Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 11:25
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
25. courage ] lit. heart: cf. Jos 2:11; Amo 2:16; Psa 76:5.
the king of the south ] Ptolemy Philometor.
shall be stirred up ] shall stir himself up ( Dan 11:10).
a great army a very great and mighty army ] We have no independent evidence as to the relative size of the armies of Antiochus and Philometor. There is however no reason to suppose that the author would not represent correctly what had taken place only two or three years before he wrote.
but he shall not stand, for they shall devise devices against him ] In spite of his superior army, Philometor could not maintain the contest, owing to the treachery of his adherents. We cannot say more particularly what is referred to: it is possible that the fortress of Pelusium, and Philometor himself, both fell into Antiochus’ hands by treachery.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
25 28. Antiochus’ first Egyptian expedition (b.c. 170).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army – This must refer to a subsequent invasion of Egypt by Antiochus. In the course of his reign he four times invaded that conntry with various degrees of success. In the first, he took Pelusium, and having placed a garrison there, retired into winter-quarters to Tyre. In the second, above referred to, he took Memphis and laid siege to Alexandria. The third invasion here referred to was after he had taken Jerusalem, and was caused by the fact that, as Ptolemy Philometor for was in the hands of Antiochus, the Egyptians had raised Ptolemy Physcon (the Gross) to the throne. This prince assumed the name of Euergetes II. The pretended object of Antiochus in this invasion (168 b.c.) was to support the claims of Ptolemy Philometor against the usurpation of his brother, but his real purpose was to subject the whole country to his own power. He defeated the Alexandrians by sea near Pelusium, and then drew up his land forces before the city of Alexandria. Ptolemy Physcon sent an embassy to Rome to solicit the protection of the Senate, and at the same time entered into negotiations of peace with Antiochus. The proposals were rejected; but when Antiochus perceived that the conquest of Alexandria would be difficult, he retired to Memphis, and pre tended to deliver up the kingdom to Ptolemy Philometor, and having left a strong garrison at Pelusium, he returned to Antioch. This invasion is thus de scribed by the author of the book of Maccabees (1 Macc. 1:17); Wherefore he entered Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy. – Porphyry, as quoted by Scaliger; Polybius, Legat, Sections 81, 82, 84; Livy, xliv. 19; xlv. 11; Justin, xxxiv. 2; Prideaux, Con. iii. 232-235.
And the king of the south – Ptolemy Physcon, king of Egypt.
Shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army – To oppose Antiochus.
But he shall not stand – He shall not be able to resist him. His navy was defeated; Antiochus still held possession of Memphis, and laid siege to Alexandria.
For they shall forecast devices against him – Hebrew, shall think thoughts (see the notes at Dan 11:24); that is, they shall form plans against him to defeat him. The reference here is to the invading forces, that they would form sagacious plans for the overthrow of the king of Egypt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. He shall stir up his power] Antiochus marched against Ptolemy, the king of the south, (Egypt,) with a great army; and the Egyptian generals had raised a mighty force.
Stirred up to battle] The two armies met between Pelusium and Mount Casius; but he (the king of the south) could not stand-the Egyptian army was defeated. The next campaign he had greater success; he routed the Egyptian army, took Memphis, and made himself master of all Egypt, except Alexandria, see 1Macc 1:16-19. And all these advantages he gained by forecasting devices; probably by corrupting his ministers and captains. Ptolemy Macron gave up Cyprus to Antiochus; and the Alexandrians were led to renounce their allegiance to Potlemy Philometer, and took Euergetes, or Physcon his younger brother, and made him king in his stead. All this was doubtless by the corruptions of Antiochus. See below.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Antiochus Epiphanes, being imboldened by his former successes, shall wage war against Ptolemy king of Egypt, with all his might, and with open force.
And the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle; being exasperated against Antiochus.
But he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him: he might have prospered, if he had not been betrayed by Eulaius, Leneeus, and the rest of his nobles, being corrupted by Antiochus.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. A fuller detail of what wassummarily stated (Da11:22-24). This is the first of Antiochus’ three (Da11:29) open invasions of Egypt.
against the king of thesouthagainst Ptolemy Philometer. Subsequently, Ptolemy Physcon(the Gross), or Euergetes II, was made king by the Egyptians, asPtolemy Philometer was in Antiochus’ hands.
great armyasdistinguished from the “small people” (Da11:23) with which he first came. This was his first openexpedition; he was emboldened by success to it. Antiochus “enteredEgypt with an overwhelming multitude, with chariots, elephants, andcavalry” (1 Maccabees 1:17).
stirred upby thenecessity, though naturally indolent.
not standPhilometerwas defeated.
they shall forecast,&c.His own nobles shall frame treacherous “devices”against him (see Da 11:26).Euloeligus and Lenoeligus maladministered his affairs. Antiochus,when checked at last at Alexandria, left Ptolemy Philometer atMemphis as king, pretending that his whole object was to supportPhilometer’s claims against the usurper Physcon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army,…. That is, Antiochus shall arouse himself, and exert his courage, and gather a large and powerful army, and set out with them to fight with Ptolemy Philometor, king of Egypt; this is his second expedition into Egypt, as is observed in the Apocrypha:
“About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt:” (2 Maccabees 5:1)
before he went into Egypt more privately, with a few men, under a pretence of friendship; but now more openly as an enemy, with a large army; so it is said in the Apocrypha:
“17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy, 18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.” (1 Maccabees 1)
and he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and with elephants, and with horses, and with a great fleet; which account exactly agrees with this prophecy, and serves to illustrate it:
and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; this is Ptolemy Philometor, king of Egypt, who, hearing of the preparations of Antiochus, and of his design to enter his kingdom, gathered a large army together to give him battle:
but he shall not stand; the king of Egypt could not stand against Antiochus; the two armies met between Mount Casius and Pelusium, where they came, to a battle, and Antiochus got the victory: upon his second victory over the forces of Ptolemy, he took Pelusium, and led his army into the very heart of the kingdom, and had it in his power to have cut off all the Egyptians, to a man; he made himself master of Memphis, and all the rest of Egypt, except Alexandria, which held out against him w:
for they shall forecast devices against him; Antiochus, and those that assisted him with their counsels, formed schemes against Ptolemy, which succeeded: the loss of the battle was not owing to want of the necessary preparations for it; or to an insufficient number of men; or to a defect of military skill and courage; but to the treachery of his own courtiers and commanders, particularly Eulaeus and Lennaeeus to whom the blame was laid, and to the desertion of Ptolemy Macron; which is more clearly expressed in the following verse.
w See the Universal History, vol. 9. p. 280, 281.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
These verses describe the victorious war of the king who had come to power against the king of the south, the war of Antiochus Epiphanes against king Ptolemy Philometor, which is described in 1 Macc. 1:16-19, with manifest reference to this prophecy. ( he shall stir up) is potentialis in the sense of divine decree: “he shall stir up his power and his heart.” is not warlike power, which is mentioned in (Dan 11:25), but the power which consists in the bringing of a great army under his command; , the mental energy for the carrying out of his plans. For , cf. Dan 8:4. The subject is the last-named king of the south, who, notwithstanding his very great and powerful army, shall not stand in battle, but shall give way, because devices are contrived against him. The subject to is not the enemy, the king of the north, with his army, but, according to Dan 11:26, his table-companions.
Dan 11:26 Here it is more definitely stated why he cannot stand. , who eat his food ( , see under Dan 1:5), i.e., his table-companions (cf. Psa 41:10[9]), persons about him. , shall break him, i.e., cast him to the ground. His army shall therefore overflow, but shall execute nothing, only many shall fall down slain. The first member of the verse points to treachery, whereby the battle was lost and the war was fruitless. Hitzig incorrectly interprets rushes away, i.e., is disorganized and takes to flight. But cannot have this meaning.
Dan 11:27 Here then is described how the two kings seek through feigned friendship to destroy one another. The two kings are of course the two kings of the north and the south previously named. Of a third, namely, of two kings of Egypt, Philometor and Physkon, Daniel knows nothing. The third, Physkon, is introduced from history; and hence Hitzig, v. Lengerke, and others understand by the “ two kings,” the two kings Antiochus and Philometor confederated against the king of the south, but Kliefoth, on the contrary, thinks of Antiochus and Physkon, the latter of whom he regards as the king of the south, Dan 11:25. All this is arbitrary. Jerome has already rejected the historical evidence for this, and remarks: verum ex eo, quia scriptura nunc dicit: duos fuisse reges, quorum cor fuerit fraudulentum … hoc secundum historiam demonstrari non potest . Hitzig translates: “their heart belongs to wickedness,” contrary to the context. denotes also here only the direction: “their heart goes toward wicked deeds,” is directed thereto. (from ), formed after (cf. Ewald, 160 a), the evil-doing, consists in this, that the one seeks to overthrow and destroy the other under the cloak of feigned friendship; for they eat as friends at one table, and “speak lies” – the one tells lies to the other, professing friendship. But their design shall not succeed. All interpretations of these words which are determined by historical facta are arbitrary. The history of Antiochus Epiphanes furnishes no illustrations for this. In the sense of the prophecy has only this meaning: the design of the king of the north to destroy the king of the south, and to make himself master both of the north and the south, shall not succeed, and the king of the south will not fulfil what he promises to his deceitful adversary. For yet the end shall be at the time appointed. These words state the reason why the shall not succeed. Hitzig incorrectly translates: “but the end holds onwards to the appointed time;” for cannot in this connection be rendered by but, and cannot express the idea of holding to anything. denotes here, as generally, the direction toward the end, as Dan 11:35, and Dan 8:17, Dan 8:19. The end goes yet on to the time appointed by God. That this ( appointment of time) does not lie in the present, but in the future, is denoted by , although we do not, with Hvernick, interpret by “for the end lies yet further out,” nor, with v. Lengerke and Maurer, may we supply the verb “withdraws itself, is reserved.” stands before because on it the emphasis lies. is, however, not the end of the war between Antiochus and Egypt (v. Leng., Maur., Hitzig), but cannot be otherwise taken than , Dan 11:35, Dan 11:40, and Dan 12:4. But in the latter passage is the time of the resurrection of the dead, thus the end of the present course of the world, with which all the oppression of the people of God ceases. Accordingly in the verse before us, as in Dan 11:35, Dan 11:40, is the time in which the conduct of the kings previously described, in their rising up and in their hostility against the people of God, reaches its end (Dan 11:45); and with the overthrow of these enemies the period of oppression also comes to an end. This end comes only , at the time which God has determined for the purifying of His people (Dan 11:35). So long may the kings of the north and the south prosecute their aims; so long shall they strive for the possession of the kingdom without succeeding in their plans. has here and in Dan 11:35 the definite article, because in both verses the language refers not to any definite time, but to the time determined by God for the consummation of His kingdom. The placing of the article in this word in the verse before us is not, with Kliefoth, to be explained from a reference to Dan 8:17, Dan 8:19. The two revelations are separated from each other by too long a space of time for this one to refer back to that earlier one by the mere use of the article, although both treat of the same subject. The occurs besides in Dan 11:29, where it is natural to suppose that it has the same meaning as here; but the contents of the verse oppose such a conclusion. Dan 11:29 treats, it is true, of a renewed warlike expedition against the south, which, however, brings neither the final deciding of the war with the south (cf. Dan 11:40), nor yet the end of the oppression of the people of God; is thus only the time determined for the second aggression against the south, not the time of the end.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
The angel here announces how Antiochus Epiphanes after prevailing by fraud, should become bolder in his daring. he should venture to levy a hostile army and invade Egypt openly, without any further dissimulation. He therefore says, at length he shall rouse his strength and his courage He had previously crept along through hiding-places and fastnesses, and had not roused either his strength or his courage when remaining quiet at home; meanwhile he obtained the possession of various towns by treachery and other artifices. This was only creeping on by burrowing underground. But he now openly declares war, and brings his forces into the field of battle, and thus stirs up his strength and his courage As I have already said, his new method of warfare is here described as unusual with him, as his audacity, doubtless, gradually increased through that series of success which he had enjoyed, and by which he had become more powerful than his nephew, through the practice of deceit. He afterwards adds, with a great army. He had mentioned a small band, he now places opposite to it a large army; for it required a long space of time to collect extensive pecuniary resources for carrying on the war, and also for enlarging and extending his own boundaries. He was thus able to enroll fresh levies, while his prosperity induced many to become his auxiliaries. As he found himself in every way superior to his nephew, he collected a great army. The king of the south also shall be irritated; that is, he shall not dare to harass his own uncle Antiochus, but shall be forced to open warfare. He shall come, then, with a great army, very great, strong, and powerful, says he, but he shall not stand, because they shall devise devices against him; meaning, he shall be conquered by treachery. Here the angel signifies that Ptolemy should have sufficient courage to resist, had he not been betrayed by his adherents. We shall more clearly perceive this in the next verse to-morrow.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) The south.Here, for the first time in the second portion of the prophecy, mention is made of the southern king. It is highly probable that the deceit mentioned in the last three verses had this king and his provinces for its object. This and the next two verses are supposed to describe the war of Antiochus with Ptolemy Philometor (see 1Ma. 1:16-19), or his war with Physcon, on which see Livy. xliv. 19.
His power and his couragei.e., his military skill as well as his personal energy.
But he shall not stand.Comp. Dan. 8:4. The subject is the king of the south, who finds the devices of his opponent are more than a match for him. The devices are explained in the next two verses.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25, 26. These verses probably describe the campaign of Antiochus Epiphanes (170 B.C.) against Ptolemy Philometer of Egypt, the king of the south. (See note Dan 11:5.) The young Ptolemy gathered an immense army to withstand the Syrian invasion, but owing to the treachery of his own people, who “devised devices” against him, he was defeated. Probably the chief traitors here thought of are Eulaeus and Lenaeus, two courtiers upon whom the king lavished every favor and who virtually controlled the state policy after the death of Cleopatra, the queen mother. Antiochus marched on into Egypt as its conqueror as far as Memphis, and even captured Ptolemy himself. It seems to be intimated here that those who were closest to the Egyptian sovereign and who ate the “dainties” of the royal table, were responsible for this disaster. (See above.)
His army shall overflow Rather, by a slight change in the text, read, with Dr. Terry, “his army shall be overwhelmed.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south will war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army, but he will not stand, for they will devise devices against him. Yes, those who eat of his meat portion will destroy him. And his army will be overflowed and many will fall down slain.’
Once Antiochus felt he was strong enough, he took his courage in his hands and in 170 BC marched against Egypt. He was able to get all the way to the Nile Delta before the Egyptians discovered that he was approaching. Notice how Antiochus’ deceptiveness is highlighted. By subtlety and bribery he was exercising a great deal of influence in Egypt, usually pretending to be a friend and then using people for his own advantage, and he inflicted a defeat on Ptolemy, partly as a result of the divisions he had caused. Ptolemy’s large army was routed, and many men were killed. Notice the stressed contrast in the size of armies, but what Antiochus lacked in men, he made up for by trickery and bribery. He was an arch-deceiver, like the Anti-God who would appear at the end of time.
‘Those who ate his meat portion.’ Ptolemy had been advised by bad advisers, and when they saw that Ptolemy’s position seemed hopeless these men turned to a rival king, Ptolemy’s brother, whom they crowned as Ptolemy VII. The result could only be civil war. By eating his meat portion they had professed to be faithful servants to the king of the south, so that they above all should have supported him, and yet it was they who plotted to destroy him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 11:25-26. He shall stir up, &c. Antiochus marched against Ptolemy, his sister’s son, with a great army. The king of the south too, that is to say, the generals of Ptolemy, were stirred up to war, with very many and exceeding strong forces; and yet could not resist the fraudulent counsels of Antiochus. The two armies engaged between Pelusium and mount Casius; and Antiochus obtained the victory. In the next campaign he had greater success, routed the Egyptians, took Memphis, and made himself master of all Egypt, except Alexandria. These transactions are recorded, 1Ma 1:16-19. The misfortunes of Ptolemy are by the prophet ascribed to the treachery and baseness of his own ministers and subjects, Dan 11:26.; and it is certain, that Eulaeus was a very wicked minister, and bred up the king in effeminacy, contrary to his natural inclination. Ptolemy Macron, governor of Cyprus, revolted, and delivered up that island to Antiochus; nay, even the Alexandrians, seeing the distress of Philometor, renounced their allegiance; and taking his young brother Euergetes, or Physcon, proclaimed him king in his stead. See Bishop Newton. Instead of shall overflow, Dan 11:26 we may read, shall be routed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
Ver. 25. And he shall stir up his power and his courage. ] Antiochus shall, himself being stirred up by the devil, that restless spirit, who continually maketh ado in the world. Fuit etiam Antiochus ingenio inquieto, versatili, turbido, vago et vario: unde multa machinatus est, pauca ad felicem exitum perduxit. Howbeit, in this second expedition against Egypt, he prospered.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he: i.e. the king of the south.
shall not stand = will make no stand.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 11:25
Dan 11:25 And he shall stir upH5782 his powerH3581 and his courageH3824 againstH5921 the kingH4428 of the southH5045 with a greatH1419 army;H2428 and the kingH4428 of the southH5045 shall be stirred upH1624 to battleH4421 with a veryH5704 H3966 greatH1419 and mightyH6099 army;H2428 but he shall notH3808 stand:H5975 forH3588 they shall forecastH2803 devicesH4284 againstH5921 him.
Dan 11:25
“And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.”
This is a continuation of what was seen in the vision as recorded in Dan 11:22-24. This is the first of three invasions by Antiochus IV into Egypt.
“Against the king of the south”
Against Ptolemy VI Philometor. Subsequently, Ptolemy VIII who was the brother of Prolemy VI. He was called Physcon (the Gross), or Euergetes II. He was made king by the Egyptians, as Ptolemy VI was in Antiochus’ hands.
“With a great army”
As distinguished from the “small people” with which he first came. Being emboldened by the success of his first incursion, he now launches his first full scale open invasion of Egypt. Antiochus entered Egypt with an overwhelming multitude, with chariots, war elephants, and cavalry.
“And the king of the south shall be stirred up”
Ptolemy VI was forced to react to his uncle’s invasion force in order to prevent Egypt being completely taken over by Antiochus IV in 170 BC. Ptolemy VI was about 16 years old at this time.
“But he shall not stand”
Antiochus IV defeated his young nephew, Ptolemy VI. In 168 BC, Antiochus IV was crowned as the king of Egypt but he had to later abandon his claim by orders of the Roman Senate or else risk a full scale war with Rome.
“For they shall forecast devices against him”
Ptolemy VI’s own nobles framed deceitful “devices” against him (see Dan 11:26). The invasion of Antiochus IV was stopped at Alexandria. He left Ptolemy VI at Memphis as the king and fell back to his old game of subterfuge and craft by pretending that his whole purpose all along was to support Ptolemy VI against his younger brother, Ptolemy VIII.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
south
Egypt.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
stir up: Dan 11:2, Dan 11:10, Pro 15:18, Pro 28:25
the south with: Antiochus defeated the army of Ptolemy Philometor, and in the next campaign made himself master of all Egypt, except Alexandria. While they had frequent conferences at the same table, they spoke lies to each other; and the former returned to Syria laden with riches.
Reciprocal: Pro 19:21 – many Dan 11:5 – the king Dan 11:29 – as the former Rev 17:14 – shall make
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 11:25-26. For he shall stir up his power, &c., against the king of the south By the king of the south is meant the king of Egypt, namely, Ptolemy Philometor, who demanded the surrender of Closyria to him, as by right belonging to him, through virtue of the marriage articles between Ptolemy Epiphanes and Cleopatra; but Antiochus, instead of complying with his demand, invaded Egypt with a vast force both by sea and land. And the king of the south shall be stirred up, &c. That is, the generals of Ptolemy were stirred up to war with very many and exceeding strong forces; and yet could not resist the fraudulent counsels of Antiochus. The two armies engaged between Pelusium and mount Cassius, and Antiochus obtained the victory. The next campaign he had greater success, routed the Egyptians, took Pelusium, ascended as far as Memphis, and made himself master of all Egypt except Alexandria. These transactions are recorded Maccabees Dan 1:16-19. The misfortunes of Ptolemy are, by the prophet, ascribed to the treachery and baseness of his own ministers and subjects, Dan 11:26 : and it is certain that Eulus was a very wicked minister, and bred up the young king in luxury and effeminacy, contrary to his inclination. Ptolemy Macron, too, who was governor of Cyprus, revolted from him, and delivered up that important island to Antiochus. Nay, even the Alexandrians, seeing the distress of Philometor, renounced their allegiance; and taking his younger brother Euergetes, or Physcon, proclaimed him king instead of his elder brother.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 11:25. The reference is to the first Egyptian campaign of Antiochus in 170 B.C.king of the south: Ptolemy Philometor, who was defeated by Antiochus near Pelusium.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not {b} stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
(b) He will be overcome with treason.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
After Antiochus had grown strong enough, he marched his army against Ptolemy VI in 170 B.C. This was his first campaign against Egypt. He was able to get all the way to the Nile Delta before the Egyptians discovered that he was approaching. He exercised much influence over Egypt, usually pretending to be an ally, and then using this enemy for his own advantage. Notice how the text highlights Antiochus’ deceptiveness. We can see again how he was a forerunner of the future Antichrist.