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[Daniel Ch.11: Pre-Written History of Kings]

VII. A Scheming Uncle (11:21-28)  

DAN 11:21  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person

     Seleucus Philopator left three aspirants to the Seleucid throne: (a) Demetrius, the legitimate heir but a hostage in Rome; (b) Seleucus' baby in Syria; and (c) Antiochus Epiphanes, the late king's brother. The third aspirant finally got the throne by usurpation.  

DAN 11:22  And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown

     Antiochus IV "Epiphanes" was in Athens on his way home after fourteen years as friendly hostage in Rome, when the news of his brother's death reached him. He rushed to Antioch, ousted Heliodorus and Seleucus Ceraunus the young puppet-king, and got the throne.  

DAN 11:23  He shall work deceitfully

     When Cleopatria I's sons, Ptolemy VI "Philometor" and Ptolemy VII "Physcon" brashly and immaturely demanded from their Seleucid uncle Antiochus Epiphanes the lands of Coele-Syria and Palestine as their mother's promised dowry, the aroused uncle went to war.

     Antiochus defeated the Egyptians between the Casian mountains and Pelusium, took Pelusium, captured Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt, crowned himself king at Memphis, and befriended Philometor against Physcom. But when Antiochus besieged Alexandria--where Physcom had been crowned king by the Alexandrians--the siege was unsuccessful.  

DAN 11:24  He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places

     This prediction probably points to the campaigns of Antiochus Epiphanes in lower Egypt.  

DAN 11:25  Against the king of the south

     Refers to either the First (173) or the Second (170?) Egyptian Expeditions of Antiochus.

DAN 11:27  And both these kings

     Can refer to Antiochus Epiphanes and P tolemy Philometor against Ptolemy Physcom.

DAN 11:28  Then shall he return

     The news of a revolt in Cilicia, plus rumors circulating among the riffraff of Jerusalem that he had died, sent Antiochus Epiphanes rushing back through Palestine, amidst great carnage and plunder of the Jerusalem temple.

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