What is the meaning of Daniel 11:10? But his sons will stir up strife • After the death of the “king of the North” mentioned in verse 9 (Seleucus II), his two sons—Seleucus III and Antiochus III—refuse to accept earlier defeats by the Ptolemies and ignite new hostilities. • The prophecy pinpoints not merely “successors” but “sons,” highlighting God’s precise foreknowledge (cf. Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 2:45). • Scripture often shows how unresolved conflicts pass to the next generation (Judges 2:10–12), and here the hostility is rekindled through family ambition. and assemble a great army • Historical records place Antiochus III’s force at tens of thousands, including cavalry and war-elephants—exactly what the text forecasts (cf. Daniel 11:13, “a larger army”). • Scripture consistently links massive forces with human confidence in numbers (Psalm 20:7; 2 Chronicles 32:7–8) yet reminds us that ultimate victory belongs to the Lord. • The verse underscores that earthly power can surge quickly, fulfilling God’s timetable without hindrance. which will advance forcefully • Antiochus III drove south through Lebanon and coastal Syria, recapturing territory lost by his father. The phrase points to an aggressive, relentless push (cf. Micah 2:13, “breaks open the way”). • God’s Word assures believers that even fierce advances remain under divine oversight (Proverbs 21:30). sweeping through like a flood • The imagery of flood portrays an unstoppable surge (cf. Isaiah 8:7–8; Jeremiah 46:7–8). Armies “overflow” borders just as waters breach riverbanks. • Such language also appears earlier in the chapter (Daniel 11:22), forming a thematic link that stresses repeated cycles of invasion. and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress • “Again” points to renewed campaigns. Antiochus III pressed all the way to the Egyptian fortress at Raphia near Gaza, the frontier of Ptolemaic power. • Fortress imagery recalls earlier northern strongholds (Daniel 11:7) and God’s ultimate fortress for His people (Psalm 18:2). • Though Antiochus initially succeeds, later verses show the ebb-and-flow of conquests, demonstrating that no earthly stronghold is impregnable when God decrees change (Daniel 11:19). summary Daniel 11:10 forecasts, in striking detail, the determination of Seleucus II’s sons to reignite war, the mustering of a massive army, its forceful advance, the overwhelming nature of that advance, and its reach to the enemy’s fortress. History confirms each step, showcasing Scripture’s perfect accuracy. The verse reminds believers that while kingdoms clash and floods of warfare sweep the earth, God’s sovereign plan unfolds exactly as He declared, inviting us to trust Him above every human scheme. |
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