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Daniel 11:8
ESV He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.
NIV He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.
NASB And he will also take into captivity to Egypt their gods with their cast metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and he on his part will refrain from attacking the king of the North for some years.
CSB He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,
NLT When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone.
KJV And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
NKJV And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

What does Daniel 11:8 mean?

Daniel is hearing a detailed prophecy about the future of the Mediterranean nations (Daniel 10:1; 11:2). This is spoken by a celestial being (Daniel 10:18–21), probably the angel Gabriel (Daniel 8:15–16; 9:21–22; 10:18–21; Luke 1:26). These predictions are being recorded in 536 BC, and their fulfillment will take centuries to accomplish. Yet they will eventually be affirmed accurate by history.

Among the predictions made by the angel is the rise and fall of Alexander the Great (Daniel 11:3–4). This parallels other prophecies using similar themes (Daniel 7:6; 8:5, 8). Thus far, the prophecy correctly predicted that two nations emerging from Alexander's territories would collide: Egypt and the Seleucid Empire of Babylon and Syria. After much intrigue and death, the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy III Euergetes, invaded Seleucid Syria. This was to avenge the death of his sister, Berenice.

As predicted by this passage, Euergetes carried off much of his enemy's wealth and numerous religious artifacts. Scholars suggest many of these may have been Egyptian statues once stolen by the Persian Empire. The attack sparked a power struggle within the Seleucid Empire. This contributed to the feebleness of Seleucus II Callinicus's response. In part because Euergetes had returned to Egypt, he was able to regain territory, but could not make progress into Egypt itself. Ultimately, it would be years before his empire could attempt a meaningful assault.

The confiscation of Seleucid and Egyptian idols underscores their frequent condemnation as worthless (Isaiah 46:1–2; Psalm 96:5; Habakkuk 2:18). Ptolemy III Euergetes's relatively easy capture of his enemies' supposed gods demonstrated the truthfulness of the Bible's words. And yet, he took more than just the idols: he plundered Syria. He took "their precious vessels of silver and gold" to Egypt (Daniel 11:8).
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