Kings of the South and North
1“And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him.
The messenger provided a grand sweep of history,...
The messenger provided a grand sweep of history, from the time of Persia, through the break-up of Greece, the rise and defeat of a wicked king or series of kings (11:21–45), and the final resurrection and triumph of God’s people.
2Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.†
3Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.
Throughout this passage, the king of the south...
Throughout this passage, the king of the south describes Alexander’s general Ptolemy and his descendants, who ruled Egypt; the king of the north describes Alexander’s general Seleucus and his descendants, who ruled Syria and Mesopotamia. In the period following Alexander’s death, the kings of Egypt and Syria vied for control of the strategically located land of Palestine. The holy city and the holy people lay between these two powers. These battles continued until their appointed end (11:27, 35, 40, 45; 12:1, 7). These events are described historically in 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees and by Herodotus, Livy, Polybius, Porphyry, and Josephus.
5The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.
6After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength† endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her father† and the one who supported her.
one of her relatives: Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III...
one of her relatives: Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes, became king of the south (246–221 BC), invaded Syria with his army, defeated the king of the north (Seleucus II Callinicus, 246–226 BC), occupied the fortress cities of Antioch and Seleucia, and built the Ptolemaic kingdom to its greatest extent. When he returned to Egypt, he took their idols with him, but left Seleucus II on the throne.
7But one from her family line† will rise up in his place, come against the army of the king of the North, and enter his fortress, fighting and prevailing. 8He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9who will invade the realm of the king of the South and then return to his own land.
The sons of Seleucus II were Seleucus III...
- The sons of Seleucus II were Seleucus III Ceraunus (226–223 BC) and Antiochus III the Great (223–187 BC).
- a mighty army that will advance like a flood: Antiochus III aggressively sought to regain lost territory, including Palestine.
- as far as the enemy’s fortress: Antiochus III advanced to Raphia on the border of Egypt in 217 BC. In the ensuing battle, the king of the south—Ptolemy IV Philopater (221–203 BC)—defeated Antiochus III and retained control of Palestine.
10But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11In a rage, the king of the South will march out to fight the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be delivered into the hand of his enemy.
Ptolemy IV’s success was short lived. In 198...
- Ptolemy IV’s success was short lived. In 198 BC, the king of the north—Antiochus III—returned.
- Antiochus III had been conquering lands to the north and east, from which he raised a fully equipped army far greater than before (cp. 3 Maccabees 1:1–5).
12When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph. 13For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some years† he will advance with a great army and many supplies.
14In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail.
15Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their best troops will not be able to resist. 16The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17He will resolve to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will reach an agreement with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plan will not succeed or help him.†
18Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him. 19After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be no more.
20In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.
The next to come to power was Antiochus...
The next to come to power was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 BC). He is also the “small horn” of Dan 8:9–14, 23–26. He is described vividly in 1 Maccabees 1:7–6:16; 2 Maccabees 1:1–10:5; 4 Maccabees 4:15–18:5. Antiochus was despicable both because he had usurped the kingship and for his deeds as king. He was not in line for royal succession but usurped the throne from his brother’s son.
21In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.
23After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. 24In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.
The king of the south was Ptolemy VI...
The king of the south was Ptolemy VI Philometor (181–146 BC). Antiochus IV attacked Egypt twice between 170 and 168 BC (1 Maccabees 1:17–19).
25And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him. 26Those who eat from his provisions will seek to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.
27And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. 28The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.
Antiochus IV invaded the south [Egypt]... once again...
- Antiochus IV invaded the south [Egypt] . . . once again (see Polybius, Histories 29.1).
- The warships from western coastlands refers to the Romans. The Roman general Popilius Laenas drew a circle in the sand, forced Antiochus to stand inside it, and made him decide whether to return home or prepare for war with Rome before exiting the circle. Fearing the Roman fleet, Antiochus chose to withdraw and return home. He then vented his anger and humiliation against the Jews, the people of the holy covenant. He took Jerusalem in 167 BC and rewarded those who would come over to him. He polluted the altar (see Dan 8:9–14, 23–26), stopped the sacrifices, set up a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the Temple, and harassed and killed whoever refused to forsake the covenant (see 1 Maccabees 1:62–64; cp. Dan 9:27; Matt 24:15).
29At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first. 30Ships of Kittim† will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.
The wise are those who know their God...
The wise are those who know their God and his laws and follow them, even in a hostile and deceptive environment. Many were martyred for their faithfulness to God and his laws during this time (1 Maccabees 1:11; 7:19; 2 Maccabees 6–7).
32With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.
34Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely. 35Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
The King Who Exalts Himself
Some interpreters see these verses as a transition...
Some interpreters see these verses as a transition from the earthly Antiochus IV to a character larger than history (7:8).
36Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.
no respect for the gods of his ancestors:...
- no respect for the gods of his ancestors: Antiochus IV forsook the Syrian gods in order to worship Greek gods.
- The god loved by women might be one of the Canaanite or Egyptian fertility deities.
- No god of fortresses is known from history, but this description might be fulfilled by the lavish gifts that Antiochus gave to cities and to Greek temples, perhaps to increase his reputation and power (see Livy, History 41.20).
37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the one desired by women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all.
38And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.†
Most commentators believe these verses describe the time...
Most commentators believe these verses describe the time of the end of history (cp. Mark 13:14; 2 Thes 2:3–12; Rev 19:19–21). These verses echo the career of Antiochus IV, but we have no historical record of the events described here. Antiochus was a paradigm for future rulers who set themselves against the God of gods.
40At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle,† but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites.
42He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites† will also submit to him.
44But news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will go out with great fury to destroy many and devote them to destruction.† 45He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.