Summary of Daniel 11:2-20
Daniel’s vision continues. He sees three more kings rise up and fall and then a 4th king who will rise up and fall, but his kingdom will be broken up four ways.
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. They will become allies.
A king from the south will arise. He will attack the forces of the king of the North. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat.
Then the king of the South will march out and fight against the king of the North.
Many will rise against the king of the South. Then the king of the North will come and will make an alliance with the king of the South. Then the king of the North will be destroyed.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 3: Daniel 11:2-20
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 3: Daniel 11:2-20
Not exactly an easy passage to understand but one that shows that all earthly kingdoms come and go.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 8, Day 3: Daniel 11:2-20
This is one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible, and one of the most accurate to prove right.
The fourth king was the Persian king Xerxes. We talk about these empires (and they are in the Bible) because they were the enemies of Israel and frequently attacked them and tried to destroy them. But, we all know no one can stand against God.
We know that Alexander the Great died young with no heirs, so his empire was divided four ways amongst his most powerful generals. Alexander the Great spared Jerusalem on his travels because of the prophecy of Daniel and a vision he had of the high priest. Only 2 of these kingdoms are talked about in the rest of the prophecy because they were the ones who constantly attacked Israel.
The Seleucids are identified with the Kings of the North, and the Ptolemies were the Kings of the South. Remember, the Ptolemies ruled Egypt from which Cleopatra was a descendant. The fighting between the two kingdoms lasted 130 years, and the stronger one always held Israel.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 11:2-20 is a remarkably precise and detailed prophecy that outlines the course of history from the Persian Empire through the rise of Alexander the Great and the subsequent, centuries-long conflict between his two most powerful successor dynasties.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- From Persia to Greece: The prophecy begins by foretelling the rise of a mighty Greek king (Alexander the Great) who will conquer the Persian Empire. It accurately predicts that at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken and divided into four parts, not among his own descendants.
- The King of the South vs. The King of the North: The vision then focuses intensely on the ongoing wars between two of these successor kingdoms: the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt (“the King of the South”) and the Seleucid dynasty in Syria (“the King of the North”).
- A Detailed History in Advance: The passage details their specific battles, failed marriage alliances, betrayals, and shifting fortunes with such accuracy that it reads like a historical record. This demonstrates God’s complete foreknowledge and sovereignty over the intricate plans of human kings.
- Israel Caught in the Middle: The focus remains on these two powers because the “Beautiful Land” (Israel) was located directly between them. God’s people suffered greatly as this superpower rivalry played out across their land for generations, setting the stage for the evil king who is introduced next.
In conclusion, this passage serves as a powerful testament to God’s omniscience and control over the flow of history. It reveals that the complex political and military struggles of human empires are not random but are foreknown by God and serve His ultimate purpose—in this case, setting the historical stage for the rise of the great antagonist who will directly attack His people.
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