The Intertestamental Fulfillment of Daniel 11

Notes on the Intertestamental Fulfillment of Daniel 11

The first thirty-five verses of the eleventh chapter of Daniel paint a prophetic scenario so overwhelmingly in accord with subsequently recorded history that many interpreters have found the passage a basis for denying the traditional dating of the book. I am not among them. I hold strongly to the traditional authorship and dating of Daniel as a book written by the man Daniel sometime before 530 BC. I believe there is substantial external and internal evidence to support this view as well as convincing rebuttal of the assertions made by the traditional view’s detractors. This evidence will be offered in another paper soon to be posted.

Given below are simply notes I have made in my study of Daniel 11. I offer them as they may give some added detail to what occurred during the years between the Testaments. I apologize for the lack of form but hope they will prove useful. For those who are convinced, as am I, that the words Daniel recorded are actual words of prophecy recorded before the events themselves, I believe you will be encouraged to further commit yourselves to the God who is in ultimate control of the world in which we live. While a measure of ambiguity was left in each prophetic utterance to prevent human abuse before the fact, those of us who have the privilege of looking back into history at the specific and accurate fulfillment of each prophecy can see the hand of God.

All Scripture is cited from the New International Version of the Bible.

Daniel 11

1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.

The first year of Darius the Mede. The Septuagint says “the first year of Cyrus.” John Calvin contends that Darius was the uncle and perhaps father-in-law of Cyrus (king of Persia), who actually procured the victory over Babylon, basing his assessment on Xenophon’s writings. Though of higher rank and majesty, Cyrus conceded the title of king of Babylon to Darius.

2 Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

“Three more kings . . . in Persia” Cambyses (530-522 BC), Pseudo-Smerdis or Gautmata (522), and Darius I (522-486). Calvin omits Pseudo-Smerdis who was an impostor to the throne and only acknowledged as king for seven months. He puts in his place Darius son of Hystaspes, who according to narrative was “created king by the consent of the others on the neighing of his horse.”

The fourth king was Xerxes I (486-465) who attempted to conquer Greece in 480. He led 900,000 against Greece, but the army was cut to pieces first at Thermopylae, then at Leuctra, and afterwards at other places. Persia’s warlike glory annihilated, the empire rapidly declined.

3 Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.

Alexander the Great (336-323).

4 After he has appeared, his empire 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 power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

Dying at age 33 of uncertain means, no posterity finally ruled in Alexander’s stead, though he had heirs. His half brother, wives, two sons, and his mother were ultimately executed by those wanting power for themselves. Calvin writes, “God, therefore, avenged that grasping disposition of Alexander’s, by allowing the whole of his race thus to perish with disgrace and horrible cruelty.”

By 301 BC, the empire had been divided four ways. Alexander’s generals had established kingdoms of Macedon, Thrace, Mesopotamia/Persia, and Egypt. By 270 BC, the Greek kingdoms (Macedon/Thrace) are not mentioned further in Daniel 11 since Rome was growing to their west with whom they had to contend. From this point on, the kingdoms are spoken of as South and North.

5 The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

The next 30 verses now begin to tell of ongoing warfare between the kingdoms of Syria (king of the North) and Egypt (king of the South). Since Palestine is the land bridge between these two kingdoms, this warfare affects the Jews deeply, especially toward the end. Verse 5 brings us to about 300 BC. Ptolemy I (Soter) rules Egypt and Seleucus I (Nicator) rules Syria. Seleucus, though once a subordinate of Ptolemy, becomes the dominating power.

6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

By about 250 BC, in an attempt to make peace, Ptolemy II (Philadelphus) gives his daughter in marriage to Antiochus II (Theos). Her name is Berenice. In order to marry Berenice, Antiochus divorces his wife Laodice by whom he already has two sons, Seleucus II (Callinicus) and Antiochus the younger. It is uncertain how Antiochus II died, some proposing he was poisoned by Laodice. In any case, Antiochus had a son by Berenice then died immediately after being reconciled to Laodice. Laodice then inspired her son, Seleucus Callinicus to murder Berenice and her son. It is supposed as well that Seleucus put to death any of her faction. Calvin says a grammatical point in the Hebrew leaves the reference to “her father” as possibly feminine and could imply her mother or nurse.

7 One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.

Ptolemy III (Euergetes, i.e., Benefactor) raises an army and attacks Seleucus Callinicus in Syria to avenge his sister’s death.

8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.

Ptolemy ravages and loots the fortresses of Syria, returning much of the wealth that had been carried away from Egypt centuries earlier by the Persians.

9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

Seleucus makes a partial recovery and attempts an unsuccessful campaign against Egypt. The year by this time is approximately 240 BC.

10 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.

Seleucus Callinus’s sons, Seleucus III and Antiochus III (the Great) combine forces to attack Ptolemy IV (Philopater), who incidentally had murdered his parents and brother and was detested by his own people. The brothers thought the time right since the people over whom he ruled in Syrian cities so hated him. However, Seleucus III dies while preparing for war, reportedly being poisoned by his own attendants. Antiochus the Great succeeds in retaking the Syrian cities and proceeds to invade Egypt.

11 Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.

Ptolemy IV raises a massive army and manages to defeat Antiochus in a great battle at Raphia in Gaza in 205 BC. For a few years, both Phoenicia and Palestine again fall under Ptolemaic control.

13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

Upon receiving news of the death of Ptolemy Philopater, his heir Ptolemy Epiphanes being still a small child, Antiochus III realizes the weakness of the Egyptian monarchy and again invades Egypt.

14 In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand.

Antiochus has allies from the Greek states as well as Jewish revolutionaries. With their help, he takes control of Sidon.

16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.

Egypt appeals to Rome for support and Antiochus’s plans over Egypt are thwarted. However, after a protracted struggle, he gains complete ascendancy over Palestine by 198 BC.

17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.

Antiochus, still ambitious for Egypt, deceptively plots an alliance with Egypt by giving his daughter Cleopatra I to Ptolemy V in marriage in 194 BC. Cleopatra gains a huge dowry from which Antiochus hopes to benefit (some even propose that Antiochus sought to induce Cleopatra to assassinate her husband), but Cleopatra becomes faithful to her husband rather than her father, putting a stop to her father’s schemes.

18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him.

Antiochus turns toward Asia Minor and Greece but meets his defeat at Magnesia in Asia Minor in 190 BC from the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus.

19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.

Antiochus the Great dies in 187 BC during his retreat back to Syria when he tries to plunder a pagan temple in the province of Elymais.

20 His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

Antiochus the Great’s successor, Seleucus IV, inherits the war debt to Rome and is forced to heavily tax the regions under his domain, which includes Judea. Seleucus is murdered after a short while, some saying through a conspiracy engineered by his finance minister, Heliodorus.

21 "He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.

Two other sons of Antiochus the Great were being held as hostages in Rome, Demetrius and Antiochus. The immediate heir to the Syrian throne (in the line of Antiochus III) by then would have been Demetrius, but the Romans release Antiochus IV (perhaps by flattery). Seleucus IV has a son who was too young to rule, so Antiochus seizes power through shrewd politicking and perhaps fratricide (being behind the conspiracy to murder Seleucus IV).

22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

Antiochus IV enjoys significant victories, always with an eye toward Egypt. He instigates the murder of Onias III, the high priest in Jerusalem, in 170 BC replacing him first with Jason then with Menelaus to whom he gives the tax collecting authority. Antiochus employs mercenaries and shares the plunder. While he chose the name Epiphanes (illustrious one), many call him Epimanes (crazy one).

25 With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

Antiochus IV, while having waged war mostly through craftiness and deceit up to this point, now raises a large army and wages open war against Egypt. The king of Egypt at this point is Ptolemy VI, who is actually the nephew of Antiochus, which gives light on verse 27. Of most importance, however, is the phrase “an end will still come at the appointed time” which shows that God is still the One who is in charge. (cp Daniel 2:21, Proverbs 21:1) Thus, Antiochus withdraws to Syria in verse 28, though he has military power superior to that of Ptolemy.

29 At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

Antiochus returns to Egypt again in 168 BC. This time, Rome sends ships to the aid of Ptolemy under the command of Popilius Laenas. Given the ultimatum that an attack against Egypt is an attack against Rome, Antiochus retreats in a rage, taking out his anger on Jerusalem. Antiochus plunders the temple and slaughters about 40,000 Jews before returning to Syria. He finds ready allies among the Hellenistic Jews who actually opened the city to him when he came. He courts their favor and decrees the abolition of traditional Judaism, placing a statue of Zeus in the temple holy place and requiring sacrifice to Zeus. These events instigate the Maccabean revolt in 167 BC.

33 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, 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.

During this time, some remain faithful the Lord even in the face of death. As always, there are some impostors. In general, however, purification comes in the midst of the fires of persecution. Through it all, it is recognized that God is in control, appointing the times.

The remainder of the chapter (verses 36-45) is less certain as to its interpretation. Many old and new interpreters alike, liberal and conservative, see in the passage a continued discussion of Antiochus Epiphanes but have some difficulty connecting history to the specific prophecies. Some conjecture that this is a more general statement concerning Antiochus and revisits incidents already touched upon in the preceding verses.

John Calvin contends that verses 36 through 45 refer to the Roman Empire. The case he presents is about as convincing, in my own mind, as those holding to the Antiochus Epiphanes interpretation. The history only connects well with the prophecies if forced to do so.

Others, and I tend to fall into this camp, believe the prophecy of verses 36 through 45 telescopes to a time yet future for us. Of course, it was all future for Daniel. The king in this passage would refer to the Antichrist who is yet to appear and who is spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13. The early verses of chapter 12 (which would not have been separated from the preceding verses in the original document by a chapter division) seem with show without doubt a reference to the time of the final resurrection. It should be noted here that Matthew Henry understands this resurrection in only a figurative sense as God’s deliverance of the Jews from Antiochus. This interpretation seems forced and without warrant in light of the specificity of the historical fulfillment of the verses in the first thirty-five verses of chapter 11.

Bibliography

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Buttrick, Geroge Arthur, ed. The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. VI. Nashville, Abingdon, 1978.

Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Daniel, trans. Thomas Myers. Grand Rapids: Bakers Books, 2005.

Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1960.

Howie, Carl G. The Layman’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 13. Richmond: John Knox Press, 1968.

Jamieson, Robert, A.R. Fausset and David Brown. A Commentary Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids: Willam B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989.

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