Daniel 11:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

NIV: Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

NASB: Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own land.

CSB: who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

NLT: Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land.

KJV: So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

NKJV: “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.

This passage contains a prophecy given to Daniel in 536 BC (Daniel 10:1; 11:2). History has proven the accuracy of the predictions. Those included the rise and fall of Alexander the Great, including the division of his territories, and then described conflicts between two successor nations (Daniel 11:3–6). Among the events included in this prophecy is the 246 BC invasion of the Seleucid Empire by Egypt under Ptolemy III Euergetes. This was launched to avenge the death of Euergetes's sister, Berenice, and it resulted in the looting of tremendous wealth. It also allowed Egypt to confiscate religious idols on their way back home (Daniel 11:7–8).

Here, it is noted that the king of the north—Seleucus II Callinicus—was able to reach Egypt, in the south, but had to return empty-handed. Because Euergetes returned with his spoils, rather than establishing control, it was not difficult for Seleucus to regain territory. But infighting and chaos made it impossible to mount a realistic counterattack against Egypt. For many years, the Seleucid Empire wallowed in conspiracies and squabbling.

Eventually, the descendants of Callinicus would regain enough strength to push back against Egypt (Daniel 10:10).

Daniel 11:2–20 provides a political timeline beginning with Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:30–31). The history—given as prophecy to the prophet Daniel around 536 BC (Daniel 10:1)—involves military conflicts between Greeks and Persians and between empires ruling from Syria and Egypt. These accounts are given to Daniel by an angel, probably Gabriel (Daniel 10:18–21). Parts of these prophecies are unusually straightforward, relying much less on symbolism and plainly indicating the events which will occur.

This chapter is most easily understood in terms of the historical events which it predicts. These include the conflicts between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire up through the second century BC. This mentions the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes and what eventually became the Maccabean Revolt. The last portion of prophecy looks to the end times: blasphemous rulers, an invasion from the north, and a major defeat.

Daniel is receiving a prophecy, in an encounter which began in chapter 10. The substance of that prophecy is mostly given in chapter 11. This predicts the major events relating to Judea leading up to the conquest of the Roman Empire. It also begins to speak of end-times events. This leads to chapter 12 and the final prophetic remarks given to Daniel. Chapter 11 connects to other prophetic segments of Scripture such as Ezekiel 38 and Joel 2. Occurrences recorded here are also used by Jesus to depict end times events (Matthew 24:15).

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.