Daniel 11:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.

NIV: His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

NASB: And his sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, so that he may again wage war up to his fortress.

CSB: "His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood, and will again wage war as far as his fortress.

NLT: However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy’s fortress.

KJV: But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

NKJV: However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

According to a prophecy given in 536 BC (Daniel 10:1), two of the nations emerging after the death of Alexander the Great would engage in a series of conflicts (Daniel 11:5–6). At one point, the southern kingdom of Egypt would reach deep into Seleucid territory, in Syria, pillaging and taking religious artifacts such as idols (Daniel 11:7–8). Seleucus II Callinicus was only able to regain territory because the Egyptians were content to leave with their spoils. His attempt to push back into Egypt failed (Daniel 10:9), and for many years the Seleucid Empire was primarily concerned with insurrections and infighting.

One of Callinicus's sons was Antiochus III, later known as Antiochus the Great. Antiochus III restored his empire's military and made multiple attacks against Egypt. His first assault on Egypt occurred when Ptolemy IV Philopator had become Egypt's king. Early on, Antiochus the Great captured city after city in the regions of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. In that sense, he "overflowed" and "passed through" on his way towards Egypt in the south.

At the time, Ptolemy Philopator offered little resistance. Antiochus regrouped when his forces reached the southern regions of Israel, in what is now the Gaza Strip. This allowed Philopator the opportunity to assemble more forces and make a single successful counterattack (Daniel 11:11).

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.