(Prophecy)
During the rule of the Persian king Cyrus, The angel Gabriel reveals several future events concerning many future ruling kings (and sometime even the nations they belonged to) to Daniel, and what they would do and especially focusing on wars between a king from the south fighting a king from the north: all leading up to the King of the North (and his kingdom)'s final destruction in the distant future.
First, Gabriel reveals 4 more kings would come to power in the Persian empire after King Cyrus:
Daniel 11:1-2
“…Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth,…”
The 4th king would be far wealthier than the 3 others and with the power from all this wealth would gather the Persian empire to attack Greece:
Daniel 11:1-2
“...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.”
After this rich Persian king, a very powerful king will come to power and conquer many places making a massive empire:
Daniel 11:3
“Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.”
But after he dies, his empire will be broken up and not go to his children but be given to others and will never be as strong as the empire he founded:
Daniel 11:4
“After he has arisen, 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.”
After this breaking up of this great king’s empire, Gabriel mentions a king of the south coming out of this empire’s breakup: this becomes a strong kingdom and one of the commanders of the king becomes even stronger this by ruling his own kingdom: but they become allies:
Daniel 11:5-6
“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. After some years, they will become allies.”
Then Gabriel mention there is now a king of the north at this time: as the daughter of the king of the south going to make an alliance with this king of the north it does not succeed: she is also betrayed along with her royal escort, her father, and someone one supporting her:
Daniel 11:5-6
“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 betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.”
Then someone from her family will take her place, and this new ruler of the south with attack the king of the north and succeed and enter his fortress:
Daniel 11:7
“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.”
Then once the king of the south has invaded the Northern kingdom he will pillage and take their valuable idols, images, and treasures and carry them back to Egypt (apparently the base of the king of the south) after this victory the king of the south will leave the king of the north alone:
Daniel 11:8
"...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."
Then later the king from the north will try to invade the land of the king of the south but will retreat back into his land:
Daniel 11:9
“Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.”
Then this king’s sons will gather a great army that will invade land of the king of the south getting right up to the very boarders of the fortress of the kingdom of the south:
Daniel 11:10
“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.”
Once they get to the very boarders of the kingdom of the south, the king of the south will be enraged and gather an army to fight the king of the north: the king of the south with defeat the invading king of the north.
Daniel 11:11
“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.”
After this victory against the king of the North the king of the South will become prideful in his power and will kill thousands more in his pride:
Daniel 11:12
“When the army [of the north] is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands,…”
During this time, many will be against the king of the south and evil Jews (Daniel’s own people) will rebel against/with the king but won’t be successful:
Daniel 11:14
“In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.”
But this king will not remain successful because the king of the north with gather a huge army to fight him again:
Daniel 11:12-13
“…yet he will not remain triumphant. 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.”
The king of the north seems to come to a city in the king of the south’s kingdom (possibly even where he lives) and build a siege all around the city and all the army of the south will not be able to stop them this time:
Daniel 11:15
“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.”
The king of the north will conquer this city and conquer the king of the south:
Daniel 11:16
“The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him.”
The king of the north will settle in the promised land and have the power to Destroy this land:
Daniel 11: 16
“He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.”
After doing this he will bring the power of his whole kingdom to make an alliance with the king of the south in order to ultimately overthrow the kingdom of the south: he will do this by giving his daughter in marriage to him:
Daniel 11:17
“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 attempt to overthrow the kingdom of the south will not succeed in the marriage alliance and remain a kingdom:
Daniel 11:17
“…but his plans will not succeed or help him.”
Then this king of the north will then focus on conquering the coastlands (on the eastern Mediterranean) and end up conquering much if them for his kingdom of the north:
Daniel 11:18
“ Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them,…”
But another commander will come (not seeming to be any part of the two major kingdoms but from an entirely separate kingdom) and will put an end to his prideful conquering and instead conquer him!
Daniel 11:18
“but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.”
After this commander has conquered the king of the north, the king of the north will retreat back into the safety of his kingdom but end up stumbling and falling (being killed) and never to be seen again:
Daniel 11:19
“After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.”
After he dies, the king of the north’s successor will send out tax collectors to try to maintain the glory of the kingdom of the north, but even this successor will be destroyed like his former ruler: but not in being murdered nor in a battle:
Daniel 11:20
“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.”
(to be continued)
Summary of future kings/kingdoms and wars:
So, in summary after king Cyrus's rule in Persia (from 550 B.C. onward [1]) 4 more kings will rule the (Medio)-Persian empire; the 4th king will be very rich and form a huge army to attack Greece. Then a mighty king will rule and do whatever he wants and form an empire. But he will die, and his empire will be broken up in all directions and given to strangers. Then it seems from this breakup a kingdom in the south (and a kingdom also in the north) will now exists. The king of the south will become powerful but his general that will become even more powerful than him yet they'll both be allies. This the king of the south's daughter will go to the king of the North to form an alliance, but it won't work because they will be betrayed; even their royal escort and someone who supports them (by being killed possibly?). Then a family member of the betrayed queen will rule the kingdom of the south and fight again the king of the North: he'll defeat his army and invade his kingdom and successfully defeat him and take his idols, statues, and treasure back to Egypt (most likely the base of the king's kingdom). After this successful victory, he'll leave the king of the north alone. Then later the King of the north will try to invade the king of the south but retreat back to his own land. But then the sons of the king of the north will organize a large army and invade many lands like an unstoppable flood; taking the fight to the very fortresses of the kingdom of the south. The king of the south will be enraged because of this and gather a large army to fight the invading king of the north: the king of the north will be defeated. After his victory the king of the south will become prideful and kill thousands more in his pride. During this time many will be against the king of the south and even violent rebellious Jews will rebel/help him, but he won't be successful because the king of the north will gather an army, surround one of his cities and conquer it. This victorious king of the north will settle in the promised land with power to destroy it and will bring his army to make a marriage alliance with the king of the south by giving his daughter to him to marry in hopes of destroying the kingdom of the south forever: but it won't work. Then he will turn his attention to conquering the coastlands of the eastern Mediterranean and conquer much of it for the kingdom of the north however another unknown commander (seeming to be from another nation) will instead conquer him and put an end to his conquering. After he is conquered the king of the north will be forced to retreat back into his kingdom only to be killed and never seen again. After his death, his successor will rule the kingdom of the north and send out tax collectors to tax the subjects to keep the glory of the kingdom. However, this successor will be killed shortly: but he will die not in a violent fight nor in a battle. (to be continued)
So, did this happen after Daniel’s vision around 550 B.C. onward?
Fulfillment in history
This prophetic vision had already been mostly fulfilled and can now be found in history books:
The four more kings of Persia would rule (530 B.C.-465 B.C.)
After Cyrus’s rule ended in 530 B.C. (20 or so years after this prophecy was given), Persia had four more kings: they were Cambyses, then Gaumata, Darius the great, and Xerxes I [1].
The fourth king will be very rich and form a massive army from those riches to attack Greece (518 B.C.-465 B.C.)
Xerxes (the fourth Persian king) inherited a massive empire of his father and assembled a massive army to punish Greece for the Ionian rebellion. He marched across what is modern day Turkey to attack the Greek city-states [1].
Then a mighty king will come to power and do what he wants and form a massive empire (336 B.C.-323 B.C.)
Then the prophecy seems to skip 129 years into the future (and over 8 more Persian kings) to a king of a different nation: a Macedonian/Greek king known as Alexander the Great who united all the Greek nations and conquered many different nations and fought the Medio-Persian empire and won and conquered much of the known world: King Alexander pretty much did what he wanted and got his way[2]. (this also is 99%/100% most likely the same king symbolized by the big horn of the goat in Daniel's other symbolic vision).
Then this king would die, and his empire would be divided in all directions by strangers, giving none to his descendants (327 B.C.-300 B.C.)
Unexpectantly, King Alexander died and had no sons living to inherit his massive empire, so his 4 closets generals: Cassander, Lysimachuas, Seleucus, and Ptolemy finally agreed to divide his empire mainly into 4 kingdoms/empires: that is The Cassander kingdom, The Lysimachus kingdom, The Ptolemy empire, and The Seleucus empire (also: most likely the same kings symbolized by the four horns growing out of the goat's head in the other vision mentioned before) [3].
From these divisions, the king (and thus the kingdom) of the south is formed (and most likely, the king and thus kingdom of the North is also formed as well)
If the kingdom of the South (and North) was one of these four kingdoms which one(s) could it be?
The description from the prophecy gives some strong hints of what kingdom was considered the kingdom of the south:
The kingdom of the south is south from the promised land/Jerusalem (God's prophecies to his ancient holy prophets usually go by the reference of the promise land/Jerusalem: so, when it says a direction in prophecies it usually is in reference from the promised land/Jerusalem) and contains Egypt.
The only Greek kingdom that came out of the division of Alexandar's empire containing Egypt and is south from the promised land/Jerusalem is The Ptolemy empire ruled by King Ptolemy and his descendants.
So now the Kingdom of the south in this prophecy has been properly identified:
The kingdom of the South=The Ptolemy empire
Since the king/ kingdom has been identified the prophecies concerning the kings of the south can be properly identified too.
The king of the south becomes strong, but his general gets an empire of his own and becomes even stronger and they both become allies (305 B.C.-261 B.C.)
The first king (and founder) of the empire was Ptolemy I Soter himself: out of the main four kings who got a kingdom of their own, he was a very strong one [4].
However, his general: Seleucus I Nicator began to form his own empire and became the founder of The Seleucus empire: a far more powerful empire than his former leader Ptolemy (and the most powerful of all the 4 main kingdoms) [4].
Even though he rebelled against his former master Ptolemy, the two kings at first were allies/had peace.
The daughter of the king of the south (The King of the Ptolemy dynasty) will go to the king of the north to make an alliance (253 B.C.)
What Greek kingdom is the kingdom of the North? Could it have been the Seleucus empire mentioned before? Like Egypt is south of Jerusalem, Syria is the nation north of Jerusalem; and, once again, the only Greek kingdom controlling Syria was The Seleucus empire.
So now the kingdom of the north has been properly identified as well.
The kingdom of the North=The Seleucus empire
This daughter of the king that went to make an alliance with the king of the Seleucus empire was queen Berenice daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus the ruling son of the original Ptolemy I Soter. She was sent to be married to the king of the Seleucid empire which was now Antiochus II Theos the grandson of the original Seleucus I Nicator. She married him in hopes to unite the two kingdoms together [5].
But this queen (and her father) would not make a permanent alliance between these two kingdoms: because she would be betrayed along with her father ,her royal escort, and someone who supported her (253 B.C.-246 B.C.)
Queen Berenice did not remain married to Antiochus II Theos because her father Ptolemy II Philadelphus suddenly died and Antiochus divorced her to get back his ex-wife Laodice. However Antiochus died suddenly from a strange illness it seems (possibly caused by Laodice I).Laodice then tried to kill queen Berenice and her sons to get rid of them, and succeeded in killing them (and her royal escorts) in Daphne Syria. Thus, the alliance between these two empires did not help but made things worse [5].
Then someone from her family will take her place, and this new ruler of the south with attack the Seleucus empire and succeed and enter his fortress. Then once the Ptolemaic king has invaded the Seleucus empire he will pillage and take their valuable idols, images, and treasures and carry them back to Egypt. After this victory the Ptolemic king will leave the Seleucus king alone (246 B.C.-225 B.C.)
When the former king Ptolemy II Philadelphus suddenly died his son (and Queen Berenice's brother) Ptolemy III Euergetes took over ruling the Ptolemy empire. Once he learned about the murder of his sister and her son by the rulers of The Seleucus empire he sought revenge, and He rallied the empire's army to invade The Seleucus empire. Ptolemy III Euergetes and his army succeeded in the war and invaded the core of the Seleucids empire (invading Syria way into the Mesopotamian city of Seleucia) he and his army pillaged the treasures of Seleucus II and took them back to the core of their kingdom in Egypt since there were problems that needed to be delt with back in Egypt he left the Seleucus empire alone after avenging his sister and his nephew.[6]
Then the king of the Seleucus empire would try to invade the Ptolemaic empire but instead retreat back into his country (230 B.C. - 225 B.C.)
After the successful invasion of Ptolemy III Euergetes, the ruling king of the Seleucus empire, Seleucus II Callinicus, attempted to take back the land conquered in the invasion: he began to invade the Ptolemaic empire and took back northern Syria, however because of his rivalry with his younger brother, Antiochus Hierax, he had to return to the Seleucid empire: so, he never fully invaded the core of the Ptolemaic empire (Egypt). [7]
Then Seleucus II Callinicus’s sons will gather a great army that will invade land of the Ptolemaic empire like an unstoppable flood, even getting right up to the very boarders of the Ptolemaic empire (219 B.C.-216 B.C.)
Antiochus III the great (the son of Seleucus II Callinicus) Sought to restore more land lost from the empire and raised up a very large army: this army became unstoppable as they gained more Ptolemaic land like the lands of Palestine (this would include nations like Phoenicia, Judea, and Idumea): this army won and got up right to the very boarder of the core of the plotemy empire: that is Egypt.[8]
The king of the Ptolemaic empire will be enraged and gather an army to fight Antiochus III: the king of the Ptolemaic empire with defeat Antiochus III (219 B.C.-216 B.C.)
Once Antiochus got to the boarder of the Ptolemaic empire, Ptolemy IV Philopater was very angry at the Seleucid army trying to invade his empire: so he gathered his army and fought them and defeated Antiochus III and his army. [9]
Ptolemy IV will be proud in his victory and kill many more (215 B.C.-205 B.C.)
After successfully defeating Antiochus and his army, Ptolemy destroyed many in the war (and captured many more as prisoners) alone and became victorious (and thus prideful): he had own territory formerly controlled by Antiochus however instead of attacking the Selectus empire while it was weak, he went home to Egypt with his new wealth and seemed to have squandered it all on his personal pleasures[9:A] (also there were reports of him killing a lot of Jews after this war: thus fulfilling this prophecy even more[9:B]).
In those times many will rise against the Ptolemaic king. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.(210 B.C.-190 B.C.)
At this time, many were against Ptolemy IV Philopater for being a selfish, lustful tyrant. Why this could describe Ptolemy IV Philopater, it seems to really describe his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes. Ptolemy V Epiphanes was only 5 when he became king (way too young to rule a kingdom!) He was helped by a group of people who conspired to help the young king rule. Because the king was literally just a child under adult supervision many rulers of other kingdoms plotted to take advantage of the Ptolemaic empire's weak leadership and conquer some of the territory. Along with all this, there were also civil wars going on within Egypt that weakened the Ptolemaic empire greatly. [10: A][11: A].
However it's unclear how Daniel's people (which were Jews: especially Jews that were living in Judea: Judeans at this time the prophecy seems to refer to) were against Ptolemy V Epiphanes; but it's not too hard to assume they also were against the king as well (if this is so, they also fulfilled this part of the prophecy: but so far the author could not find any references to prove this).
But Ptolemy V Epiphanes will not remain successful because the king of the Seleucid empire with gather a huge army to fight him again: The king of the Seleucid empire seems to come to a city in Ptolemy V Epiphanes's kingdom (possibly even where he lives) and build a siege all around the city and all the army of the Ptolemaic empire will not be able to stop him this time(202 B.C-200 B.C.)
Along with the leaders that were taking advantage of Ptolemaic empire's situation was the new Seleucid empire's king Antiochus III the Great. He gathered a huge army to attack the poorly lead Ptolemy empire: and succeeded in taking Palestine from the empire. However, one of the king's mercenaries, Scopas, took some men to get Palestine back and were successful with some cities in Palestine. King Antiochus III the Great responded by fighting to get the cities of Palestine back in the coming summer and won a great victory against Scopas in the Battle of Panium. After this battle the Ptolemaic army scattered and sought refuge in nearby cities, but Scopas and a majority of the Ptolemaic army sought refuge in Sidon. However, Antiochus III the great followed him to Sidon and surrounded the city and put up a siege (blockade) around Sidon: Scopas, and the 10,000 Ptolemaic troops slowly began to starve from lack of food and eventually had to surrender to Antiochus III : thus, Sidon (even though the king himself was not here) seems to be the prophesied Ptolemaic well-fortified city that was sieged and successfully conquered by Antiochus III. [11].
Antiochus III the Great 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 (200 B.C.-195 B.C.)
After the victory against Scopas, Antiochus III began to conquer all of Palestine : Antiochus III the Great did whatever he wanted to the Ptolemaic empire. with the land and cities he was conquering in Palestine, which was also the promised land, he and his forces were also conquering/attacking the 'beautiful land' or more specifically Judea/Jerusalem which was caught up in the battle between the Seleucids and Ptolemaics (beautiful land always means the promised land: Israel. Specifically, now the only true descendants of Israel really left in the promised land at this time: which was Judea/ specially Judeans Jews: Israelites descended from the citizens of the former southern kingdom) and after conquering Judea set up his main army in Judea/Palestine; with all his army there he could have destroyed Judea (but did not)[12].
Antiochus III the Great will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom [to Egypt] and will make an alliance with Ptolemy V Epiphanes. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the Ptolemaic empire, but his plans will not succeed or help him.(194 B.C.)
From Palestine, Antiochus's army went straight to Egypt to meet with Ptolemy V Epiphanes: he made a proposal to have a marriage agreement with the king to marry his daughter Cleopatra I, in order for Cleopatra I to betray him and give his kingdom to her father. However, his daughter ended up betraying him and instead remained faithful to her husband: his plan failed [11][13].
Antiochus III the Great then will turn his attention to conquering the coastlands of the Mediterranean and end up conquering many of them(193 B.C.-190 B.C.)
After his failed attempt to overthrow Ptolemy V Epiphanes, he then turned to other affairs to deal with within his empire, especially gaining new territories in a secret treaty with Philip V the king of Macedonia. In this treaty, he gained several eastern Mediterranean coastal lands like Syria, Lycia, Cilicia, and Cyprus. Along with this, he continued to conquer more lands/islands in the Mediterranean and successfully conquered many of them [8].
However, another commander (seeming to be from another nation) will instead conquer him and put an end to his insolent conquering (190 B.C.)
As Antiochus conquered more land in the Mediterranean, he was getting closer to The Roman empire’s territory in the region. The Roman empire tried to make treaties with Antiochus, but he rejected them all. This led to fighting and war between the Roman empire and the Seleucid empire. Antiochus had heavy losses from the war. So, at the decisive battle of magnesia, Antiochus was determined to not let the Roman army take any more victories and gathered the largest army his empire had to give. However, this Roman army led by consul Lucius Scipio was much more well-armed than Antiochus’s army; This led to the ultimate defeat of Antiochus and his army to Lucius Scipio and loss on his territories he has gained in the costal Mediterranean: The Roman commander Lucius Scipio conquered him showing him the taste of defeat [14].
After he is conquered, Antiochus III the Great will be forced to retreat back into his kingdom only to be killed and never seen again (190 B.C.-187 B.C.)
Antiochus's defeat forced him and his armies to retread back into the core of the Seleucid Empire: that is in the Mesopotamian area. However, one day in/near Susa he decided to plunder a Bal temple in the area for more tax money but was killed due to defiling the sacred temple: he was killed to never be seen again [8].
After Antiochus III dies, his successor will send out tax collectors to try to maintain the glory/power of the Seleucid Empire (187 B.C.-175 B.C.)
After Antiochus was killed, he was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopator as the new king of the empire. However, from the loss of the war with Rome, Seleucus was being forced to pay tribute to the Roman empire to keep his kingdom from being conquered. For this reason, he was forced to most likely raise taxes on his subjects as well as searching for any money throughout the kingdom. This seems to be the case of what was going on, because this is recorded in a story by Jewish historians of the time of this king finding out the massive wealth held inside the temple of God and sending his treasurer, Heliodorus, to go get that wealth for the king (which was then stopped by God's power from stealing the riches).[15]
But even Seleucus IV Philopator will be destroyed like his father: but not in being murdered nor in a battle (175 B.C.)
Eventually a few years later, Seleucus was assassinated by own minister, Heliodorus; he killed him most likely by poisoning him: So, like his father Seleucus was also killed by unlike his father he was not murdered by an angry mob nor killed in a battle: he was most likely poisoned and died silently.[15]
(to be continued)
Sources:
[1]
[A]
Wikipedia “Cyrus the Great”
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great
[B]
Wikipedia "Cambyses II"
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambyses_II
[C]
Wikipedia "Bardiya"
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardiya
[D]
Wikipedia "Darius the Great"
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_the_Great
[E]
'In Western history, Xerxes is best known for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC,...[by]...renewed his father's campaign to subjugate Greece and punish Athens and its allies for their interference in the Ionian Revolt. Xerxes was designated successor by Darius over his elder brother Artobazan and inherited a large, multi-ethnic empire upon his father's death.'
from Wikipedia "Xerxes I"
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I
[2]
Wikipedia "Alexander the Great"
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great
[3]
[A]
"The Hellenistic World: The World of Alexander the Great" by Joshua J. Mark World History encyclopedia on November 01 2018
Website:
[B]
The Collector “Who Were The Diadochi of Alexander The Great?” By Antonis Chaliakopoulos on Mar 26, 2021
Website:
https://www.thecollector.com/who-were-the-diadochi-of-alexander-the-great/
[4]
[A]
World history encyclopedia “Ptolemy I” by Donald L. Wasson on 03 February 2012
Website:
https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_I/
[B]
Brittanica "Seleucus I Nicator" by Jakob Seibert on Jul 20, 1998
Webiste:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antiochus-I-Soter
[5]
[A]
Britannica "Ptolemy II Philadelphus" by Heinz Heinen on 5 Nov. 2019
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-II-Philadelphus
[B]
Britannica “Antiochus II Theos” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia on 13 Feb 2024
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antiochus-II-Theos
[C]
Britannica “Berenice daughter of Ptolemy II” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia on 29 Jan 2015
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Berenice-daughter-of-Ptolemy-II
[6]
Britannica "Ptolemy III Euergetes" by The Editors of Encyclopaedia on 7 Nov. 2019
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-III-Euergetes
[7]
History archive Alexander the great "Seleucus II Callinicus" from Arcadian Venture LLC 30 North Gould St. Suite 4827 Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801
Website:
https://alexander-the-great.org/people/seleucus-II-callinicus
[8]
[A]
Britannica "Antiochus III the Great" by Volkmann, Hans on 13 Feb. 2024
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antiochus-III-the-Great
[B]
thelatinlibrary.com "Antiochus the Great (242-187 B.C.)" by Hans Volkmann?/William L. Carey
Website:
[9]
[A]
Britannica "Ptolemy IV Philopator" by , The Editors of Encyclopaedia on 13 Mar. 2024
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-IV-Philopator
[B]
“This is a description of the effect which this victory would have on Ptolemy, namely, to puff him up with pride and insolence: and so we are informed it did; for being freed by it from his fears, he now more freely indulged his lusts; and, after a few menaces and complaints, he granted peace to Antiochus, that he might be more at liberty to gratify his appetites and passions….Ptolemy visited the cities of…Palestine,…he came to Jerusalem,…where he took a view of the temple…But, not being satisfied with viewing it only from the outer court, beyond which no Gentile was allowed to pass, he showed a great inclination to enter the sanctuary, and even the holy of holies itself. This occasioned a great uproar all over the city; the high-priest informed him of the holiness of the place, and the express law of God, by which he was forbid to enter it. But every sort of opposition only served to inflame his curiosity; he forced in as far as the second court, where, while he was preparing to enter the temple itself, he was struck by God with such terror, that he was carried off half dead. On this he left the city, highly exasperated against the whole Jewish nation, and loudly threatening future vengeance. At his return, therefore, to Alexandria, he began a cruel persecution against the Jewish inhabitants of that city, and cast down many ten thousands;…”
from "Benson Commentary" in commentary of Daniel 11:12 from Bible hub
Website:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/daniel/11-12.htm
[10]
[A]
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Ptolemy V Epiphanes". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2024
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-V-Epiphanes
[11]
[A]
Historymaps “FIFTH SYRIAN WAR” By Nono Umasy
Website:
https://history-maps.com/story/Seleucid-Empire/event/Fifth-Syrian-War
[B]
“Scopas was sent again to oppose him, but was defeated near the sources of Jordan, lost a great part of his army, and was pursued to Sidon, where he was shut up with ten thousand men, and closely besieged. Three famous generals were sent from Egypt to raise the siege; but they could not succeed, and at length Scopas was forced by famine to surrender, upon the hard conditions of having life only granted to him and his men; they were obliged to lay down their arms, and were sent away stripped and naked. Antiochus took also Gaza, and then all the other cities of that district, namely, Abila, Samaria, and Gadara; and afterward became master of the whole country.”
from Benson's Commentary on Daniel 11:15-16 from Bible Hub
Website:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/daniel/11-15.htm
[12]
from Barnes' Notes on the Bible on Daniel 11:16 from Bible Hub
Website:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/daniel/11-16.htm
[13]
[A]
Brittanica “Cleopatra I Syra” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia on 3 Apr. 2024
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cleopatra-I-Syra
[B]
“He himself afterward conducted her to Raphia, where they were married; and gave in dowry with her the provinces of Cœlosyria and Palestine, upon condition of the revenues being equally divided between the two kings. All this he transacted with a fraudulent intention, corrupting, or to corrupt, her, and induce her to betray her husband’s interests to her father. But his designs did not take effect: for it is here said, she shall not stand on his part, neither be for him — Ptolemy and his generals were aware of Antiochus’s artifices, and therefore stood upon their guard; and Cleopatra herself affected more the cause of her husband than of her father, insomuch that, as Livy relates, (lib. xxxvii, cap. 3,)”
From Benson Commentary on Daniel 11:17 on Bible Hub
Website:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/daniel/11-17.htm
[14]
HistoryHit “How the Romans Defeated the Seleucid Empire at Magnesia” by Tristan Hughes on 21 Apr 2023
Website:
https://www.historyhit.com/how-the-romans-defeated-the-seleucid-empire-at-magnesia/
[15]
[A]
Brittanica “Seleucus IV Philopator” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia on Jul 20, 1998
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seleucus-IV-Philopator
[B]
“The Seleucid Empire of the era suffered under the harsh indemnities imposed by the Treaty of Apamea: the Seleucids had to pay the Roman Republic a substantial amount of tribute each year to remain in compliance. This likely resulted in higher taxes and a general search for money by the government which could be used to pay the Romans off.”
from Wikipedia “Heliodorus (minister)”
Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliodorus_(minister)
[C]
2 Maccabees 3:7-23
“…Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of the money whereof he was told [was in the temple], the king chose out Heliodorus his treasurer, and sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money. So forthwith Heliodorus took his journey…And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously received of the high priest of the city, he told him what intelligence was given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if these things were so indeed. Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up…But Heliodorus, because of the king’s commandment given him, said, ‘That in any wise it must be brought into the king’s treasury.’…Heliodorus executed that which was decreed…. [but] the Lord of spirits, and the Prince of all power, caused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the power of God, and fainted, and were sore afraid.”
From 2 Maccabees chapter 3 in The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) by The Greek word: Elpenor's Bilingual (Greek / English) Old Testament (translated into English by L.C.L. Brenton)
Webiste:
https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=22&page=3
[D]
"He did not fall in battle, nor was he cut off in a popular tumult. He was, in fact, poisoned....Heliodorus sought to raise himself to the royal dignity, and for this purpose he destroyed the king by poison."
from section 'e' of Barnes' Notes on the Bible commentary on Daniel 11:20 on Bible hub
Website: