What is the meaning of Daniel 11:5? The king of the South • In Daniel’s outline of post-Alexander history, “the South” points to Egypt. After Alexander died, Ptolemy I Soter secured Egypt and made Alexandria his capital. • Daniel’s earlier note that “his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven” (Daniel 11:4) sets the stage for these regional titles—South for Egypt, North for Syria. • God’s Word consistently shows Him guiding the rise of rulers (Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 21:1), so the focus is not mere politics but divine sovereignty. will grow strong • Ptolemy I fortified his hold on Egypt, expanded into Cyrene and Cyprus, and built a powerful navy—fulfilling the prophecy that he would “grow strong.” • Daniel 11:8-9 anticipates his later campaigns: “He will take their gods…and for some years he will stay away from the king of the North”. • The pattern echoes Daniel 8:22, where the four successor kingdoms “will emerge, but not with his power,” highlighting how each ruler’s might remains limited by God’s larger plan. but one of his commanders • Among Alexander’s generals serving under Ptolemy was Seleucus I Nicator. Originally a satrap of Babylon, Seleucus fled to Egypt when Antigonus threatened him, effectively becoming “one of his commanders.” • The text thus hints at an unexpected twist: a subordinate will outshine his superior—God’s reminder that human hierarchy is never final (Psalm 75:6-7). • This sets the stage for the long-running North-South rivalry traced through the rest of Daniel 11. will grow even stronger • With Ptolemy’s support, Seleucus reclaimed Babylon in 312 BC, launching what historians call the Seleucid Era. • His territory soon stretched from Syria to the borders of India, dwarfing the land controlled by Egypt. Daniel 8:9 foreshadows this surge: “Out of one of them came a small horn, which grew very great toward the south, the east, and the Beautiful Land”. • The Scripture underscores that God can elevate whomever He chooses, even from lowly beginnings (1 Samuel 2:7-8). and will rule his own kingdom with great authority • Unlike a vassal, Seleucus reigned independently, founding a dynasty that lasted two centuries. • The phrase “great authority” anticipates the administrative skill and military clout that allowed him to found cities such as Antioch and Seleucia. • Daniel 11:13 later observes, “The king of the North will raise a greater army,” confirming the enduring strength of Seleucid power. • Yet God’s Word keeps the spotlight on the Lord who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). summary Daniel 11:5 precisely foretells the early power struggle between the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt and the Seleucid kings of Syria. Ptolemy I (“the king of the South”) grows strong, but his former commander, Seleucus I, grows stronger still, establishing a vast, authoritative realm. The prophecy, fulfilled in verifiable history, reassures believers that every shift in human power remains under God’s unerring control and serves His unfolding redemptive purposes. |
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