Daniel 11.25-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV Defeating Ptolemy VI Philometer
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday May 22, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:25-The Prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes IV Defeating Ptolemy VI Philometer
Lesson # 342
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:2.
Daniel 11:21 “Next, in his place, a despicable person will ascend to power even though for his benefit sovereign authority over the kingdom will have never been conferred. Nevertheless, he will appear on the scene during a time of false security when he seizes the kingdom by flatteries. 22 Then, immense armies will be swept away from the presence of his armies so that they will be destroyed along with even the leader over the covenant people. 23 Indeed, when he enters into an alliance to gain an advantage over him, he will practice deception because he will attack in order to gain power with a small force. 24 During a time of peace, he will in fact wage an attack against the province’s most productive areas. Consequently, he will achieve what his fathers and his forefathers never achieved. He will distribute plunder, yes war booty, as well as logistical provision for the benefit of others. Furthermore, he will devise his schemes against fortified cities but only for a short period of time. 25 Indeed, because of his courage, with a great army, he will mobilize his military power against the king ruling the south because with a great army, yes an extremely powerful one, the king ruling the south will initiate hostile military action for war. However, he will by no means stand because schemes will be devised against him.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:25 “He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.” (NASB95)
“He will stir up his strength” denotes that the despicable king of the north will cause his military power to become mobilized and ready for action.
“And courage” presents the reason why the despicable king of the north will cause his military power to be stirred up and thus will cause his military power to become mobilized “because” of his courage in war.
“So the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war” presents the reason why the despicable king ruling the north will mobilize his military power against the king ruling the south because of his courage.
Thus, the king ruling the south initiating hostilities with the king ruling the north is the reason why the despicable king ruling the north will mobilize his great army for war against the king ruling the south.
“Will mobilize” is the verb gā·rā(h) (גָּרָה) (gaw-raw´), which means “to provoke hostilities, to initiate a hostile military action” against another nation.
Here it is of course used of the king ruling the south “provoking hostilities, initiating hostile military action” against the despicable king ruling the north.
The hithpael stem is a reflexive-factitive hithpael indicating that the king ruling the south will cause himself to enter the state of provoking hostilities by initiating military action against the despicable king ruling the north.
“But he will not stand” means that the king ruling the south will by no means stand against the despicable king of the north.
“For schemes will be devised against him” presents the reason why the king ruling the south will by no means stand against the despicable king ruling the north.
Daniel 11:25 “Indeed, because of his courage, with a great army, he will mobilize his military power against the king ruling the south because with a great army, yes an extremely powerful one, the king ruling the south will initiate hostile military action for war. However, he will by no means stand because schemes will be devised against him.” (My translation)
Daniel 11:25 continues the prophecy of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and specifically it presents more details regarding the angel’s prophetic statements recorded in Daniel 11:22-24.
Daniel 11:22-25 are prophetic statements regarding the war between Antiochus Epiphanes IV and Ptolemy VI Philometer.
The former waged at least three expeditions against Egypt during his career.
The angelic being predicts in verse 25 that the king ruling the north who he describes in verse 21 as a “despicable person” will mobilize his military power against the king ruling the south because of his courage.
The reason for him doing this is that the king ruling the south will initiate hostile military action against him with a great army and in fact an extremely powerful army.
However, despite the king of the south’s massive army, he will by no means defeat the king of the north because schemes will be devised against him.
This too has been fulfilled in history which records Ptolemy VI Philometer initiating hostile military action for war against Antiochus Epiphanes IV and doing so with an extremely powerful army.
In approximately 170 B.C., the two regents for Ptolemy VI Philometer declared war on Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
During that same year the young Egyptian king’s brother and sister, namely Ptolemy VIII Physcon and Cleopatra II were declared co-rulers to unify the nation.
The war against Syria did not begin until 169 B.C. which enabled Antiochus to gain the upper hand.
He seized an important strategic town called “Pelusium.”
It was at this point the Egyptians realized they had made a terrible mistake.
Eulaeus and Lenaeus were overthrown and replaced by two regents who were Comanus and Cineas.
Egypt sent envoys to Antiochus to negotiate a peace treaty.
Now, it was Eulaeus and Lenaeus who betrayed the young king Ptolemy VI Philometer and convinced him to declare war against Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
The angel’s statement in Daniel 11:25 that schemes devised against the king of the south will cause his defeat is a reference to these two individuals who gave the Egyptian king bad advice.
These two were actually bribed by Antiochus to give the young king bad advice.
They are mentioned in Daniel 11:26.
Antiochus proceeded to take his nephew Ptolemy VI Philometer under his guardianship and gave him control of Egypt.
But the people of Alexandria found it unacceptable and proclaimed Ptolemy Physcon as the only king.
Consequently, Antiochus attacked Alexandria.
However, he was unable to cut the communications to the city and was also distracted by a revolt in Judaea at the end of 169 B.C. and thus withdrew his army from Egypt.
While Antiochus left the country, the two brothers Ptolemy VI Philometer and Ptolemy VIII Physcon reconciled with each other.
Antiochus was disturbed by this loss of control over his nephew Ptolemy IV Philometer and attacked Egypt once again.
This proved costly to Antiochus since Egypt turned to Rome for help and they intimidated Antiochus to withdraw from Egypt.
While Egypt was sending to Rome for help, Antiochus had seized Cyprus and Memphis and was marching again on Alexandria.
At Eleusis, just outside the capital, Antiochus met Gaius Popilius Laenas who represented Rome’s interests and gave the king an ultimatum from the Roman Senate that he must evacuate Egypt and Cyprus immediately or face war with Rome.
Antiochus requested time to consider the ultimatum, prompting the Roman representative to draw a circle around him in the sand with his cane and told him to decide before he stepped outside the circle.
Needless to say, Antiochus capitulated to the ultimatum.
This ended the Sixth Syrian War and Antiochus Epiphanes IV hopes of conquering all of Egypt.