Daniel 11:5-9 – Trust God absolutely

The messenger’s explanation of Daniel's prophetic revelation gives us a history lesson. To comprehend these verses, we must dive into the events that occurred after Alexander the Great’s abrupt and unforeseen death. As he had no offspring to inherit his kingdom, he was asked, just before his final breath, “To whom would you bequeath your kingdom?” To this, Alexander replied, “To the greatest.”

Following the death of Alexander, the Hellenistic world was thrown into a chaotic situation where various factions struggled for power, creating a period of instability that lasted for several decades. Eventually, the situation settled with four dominant powers: the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, the Seleucid Kingdom, the Kingdom of Pergamon, and Macedonia. 

As the power struggle continued, two factions rose above the rest: the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Seleucid dynasty. In Daniel 11:5-9, these are referred to as the ‘kingdom of the south’ and the ‘kingdom of the north’ respectively.  The ‘south’ represents Egypt, while the ‘north’ signifies Syria. This distinction is crucial for understanding the geopolitical landscape of the time. 

These two emerging kingdoms were constantly in conflict. Unfortunately, Israel, which was sandwiched between the two kingdoms, had to suffer greatly because of the disputes between the two sides. Israel’s loyalty toggled between the two conflicting sides depending on which side was winning.   

Verses 6-9 speak of an alliance after years of hostility and conflicts. The kingdoms of Syria and Egypt ended their hostility. Bernice, the daughter of Ptolemy II, married Antiochus II, ruler of Syria. However, Antiochus II grew tired of Bernice after their son was born and left her to live with his previous wife, Laodice. Unfortunately, Laodice poisoned Antiochus II to secure her sons’ reign over Syria.

Verses 6 and 7 imply that Bernice, along with her infant son, were given to Laodice, who ruthlessly murdered them. Many of Laodice’s supporters were also killed. Meanwhile, Bernice’s father, Ptolemy II, passed away, creating a power vacuum quickly filled by her brother, Ptolemy III. Fuelled by a strong desire for revenge, Ptolemy III launched a full-scale attack on the Seleucid empire, attacking both by land and sea.

During the reign of Seleucus II, the Seleucid kingdom was invaded by the army of Ptolemy III. As a result, Seleucus II had to flee to Asia Minor, which led to his kingdom being plundered and the spoils taken to Egypt. Verse 9 of suggests that the counterattack by Seleucus II had failed.

This prophecy shows God’s knowledge of future events before they occur. All world affairs are under God’s watchful eye. If He has control over the entire world and the course of history, then we can trust that our lives are secure in His hands. We can trust  Him with the minutest detail of our lives.