What is the meaning of Daniel 11:12? When the army is carried off • Daniel is foretelling a moment when the forces of the king of the North (Antiochus III) are seized and removed after their defeat at Raphia (cf. Daniel 11:11). • Though the battle is real history, the Scripture also reminds us of God’s unseen hand directing nations (see Isaiah 46:9-11; Proverbs 21:1). Nothing happens outside His sovereign plan. • By recording this event centuries in advance, God confirms the absolute reliability of His Word (cf. Isaiah 42:9). the king of the South will be filled with pride • Ptolemy IV, the Egyptian ruler, tasted an overwhelming victory and let success swell his heart. Pride always follows when triumph is credited to self instead of the Lord (Proverbs 16:18; 2 Chronicles 26:16). • Even a pagan king’s pride illustrates a universal danger: victories, promotions, or blessings can tempt anyone to self-exaltation if God is forgotten (Deuteronomy 8:11-14; James 4:6). • The narrative underscores that human pride never catches God off guard; He foretold it here to show His knowledge of every motive (1 Samuel 16:7). and will slaughter many thousands • Historical accounts note that Ptolemy’s counter-attack cost the Seleucid side roughly ten to twelve thousand lives. The text uses broad language—“slaughter many thousands”—to stress the scale of bloodshed. • Scripture elsewhere calls attention to mass casualties as sober reminders of sin’s ruin and the futility of man’s wars (Psalm 46:9; Matthew 26:52). • God is never the author of evil, yet He records these tragedies to warn, humble, and steer hearts toward His peace (Isaiah 2:4). yet he will not remain triumphant • Despite the resounding victory, Ptolemy gained no lasting strength. Within a few years his moral decay, heavy taxation, and internal unrest wiped out the advantage (cf. Daniel 11:13). • The verse confirms Psalm 75:6-7—promotion and downfall come from the Lord alone. Earthly success detached from Him is fleeting (Jeremiah 9:23-24). • This pattern anticipates the ultimate kingdom of Christ, the only reign that truly endures (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 11:15). summary Daniel 11:12 records a literal event in which Egypt’s king wins a short-lived victory, grows arrogant, slays multitudes, yet gains no lasting power. The verse demonstrates God’s precise foreknowledge, exposes the emptiness of pride, and reinforces that genuine triumph belongs solely to the Lord who directs history toward His everlasting kingdom. |
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