Daniel's prophecy details the events of the Syrian Wars, fought in the 3rd century before Christ.
11:6a "And at the end of some years" It is in fact about 28 years from the death of Seleucus Nicator (280) until the events described in this verse.
After he is murdered, seeking to take Thrace as his own, his son Antiochus I reigns.
He is the son also of an Iranian princess, Apama.
Seleucus, it seems, has been the most obedient to the vision of Alexander for a new world order, mixing the peoples of earth, East and West, into one.
The wife assigned him by Alexander, he keeps.
Antiochus begins his reign by paying proper, though to us improper, homage to his dad.
He orders that Seleucus be venerated as Zeus Nicator, the conquering God.
But Antiochus would have been a bit of a disappointment to Dad in other ways.
Though he, like Ptolemy I, is called "Soter", he has a hard time "saving" the empire from major shrinkage.
There are independence movements in North Anatolia (Asia Minor), threats of war from Macedonia, and a directed harassment from a mass of 20,000 Gauls that cross over into Asia Minor.
He eventually defeats them and earns his "Soter" badge.
But there is a lessening of strength, and it is helped along by an attack from the new king of the South, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
There is war from 274-271, but nothing decisive happens.
This is the First Syrian War.
Philadelphus, for his part, still seems to have the upper hand in the North-South relationship.
He has learned well from papa how to relate to anyone born of Seleucus, and in fact is coregent with his father for the first 2-3 years of the reign.
His name, "brother-loving" may have reference to the fact that he marries his full sister, Arsinoe II, in 276.
Thirteen years before, he had married Arsinoe I, but he bansishes this daughter of Lysimachus when politics intervene.
Dad had his mini-harem too.
Also like Father, Philadelphus is a man interested in building a great people and a great land.
One of his best known projects is the building of a canal linking the Nile to the Gulf of Suez.
Like the Seleucids, this King is a devotee of the ruler cult and promotes the divinity of all Egyptian rulers.
It is said that the Romans were later influenced by what they saw along these lines in the "Successor States".
His father's peace with the Jews is likewise passed on.
The high priest and company in Israel are permitted to become a political power just under Ptolemy.
As long as the taxes are kept paid, the Jews fare well.
Josephus relates the history of the Septuagint Scriptures sponsored by Philadelphus.
Ptolemy and high priest Eleazar exchange letters, creating the plan to send 6 elders of every tribe of Israel to Alexandria for the express purpose of translating the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.
The Septuagint we call it today.
In 261, another Antiochus, named Theos or "God", begins his reign in Antioch.
He immediately declares war on Ptolemy, in what is called the Second Syrian War.
Perhaps this is in response to yet more shrinkage of the Seleucid Empire, a desperate attempt to save face.
The conflict stretches on to about 253.
Then it is clear that the only way for both sides to resolve this mess is if...
11:6b "they shall join forces" The Lagidae and the Seleucidae need to get together, to form an alliance.
The tool in this plan is again a young lady, Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II.
11:6c "for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North tomake an agreement" Trouble is, Antiochus II (Theos) already has a wife! Her name is Laodice.
His love and affection for her is so great that he names a city after her, Laodicea.
But Ptolemy insists.
The affairs of state must take precedence over our petty desires.
Take the woman.
So in 252, he takes her, after a bitter divorce from Laodice.
It is not clear to me why two wives could not be kept on, as was the normal thing in this situation.
It could be that Laodice was the perpetrator of the divorce in reaction to her husband's proposed unfaithfulness.
It must be an awful thing to be replaced by a political statement, 11:6d " but she[Berenice] shall not retain the power of her authority" Berenice's new position as queen of the former "enemy" territory is short-lived, maybe 5-6 years.
Berenice is divorced and sent away.
Laodice is recalled, like the benched quarterback who must fill in for the new star who has broken his leg.
Antiochus has made a serious misjudgment of women, or at least of this one, 11:6e "and neither he nor his authority shall stand.
" The man Antiochus must die.
The king Antiochus must be replaced.
Poison will take care of both.
And we might want to think this horror will not extend to Egypt 11:6f " but she shall be given up" In fact, Berenice is given up to death along with her infant son, who would have been Antiochus III.
All that had a part in this plan, the father Ptolemy, who dies shortly after Berenice is sent away, the poisoned husband Antiochus, the nobles that accompany Berenice from Egypt, are all dead.
That's what God said would happen: She will die 11:6g "with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him whostrengthened her in those times.
" Laodice, her thirst for blood temporarily assuaged, sets her son from Antiochus on the throne.
History will remember him as Seleucus Callinicus.
The year is 246.
11:7a "But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place" Ptolemy III is next in line in Egypt.
He is called "the benefactor" or Euergetes in Greek.
His reign begins in 246, and he is definitely a branch of Berenice's parental roots.
That's a special way of saying, "her brother.
" And he arose in the place of his father at his death.
He must obviously be the one 11:7b "who shall come with an army" Euergetes and with him all of Egypt is outraged at Laodice's killing of Berenice and their son.
The so-called "Laodicean War" or Third Syrian War, 246-241 ensues as he must 11:7c "enter the fortress of the king of the North," Seleucus II Callinicus, the weak-kneed leader of the Syrian effort now.
His reign also begins in 246, as both powers lose their government in the same few months.
He soon yields up his very capital to Euergetes, who has come to 11:7d "deal with them and prevail" It won't be the only loss of Seleucus II, nor the only win of Ptolemy III, but it is quite typical.
Seleucus is suffering from these external pressures during his 20+ years in office, and also from internal revolts.
The pesky Laodice, about whom the war is being fought, and who happens to be his mother, sets him up against his own brother, Antiochus the "hawk", in Asia Minor! The resulting "War of the Brothers" results in a division of the Kingdom which takes the two following administrations to heal.
Bactria (Afghanistan) and then Parthia (Iran) break away.
Though Seleucus' other name Callinicus means "gloriously victorious", he isn't.
The Empire of his first namesake has shrunk to its very lowest.
He himself will die a prisoner in Parthia about 226.
At least one source adds that he dies from a fall from a horse.
And this all happens several years before Ptolemy meets his Creator (221), as His Creator foretold in v.
8b.
(see below) If one is keeping score, it would be proper to give Seleucus Callinicus at least one point in his favor: his son, Antiochus the Great, who leads a revival of the Seleucid event.
But that's still 2 kings away.
He will be succeeded by Seleucus III, who after a 3-year reign will succumb to brother Antiochus.
Back to Ptolemy, for now.
He's on a roll.
First on his agenda, 11:8a "he shall carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes [footnote,molded images] and their precious articles of silver and gold" It is said that what Euergetes actually discovers in Syria are long- lost idols and sacred treasures that had been stolen from Egypt by none other than Cambyses of Persia, in 524 BC! But in the midst of all the deep penetration into Syrian territory, Ptolemy is called back to Egypt due to domestic troubles.
He certainly would have taken all of Syria had he been given the time.
But then history would not have worked itself out as God foresaw.
When Ptolemy goes home, Seleucus, now with some allies, recaptures much of the territory.
The hand of God is keeping these powers separate for a reason.
But at least, as noted, 11:8b "he shall continue more years than the king of the North.
" (see comments on 7d) In just a few years, 240, Syria has regrouped and recovered, so 11:9 "Then the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South,but shall return to his own land.
" Yes, Callinicus tries an all-out attack on Ptolemy.
But he is beaten again, and tail between his legs has to move quickly back to Mama and safety, such as it is.
A measure of peace prevails from 240 until 221, when Euergetes is dead.
Dying with Euergetes seems to be also the expansionist ways of Egypt.
Though Ptolemy III has been a great success, and brought new wealth to his people, the tides seem to be turning toward the North.
Upon his death, 221, wife Berenice II becomes joint heir with her son, Ptolemy IV.
For this effort, Ptolemy has her murdered.
And before his own surprise death in 203, he will have killed not only Mom, but Brother, Uncle, and maybe Sister, who doubled as Wife.
Disfunction rules in these Macedonian families.
11:10a "However his sons shall stir up strife" His sons are Seleucus III Soter (these names seem to re-appear every few years, sometimes in North, sometimes in South) and Antiochus III "Magnus", that is, "The Great".
Seleucus is a weak king, but wants very much to recover what his father has lost.
He tries indeed, but lacking skills of leadership, he cannot rule his own army, and is so disrespected as to finally be poisoned by his "friends.
" His entire reign is about 3 years, 226-223.
Brother Antiochus is a different story.
He takes the throne upon Seleucus' tragic death, as a boy in his late teens.
Though so young, he has already gained valuable experience as a governor of Babylonia under his brother.
He immediately tries to conquer Ptolemy.
So both sons stir up strife against Egypt.
Both 11:10b "assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelmand pass through" Notice how the text starts with a plurality but ends in the singular.
Seleucus tries and fails.
Now Antiochus' major effort is recorded.
In advance, of course.
Before documenting the anti-Egypt campaign, I should first re- introduce the ruler of Egypt in these days.
Ptolemy IV Philopater (father love?!), the family murderer, is the most cruel and vicious of the Ptolemies.
He is called a drunk, and it is recorded that he is completely under the control of his "favorites" at the court.
On his cruel side, he especially hates the Jews and persecutes them without mercy.
It is easy to understand why Israel in general turns toward the north for help.
The stage is now set for the Fourth Syrian War.
Antiochus Magnus at first defeats Philopater and begins to take territory north of Egypt, as far as Gaza.
Tyre and Ptolemais are his.
In 218 his is Lebanon and Palestine, and Phoenicia.
11:10c "Then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife" It is said that while Antiochus is besieging Dora, he is forced to retire to Ptolemais for the winter.
We leave him there for now.
Such was the struggle for Syria before the days of Antiochus the Great.
And all of it was foretold by Daniel the prophet, as it was given to him by an angel of God.