Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 11:7
But out of a branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
7. But one of the shoots (Isa 11:1) of her roots ] Ptolemy III., Berenice’s brother.
shall stand up in his (Ptolemy II.’s) place ] or office, position. So Gen 40:13; Gen 41:13; and below, Dan 11:20-21 ; Dan 11:38.
and shall come unto the army ] shall place himself at its head, with the object, viz., of attacking Syria.
and shall enter into the stronghold of the king of the north ] Seleukeia.
and shall deal with them ] viz. as he may find fit, in no friendly manner; the pron. referring to the subjects of Seleucus: cf. Jer 18:23 ‘in the time of thine anger deal thou with them.’
and shall prevail ] or shew strength, shew himself strong.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7 9. Ptolemy III. (Euergetes I.), 247 222, and Seleucus II. (Callinicus), 246 226.
Ptolemy Euergetes I., Berenice’s brother, an enterprising and energetic king, in revenge for his sister’s murder, invaded the empire of Seleucus, seized Seleukeia (Polyb. v. 58 end), the fortified port of Antioch (Act 13:4), and overran the greater part of Seleucus’ Asiatic dominions as far as Babylon. The murder of Berenice had made Seleucus unpopular with his subjects; and had Ptolemy not been called home by an insurrection in Egypt, he would in all probability have made himself master of Seleucus’ entire empire (Justin xxvii. 1). Ptolemy returned, bringing back with him an immense quantity of spoil (cf. Mahaffy, The Empire of the Ptolemies, pp. 196 200).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But out of a branch of her roots – Compare the notes at Isa 11:1. The meaning is, that as a branch or shoot springs up from a tree that is decayed and fallen, so there would spring up some one of her family who would come to avenge her. That is, a person is indicated who would be of a common stock with her; or, in other words, if taken strictly, a brother. The phrase branch of her roots is somewhat peculiar. The words her roots must refer to her family; that from which she sprang. We speak thus of the root or stem of a family or house; and the meaning here is, not that one of her descendants, or one that should spring from her, would thus come, but a branch of the same family; a branch springing from the same root or stem. The fact in the case – a fact to which there is undoubted reference here – is, that her revenge was undertaken by Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother. As soon as he heard of the calamities that had come upon her, he hastened with a great force out of Egypt to defend and rescue her. But it was in vain. She and her son were cut off before he could arrive for her help, but, in connection with an army which had come from Asia Minor for the same purpose, he undertook to avenge her death. He made himself master not only of Syria and Cilicia, but passed over the Euphrates, and brought all under subjection to him as far as the river Tigris. Having done this, he marched back to Egypt, taking with him vast treasures. See Prideaux, Con. iii. 120, 121.
Shall one stand up – Shall one arise. See the notes at Dan 11:2. That is, there shall be one who shall appear for that purpose.
In his estate – Margin, place, or office. The word ken means, properly, stand, station, place; then base, pedestal. Compare Dan 11:20-21, Dan 11:38. See also Gen 40:13 : Within three days shall Pharaoh restore thee to thy p ace. And again, Gen 41:13, to my office. Here it means, in his place or stead. That is, he would take the place which his father would naturally occupy – the place of protector, or defender, or avenger. Ptolemy Philadelphus, her father, in fact died before she was put to death; and his death was the cause of the calamities that came upon her, for as long as he lived his power would be dreaded. But when he was dead, Ptolemy Euergetes stood up in his place as her defender and avenger.
Which shall come with an an army – As Ptolemy Euergetes did. See above. He came out of Egypt as soon as he heard of these calamities, to defend her.
And shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north – His strongholds. In fact, he overran Syria and Cilicia, and extended his ravages to the Euphrates and the Tigris. Polybius (Hist. l. 5) says that he entered into the fortified cities of Syria, and took them. In the passage before us, the singular – fortress – is put for the plural.
And shall deal against them – Shall act against them. Literally, shall do against them.
And shall prevail – Shall overcome, or subdue them. As seen above, he took possession of no small part of the kingdom of Syria. He was recalled home by a sedition in Egypt; and had it not been for this (Justin says), he would have made himself master of the whole kingdom of Seleucus.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. But out of a branch of her roots] A branch from the same root from which she sprang. This was Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother, who, to avenge his sister’s death, marched with a great army against Seleucus Callinicus, took some of his best places, indeed all Asia, from Mount Taurus to India, and returned to Egypt with an immense booty, forty thousand talents of silver, precious vessels, and images of their gods two thousand five hundred, without Callinicus daring to offer him battle. I can but touch on these historic facts, for fear of extending these notes to an immoderate length.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Of Bernice shall come Ptolemy Euergetes, who shall be king, and revenge the wrong done to his sister; for he invaded Syria, and took many strong holds, with a great part of Syria. And shall prevail, i.e. shall be conqueror, and destroy Callinicus with his mother, whose treachery was hereby repaid.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. a branch of her roots . . . inhis estatePtolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice, succeedingin the place (Margin) of Philadelphus, avenged herdeath by overrunning Syria, even to the Euphrates.
deal against themHeshall deal with the Syrians at his own pleasure. He slew Laodice.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate,…. Or, “out of a branch of her roots a shoot thereof shall stand or rise up” x; by “her roots” are meant her ancestors, particularly Ptolemy Lagus; by “a branch” from thence, Ptolemy Philadelphus her father; and by the “shoot” out of that, or its plantation, as the Vulgate Latin version, is designed her brother, Ptolemy Euergetes; who succeeded her father in the kingdom, and stood firm in it; “upon his basis” y, as some render it:
which shall come with an army; or, “to an army” z as soon as he heard of his sister’s case, he put himself at the head of an army, and marched to her relief; but coming too late, he, and the forces of the lesser Asia, which came for the same purpose, joining him, resolved to revenge the death of his sister and her son, went with his army into Syria, as next foretold:
and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north; the king of Syria, Seleucus Callinicus: Ptolemy entered into Syria itself, as Polybius a says, into the fortified cities of it, and took them, the singular being put for the plural; unless Seleucia itself is particularly designed, which Ptolemy seized, and put a garrison of Egyptians in it, which held it twenty seven years b:
and shall deal against them; besiege and take them at his pleasure; the king of Syria not being able to stand against him and defend them:
and shall prevail; over the king of Syria, and conquer great part of his dominions, as he did: he took Syria and Cilicia, and the superior parts beyond Euphrates, and almost all Asia, as Jerome relates; and had it not been for a sedition in his own kingdom, which called him home, he had made himself master of the whole kingdom of Seleucus, as Justin c says.
x “plantatio ejus”, V. L. y “Super basi sua”, Pagninus, Gejerus. z “ad exercitum”, Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Michaelis. a Hist. l. 5. b See Prideaux, Connexion, part 2. B. 2. p. 100. c Ut supra. (Justin, l. 27. c. 1.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A violent war shall then break out, in which the king of the north shall be overcome. One of the offspring of her roots shall appear. in is partitive, as Dan 11:5, and is used collectively. The figure reminds us of Isa 11:1. The suffix to refers to the king’s daughter, Dan 11:6. Her roots are her parents, and the offspring of her roots a brother of the king’s daughter, but not a descendant of his daughter, as Kranichfeld by losing sight of supposes. is the accusative of direction, for which, in Dan 11:20, Dan 11:21, Dan 11:38, stands more distinctly; the suffix refers to the king of the south, who was also the subject in , Dan 11:6. does not mean: he will go to the (to his) army (Michaelis, Berth., v. Leng., Hitz., Klief.); this would be a very heavy remark within the very characteristic, significant description here given (Kran., Hv.); nor does it mean: he attained to might (Hv.); but: he shall come to the army, i.e., against the host of the enemy, i.e., the king of the north (Kran.). , as Gen 32:9; Isa 37:33, is used of a hostile approach against a camp, a city, so as to take it, in contradistinction to the following : to penetrate into the fortress. has a collective signification, as referring to it shows. , to act against or with any one, cf. Jer 18:23 (“deal with them”), ad libidinem agere (Maurer), essentially corresponding to in Dan 11:33, Dan 11:36. , to show power, i.e., to demonstrate his superior power.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
The angel treats here of Ptolemy Euergetes, the third king of Egypt, who succeeded his father Philadelphus. He collected large forces to revenge the insult offered to his sister, and thus carried on the war with Seleucus Callinicus, who had become king after his father’s death. The angel, therefore, now touches shortly on this war, by saying, There shall stand up a shoot from the root of that queen. Very possibly he was younger than his sister Berenice. He says, He shall stand in his own degree, meaning, in the royal rank. The interpretation of those who translate, He shall stand in his father’s rank, is forced. What is it then? He shall stand in his own rank; that is, he shall arrive at his own rank by hereditary right. Although, therefore, at first all thought the death of Berenice would be unrevenged through her father being dead, here the angel announces that her brother should be like a branch, and become the avenger of this great wickedness. He shall stand, then, in his rank, meaning, he shall arrive at the royal throne, from the branch or germ of her root, namely, Berenice. He shall come with an army against Callinicus. Profane writers bear witness to this. And he shall come even to the fortification of the king of the north He entered Syria, and caused so great a terror that many fortified cities surrendered themselves to him. During this war he drew to himself many cities which seemed impregnable; whence it is not surprising to find the angel stating his arrival at the fortifications. Some translate it “ dwelling-place, ” but without reason, and thus injure the Prophet’s meaning. He shall come unto the very fortification, meaning, he shall arrive in Syria, and shall posses many fortified cities.
He next adds, And he shall work on them, meaning, he shall prosper; for this word when used without any addition, implies in Hebrew performing great exploits. He shall proceed and acquire power over the greater part of Syria, and shall prevail. By this last word he explains how superior he should be to Callinicus. For this king sent for his younger brother whose fidelity he suspected, and thought it the safest course to treat with his enemy. But young Hierax, the hawk, determined to use that expedition to his own advantage. He was not content with his own province of Asia Minor, but he anticipated being his father’s sole heir, especially as he had hired some troops from Gaul, who had invaded Asia Minor, Bithynia, and other provinces. He was greatly puffed up, and betrayed his own covetousness. Seleucus Callinicus preferred making peace with his enemy to fostering his brother’s resources. At length Hierax more and more developed the perversity of his mind. For he openly declared war against his brother, to whose assistance he pretended to have come, after having been sent for according to agreement. His brother Seleucus had promised him a portion of Asia as far as Mount Taurus; and when he saw himself the victim of his impious and disgraceful snares, he openly waged war with his brother. But he was conquered at length, and thus received the reward of his impiety. Thus Ptolemy Euergetes prevailed, while he departed from Syria after spoiling his enemy, according to what follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) As yet there has been no account of any war between the northern and southern king, but it must not be forgotten that Ptolemy Philadelphus and Antiochus Theos were at war for ten years or more. In this and the following verses there is a description of a severe war, in which the southern king is victorious. This is explained of the war between Ptolemy Evergetes and Seleucus Callinicus, which lasted B.C. 246-243, and in which Ptolemy was successful, carrying back with him into Egypt on his return large quantities of spoil and images of gods which he had taken. The coincidence between history and prophecy is far from establishing the truth of the explanation; but the mention of Egypt in Dan. 11:8 directs our attention to a country which will hereafter become the scene of the fulfilment of the prophecy.
Out of a branch of her roots.The same words occur in Isa. 11:1. The meaning is, a branch growing from her roots shall stand up in the place of the person last mentioned. It is not easy to say which king is meant, nor is there any agreement among commentators as to what is intended by her roots. According to one view, her parents are intended, so that the branch is some one of collateral descent with herself. According to another view the words mean her family.
With an army.Literally, to the army. Theodotion and the LXX. both translate by , which Theodoret explains to be a name for Jerusalem. The person spoken of comes to attack the army, and the fortress has been supposed to be Seleucia. However, the use of the plural them in the latter part of the verse makes it more probable that the word fortress is used collectively for fortified cities.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. This branch or “shoot” out of the ancestral roots from which Berenice came is acknowledged with general unanimity to be her brother Ptolemy Euergetes, who, having succeeded his father in his estate (or, place, as in Dan 11:20-21; Dan 11:38), advanced into Syria to avenge his sister, came “against the army” (R.V., margin) of the king of the north (Seleucus II), captured his capital and chief fortress, slew Laodice, and in general dealt (literally, did) with them as he wished.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But out of a shoot from her roots one will stand up in his place, who will come to the army and will enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and will deal with them and will prevail.’
But those who perpetrated these evil deeds were themselves dealt with, for Berenice’s brother Ptolemy III, Euergetes, ‘a shoot from the ancestry of Berenice’, came against their army, seized their main fortress, and totally subjugated them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 11:7-9. But out of a branch, &c. Rather, as in the Vulgate, Out of the branch of her root, shall stand up a plant; and he shall come, &c. This branch which sprung out of the same root with Berenice was Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother, who no sooner succeeded his father, than he came with a great army, and entered into the provinces of the king of the north; that is, of Seleucus Callinicus, who, with his mother Laodice, reigned in Syria; and he acted against them, and prevailed so far as to take Syria, Cilicia, the upper parts beyond the Euphrates, and almost all Asia. And when he had heard that a sedition was raised in Egypt, he plundered the kingdom of Seleucus, and took forty thousand talents of silver and precious vessels, and images of the gods two thousand and five hundred; and, had he not been recalled by a domestic sedition, would have subdued the whole kingdom of Syria. Thus the king of the south came into the kingdom of the north, and then returned, &c. He likewise continued more years than the king of the north; for Seleucus died in exile, by a fall from his horse, and Ptolemy survived him about four or five years. See Newton.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 11:7 But out of a branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
Ver. 7. But out of the branch of her roots. ] One of her stock; her own brother both by father and mother.
Shall one stand up in his estate.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a branch of her roots. Her brother Ptolemy III (Euergetes), “roots” referring to their father Ptolemy II (Philadelphus).
in his estate = in his stead. Hebrew. kanno. See note on Dan 9:27 (“for the overspreading”): i.e. in the stead of Philadelphus, who avenged the murder of Berenice and her son by Laodice. Euergetes had been restored. This is the second king of the south.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 11:7
Dan 11:7 But out of a branchH4480 H5342 of her rootsH8328 shall one stand upH5975 in his estate,H3653 which shall comeH935 withH413 an army,H2428 and shall enterH935 into the fortressH4581 of the kingH4428 of the north,H6828 and shall dealH6213 against them, and shall prevail:H2388
Dan 11:7
But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
Berenice was the daughter of Ptolemy II. Ptolemy II was succeeded by his son Ptolemy III, brother of Berenice, which made them branches from the same root. Ptolemy III was furious over the assassination of his sister and his nephew and he set out to avenge them. Syria and Babylon were plundered and territory was gained by Egypt of which a portion was held for about thirty years.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
branch of her roots
Ptolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice, who invaded Syria as described in Dan 11:7-9.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
out of: Job 14:7, Isa 9:14, Isa 11:1, Jer 12:2, Mal 4:1
one stand: Ptolemy Euergetes, who, to avenge his sister’s death, marched with a great army against Callinicus, took all Asia from mount Taurus to India, and returned to Egypt with an immense booty. Dan 11:20, Psa 49:10-13, Psa 109:8, Luk 12:20
in his estate: or, in his place, or office, Dan 11:20
and shall prevail: Psa 55:23, Eze 17:18
Reciprocal: Dan 11:6 – king Dan 11:10 – to his Dan 11:13 – the king Dan 11:21 – estate Zec 9:8 – because of him that passeth by
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 11:7. The preceding paragraph informs us that the ones involved in the affair of Berenice were disappointed and that she was slain. But her death did not end the matter, for at the time she was being held there were certain forces at work to avenge her misfortune. I shall quote from history again as follows: “While Berenice [daughter of Philadelphus and former wife of Antiochus Theos] continued shut up and besieged in Daphne, the cities of Lesser Asia [or Asia Minor], hearing of her distress, commiserated [sympathized] her case, and immediately, by a joint association, sent an army toward Antioch for her relief; and Ptolemy Euergetes, her brother, hastened thither with a greater force out of Egypt for the same purpose. But both Berenice and her son were cut off before either of them could arrive for their help; whereupon both armies turning their desire of saving the queen and her son into a rage for the revenging of their death, the Asian forces joined the Egyptians for the effecting of it, and Ptolemy, at the head of both, carried all before him; for he not only slew Laodice, but also made himself master of oil Syria and Cilicia, and then passing the Euphrates, brought all under him as far as Babylon, and the River Tigris, and would have subjugated to him all the other provinces of the Syrian Empire, but that a sedition arising in Egypt during his absence called him back to suppress it.-Prideaux’s Connexion, year 246.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 11:7-8. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up One of the same stock, or original, with Berenice, namely, her brother, Ptolemy Euergetes, shall succeed his father in the government of Egypt, and shall revenge his sisters quarrel, by invading the territories of Seleucus Callinicus, then reigning in Syria with his mother Laodice; and shall deal, or act, against them, and shall prevail According to Justin and other authors, he prevailed so far, that he made himself master of Syria and Cilicia, and the upper parts beyond Euphrates, and almost all Asia. And shall carry captive, &c. Jerome relates, out of authors extant in his time, that Ptolemy carried back with him into Egypt vast plunder from all the conquered provinces, upon the whole not less than forty thousand talents of silver, with precious vessels, and two thousand five hundred
images of the gods: among which were also those which Cambyses, after he had taken Egypt, had carried into Persia. And for thus restoring their gods, after many years, the Egyptians complimented him with the title of Euergetes, or benefactor. Polybius, lib. v, observes, that he took the city Seleucia, which was kept for some years after by the garrisons of the kings of Egypt; and Justin gives us to understand, that all the fortified cities that had revolted surrendered to him. Archbishop Usher observes, from Josephus against Appian, that after Ptolemy had gained all Syria he came to Jerusalem, and there offered many eucharistic sacrifices to God, and dedicated some presents suitable to his victory. And from hence we may collect a sufficient reason why he obtains a part in the angels narrative, as it may in general be observed, that the history of the Jews is interwoven throughout the whole of it. Wintle. And he shall continue more years than the king of the north He outlived Seleucus four or five years, the latter dying in exile of a fall from his horse.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 11:7. out of a shoot: Ptolemy III, Berenices brother.come with an army: Ptolemy III, in order to avenge his sister, invaded Syria, seized Seleucia the fortified port of Antioch, and overran the country. He was obliged, however, to return to Egypt, before his conquest was complete, in order to quell a rebellion, but he took back immense spoil and booty.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
11:7 But out of a branch of her {s} roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, {t} which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
(s) Meaning that Ptolemais Evergetes after the death of his father Philadelphus would succeed in the kingdom, being of the same stock that Bernice was.
(t) To revenge the sister’s death against Antiochus Calinicus King of Syria.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Berenice’s brother, Ptolemy III (246-222 B.C.), whose other name, "Euergetes," means "Benefactor," succeeded his father and determined to avenge Berenice’s death. He attacked Seleucus II at Antioch in Syria and killed Laodice. He also conquered much adjacent territory and remained the foremost power in the region for the rest of his reign.