529-522 B.C.), Pseudo-Smerdis (522-521 B.C.), and Darius Hystaspes (521-486 B.C.). The fourth Xerxes 1 (486-465 B.C.) shall be far richer than the other Persian king, and with a vast army bought through riches he shall attack Greece.
3. (Over 100 years later) the mighty Alexander the Great shall arise and capture a vast dominion and will govern it according to his will.
4. And when he shall reach the zenith of his power, he shall die, and his kingdom shall be broken into confusion, and eventually shall be divided into Macedonia under General Cassander, Thrace under General Lysimachus, Syria under General Seleucus, and Egypt under General Ptolemy. Alexander’s sons will not inherit the kingdom, because his first son, Hercules, shall be murdered, as will his posthumous son, Alexander Jr., in 1310 B.C. The glory of his rule shall not continue, for his kingdom shall be plucked up.
5. And Ptolemy 1 Soter (323-285 B.C.) of Egypt shall become strong, and also one of his princes, Seleucus (whom will be temporarily associated with Ptolemy, having fled from Antigonous of Babylon, later defeating him in conjunction with Ptolemy); and (after this) Seleucus I Nicator (312_281 B.C.) shall be strong above Ptolemy I, and have dominion: his dominion shall be great, extending from Asia Minor to India.
6. And after a lapse of several years, for political reasons, the two countries shall come together; for Ptolemy II Philadelphia (285-246 B.C.) and his daughter Berenice of
Egypt shall come to Antiochus II Theos (261-246 B.C.) for marriage. (Antiochus was required to divorce his own wife, Laodice, for the occasion). But the marriage shall be unsuccessful and neither party shall benefit (within two years of marriage, Ptolemy II shall die, and Antiochus II will take back Laodice-who out of revenge will then murder Antiochus II, Bernice and their infant son.
7. But out of the ancestry of Berenice shall Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221 B.C.) her brother arise in her father’s estate: and he shall attack Seleucus Callinicus, the son of Laodice, with his armies and shall seek revenge for his sister’s murder.
8. And he shall also carry Syrian captives into Egypt, their Gods with their molten images, with their precious vessels and gold; and he shall refrain from attacking the King of Syria for some years.
9. And Seleucus Callinicus shall come down into the realm of Ptolemy III, but after unsuccessful attacks, shall return into his own land.
10. But Seleucus Callinicus sons, Seleucus III Ceraunus (226-223 B.C.) and Antiochus III the Great shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces. (Though Seleucus shall come to an untimely end), Antiochus III shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through the Holy land, capturing territory as far South as Gaza. Then shall he return.
11. And Ptolemy IV Philopater (222-203 B.C.) of Egypt shall be moved with anger over the nearness of the Syrian advances, and he shall come forth with 70,000 men and fight Antiochus III who shall also set an array of 70,000 men. But the battle shall result in a complete victory for Egypt. Antiochus will lose his entire army and almost be captured in the desert.
12. But after he has conquered the multitude, Ptolemy’s heart shall be filled with pride. Though he shall defeat tens of thousands of men, he will not benefit (for he will not pursue the fleeing Syrians).
13. (After the mysterious death of Ptolemy IV) shall Antiochus III the Great return with a larger army to attack Egypt.
14. And in those time shall many stand up against Ptolemy V Epiphanes, even the men of violence of the Jews who, by their actions shall bring much hardship upon their people later on.
15. So, Antiochus III shall come, and cast up a siege mound and capture the fortified cities (held by the Roman general Scopas). The armies of Egypt (under Eropas, Menacles, and Damoyenus) shall not stand, not even Ptolemy’s chosen men, neither shall there be any help.
16. But any man that would come up against Antiochus III the Great shall do according to Antiochus’ will, and none shall stand before him. He shall rule Palestine which shall be captured by his army.
17. (Because of the increasing pressure from the rising empire of Rome, Antiochus will make a diplomatic settlement in Egypt). But he shall determine to “come out of it” with the strength of his whole kingdom, and this shall he do. (How?) he shall give to the 7-year-old Ptolemy V his young daughter Cleopatra, in order to corrupt the land. But she shall not affect this for him, constantly siding with her husband against her father.
18. After this however, Antiochus the Great shall turn his face to the West and seek to equal Alexander the Greats’ conquest, and shall capture much territory; but the Roman consul Lucius Scipio Asiaticus shall cause the Syrian insults (reproach) at Rome to cease by defeating him at Thermopylae (191 B.C.) and Magnesia (189 B.C.)
19. Then shall Antiochus return to his own land, defeated and broken.
20. The one who rose up in the estate of Antiochus was his eldest son Seleucus Philopator. He levied great taxes in order to pay the huge tribute of 12,000 talents
demanded by the Romans. Seleucus’s reign was brief; he was murdered by his treasurer Heliodorus.
V. Conclusion:
What we have taken here is history written in advance. The accuracy of the prophecy is so precise that unbelievers think it was written after the events have happened. They cannot refute it. There is nothing the Lord cannot do. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
