Daniel 11.29-30a-The Prophecy of the Romans Opposing Antiochus Epiphanes IV
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday June 10, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 11:29-30a-The Prophecy of the Romans Opposing Antiochus Epiphanes IV
Lesson # 346
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 11:29.
Daniel 11:29 At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. (NASB95)
At this point in the narrative we have the figure of “asyndeton” in order to emphasize that the return of the despicable king of the north to fight the king of the south will not be successful as the first time he attacked him.
It also more importantly emphasizes that this failed attempt by the despicable king of the north is according to God’s sovereign plan.
The figure thus emphasizes God’s sovereign authority over this despicable king of the north.
“At the appointed time” refers to the time appointed by God when the despicable king of the north will return to attack the king of the south indicating that the despicable king of the north will return to attack the king of the south at the time sovereignly determined by God.
“He will return” refers to the despicable king ruling the north returning to the land governed by the king of the south to attack him.
“And come into the South” presents the purpose for the despicable king ruling the north returning to fight the south.
“Come” is the verb bô(ʾ) (בּוֹא) (bo), which means “to wage an attack” referring to the despicable king of the north ordering his army “to wage an attack against” the king of the south.
“But this last time it will not turn out the way it did before” presents a contrast with the previous prediction that the despicable king ruling the north will return in order to wage an attack against the south.
Therefore, the contrast is between the despicable king ruling the north not being successful in attacking the south and being victorious the previous time he did so.
“The way it did before” is composed of the conjunction kî (כִּי) (kee), which is not translated and then we have the noun ri(ʾ)·šôn (רִאשׁוֹן) (ree-shone´), “way it did before” and then we have the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), which is not translated and followed by the conjunction kî (כִּי) (kee), which is not translated and then is followed by the adjective ʾǎ·ḥǎrôn (אַחֲרוֹן) (akh-ar-one´).
The conjunction kî means “as, like” since it is functioning as a marker of comparison and is indicating a comparison between the despicable king ruling the north’s invasion of the south which fails and the first mentioned in Daniel 11:24 which was successful.
The articular form of the adjective ri(ʾ)·šôn means “the former, the first” since it pertains to the despicable king ruling the north’s first invasion of the south which was successful and is predicted in Daniel 11:24.
This time the conjunction wa means “or” since it is used in an alternative sense and is used to connect the king ruling the north’s first invasion of the south predicted in Daniel 11:24 and the second predicted in Daniel 11:25-26.
Once again, the conjunction kî means “as, like” since it is functioning as a marker of comparison and is indicating a comparison between the despicable king ruling the north’s invasion of the south which fails and the second mentioned in Daniel 11:25-26 which was successful.
The adjective ʾǎ·ḥǎrôn means “the last” and is referring to the second successful invasion of the south by the despicable king ruling the north.
Daniel 11:30 “For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.” (NASB95)
“For ships of Kittim will come against him” presents the reason for the previous prophecy that the despicable king ruling the north will return in order to wage an attack against the south but it will by no means turn out like the first invasion or the second.
“Kittim” is the ethnic noun kit·tiy·yîm (כִּתִּיִּים) (kit-tee´), which can have various designations.
It can be used as an inclusive term referring to parts of the Mediterranean world that are situated to the west of the Middle East.
Also, it can refer to a location on the island of Cyprus or generally to the island itself.
The name is derived from the city of Kiton on Cyprus.
Interestingly, Kittim was a son of Javan according to Genesis 10:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:7 who was the ancestor of the Kittim people of Cyprus.
Here in Daniel 11:30, the ethnic noun kit·tiy·yîm, “Kittim” is a reference to the Romans.
The Septuagint (LXX) translates the word “Romans” here in Daniel 11:30 as does the TEV and NIrV.
“Will come against him” is composed of the verb bô(ʾ) (בּוֹא) (bo), “will come” and then we have the preposition bĕ (בְּ) (beh), “against” and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “him.”
This time the verb bô(ʾ) does not mean “to wage an attack” but rather it means “to come” in the sense of approaching or moving in a particular direction and arriving at a particular location.
Here it refers to the ships of Kittim “coming” against the despicable king ruling the north when he goes to attack the south a third time.
Daniel 11:29 “At the appointed time, he will return in order to wage an attack against the south. However, it will by no means turn out like the first or the last 30 because ships of Kittim will come against him.” (My translation)
The angel’s prophecy in Daniel 11:29-30a has also been fulfilled in history since it records that Antiochus Epiphanes IV returned to attack Egypt a third time but this time it would not be successful as the previous two which are recorded in Daniel 11:24-26.
The angel emphasizes with Daniel that this failed invasion of Egypt by Antiochus Epiphanes IV will be according to God’s sovereign plan.
Thus, the angel is stressing with him that the God of Israel is the sovereign authority over this despicable king of the Seleucid empire.
Therefore, Daniel 11:29 is a prophecy of the third failed Egyptian invasion by Antiochus Epiphanes IV which took place in 168 B.C.
Then, in Daniel 11:30a the angel presents the reason why this invasion will fail.
It will fail because ships of Kittim will come against him.
This was fulfilled when the Romans intimidated him and caused him to withdraw from Egypt.
The two brothers Ptolemy VI Philometer and Ptolemy VIII Physcon reconciled with each other when Antiochus Epiphanes IV left Egypt.
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.
Wikipedia has the following article on this confrontation, they write that when Antiochus was “confronted with the Roman demands that he abort his attack on Alexandria, Antiochus IV played for time; Popillius Laenas is supposed to have drawn a circle around the king in the sand with his cane, and ordered him not to move out of it until a firm answer had been given. The Syrians withdrew. According to Livy, ‘After receiving the submission of the inhabitants of Memphis and of the rest of the Egyptian people, some submitting voluntarily, others under threats, [Antiochus] marched by easy stages towards Alexandria. After crossing the river at Eleusis, about four miles from Alexandria, he was met by the Roman commissioners, to whom he gave a friendly greeting and held out his hand to Popilius. Popilius, however, placed in his hand the tablets on which was written the decree of the senate and told him first of all to read that. After reading it through he said he would call his friends into council and consider what he ought to do. Popilius, stern and imperious as ever, drew a circle round the king with the stick he was carrying and said, “Before you step out of that circle give me a reply to lay before the senate.” For a few moments he hesitated, astounded at such a peremptory order, and at last replied, “I will do what the senate thinks right.” Not till then did Popilius extend his hand to the king as to a friend and ally. Antiochus evacuated Egypt at the appointed date, and the commissioners exerted their authority to establish a lasting concord between the brothers, as they had as yet hardly made peace with each other.”