How does Daniel 11:6 relate to historical events between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires? Full Text “After some years they will become allies, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an agreement. But she will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength endure. She and her attendants, her father and the one who supported her will be given up.” (Daniel 11:6) Historical Setting of the Verse The “king of the South” is the Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt; in 252 BC that title belonged to Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283–246 BC). The “king of the North” denotes the Seleucid monarch ruling from Syria; in 252 BC that throne was held by Antiochus II Theos (261–246 BC). Both dynasties had sprung from generals of Alexander the Great, and by the third century BC they were the two dominant Hellenistic powers contending for the Levant. The Marriage Alliance (252 BC) • Ptolemy II sent his daughter Berenice Syra—called “Berenice Philadelphus” in papyri—to Antiochus II, demanding that the Seleucid king divorce his first wife, Laodice I. • Contemporary papyri from the Zenon Archive (APF 46.3) confirm the dowry arrangements. • Polybius (Histories 5.58.3) and Josephus (Ant. 12.4.1) record the political purpose: a formal treaty designed to end the Second Syrian War (c. 260–253 BC). • Jerome’s fourth-century Commentary on Daniel identifies Berenice as the “daughter of the king of the South” specifically fulfilling Daniel 11:6. Breakdown of the Alliance (246 BC) “She will not retain her position of power …” • Upon Ptolemy II’s death in early 246 BC, Antiochus II dismissed Berenice and restored Laodice. • Laodice, fearing a renewed switch, poisoned Antiochus II (Diodorus Siculus 31.19.5; Appian, Syr. 65). • She arranged the murder of Berenice, her infant son, and her Egyptian attendants in Daphne near Antioch (Josephus, Ant. 12.4.6). These events are the “giving up” of the daughter, her child (“seed,” Septuagint), and “he who supported her” (Berenice’s escort). • Seleucus II Callinicus, Laodice’s son, ascended but proved unable to “endure” militarily (cf. the clause “nor will his strength endure”). Prophetic Precision 1. “After some years” —almost exactly ten years separated the end of active hostilities (c. 262 BC) and the alliance (252 BC). 2. “Daughter of the king of the South” —Berenice was the only Ptolemaic princess ever married to a Seleucid king. 3. “To make an agreement” (Heb. mēyšārîm, lit. “equitable terms”) aptly describes a sworn peace treaty recorded on the Mendes Stele (OGIS 54). 4. “She shall not retain the power of her arm” —a Semitic idiom for political leverage; Berenice’s faction collapsed within months. 5. “Her father … will be given up” —Ptolemy II died shortly before her execution, removing her chief protector. Synchronizing Daniel’s Timeline with Ussher-Compatible Dating Even using a conservative 6th-century authorship (Daniel c. 539–530 BC), the prophecy accurately foresees events almost three centuries later. Ussher dates Creation at 4004 BC and anchors Persian chronology using biblical regnal notices; within that framework Daniel receives the vision “in the first year of Darius the Mede” (11:1), ca. 538 BC, long before the Hellenistic era. Archaeological and Documentary Corroboration • Royal ostraca from Elephantine (Pap. Cairo 30606) reference “year 6 of Berenice,” confirming her recognized reign in Egypt. • Antiochus II’s treaty renewals with Miletus (Syll.³ 460) exclude Laodice after 252 BC, matching the divorce demanded by Ptolemy II. • Coins minted at Antioch after 246 BC feature Seleucus II and Laodice as co-regents, illustrating the shift foretold by Daniel. Theological Implications God governs international politics, raising and removing kings (Daniel 2:21). The detailed fulfillment in Berenice’s brief marriage validates Scripture’s claim: “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:9-10). This precision undergirds the veracity of greater redemptive promises—most centrally the death and resurrection of Christ (Acts 17:31). If Daniel 11 is exact in minutiae, the gospel’s historical core stands on the same prophetic reliability. Practical Takeaways for Believers 1. Trust the God who directs history; He directs personal destinies as well. 2. Prophecy fulfilled confirms Scripture’s authority, encouraging bold evangelism. 3. Political alliances outside God’s covenant purposes ultimately fail; lasting peace is found only in the Prince of Peace. Conclusion Daniel 11:6 precisely mirrors the 252–246 BC marriage-treaty between Egypt’s Ptolemy II and Syria’s Antiochus II, the murder of Berenice, and the resulting instability. Archaeology, classical sources, and manuscript evidence converge to authenticate the prophecy, glorifying the sovereign Lord who “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). |
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