Notes on Daniel 11

 

PERSIAN EMPIRE

 

(v.1)  Ist year of Darius the Mede  (539 BC)

 

(v.2)  Three Kings – 4th richer than them all

 

1) Cyrus (590/579 - 530)

2) Cambyses (530-522)

(Badiya, the brother of Cambyses, called Smerdis, led a revolt in 522. Darius claimed Badiya was already dead, the revolt led by an imposter called Gaumata who was assassinated in 522)

3) Darius Hystaspes (522 -486)

4)  Xerxes (485 – 465) – Xerxes is also called Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6; Married Esther)

He was richer than previous rulers as inherited the wealth they accumulated.

He raised an army against Greece. 

 

GREEK EMPIRE

 

(v.3)  Alexander the Great  (356BC – 323BC)

 

When Alexander attacked the Persian Army he referred to the attack upon Greece by Xerxes (485 – 465).

 

“your ancestors entered into Macedonia, and the other parts of Greece, and did us damage, when they had received no affront from us as the cause of it; and now I, created general of the Grecians, provoked by you, and desirous of avenging the injury done by the Persians, have passed over into Asia.”

 

(v.4) Height of his power – died in the palace at Babylon probably of malaria.

But it was rumoured that he was murdered by Cassander who had just arrived in Babylon.

 

WARS OF THE DIADOCHI

 

Alexander’s death began the wars of the Diadochi (322 BC-301 BC).

The eventual outcome of the wars of succession was that Alexander’s kingdom was divided amongst his four generals.

 

1.  Ptolemy (367 BC – 283 BC) – Ptolemy I Soter  (Soter means preserver) founder of the Ptolemic Kingdom and Dynasty.

2.  Antigonus (382 BC – 301 BC) – Antigonus I  founder of the Antigonid Dynasty.  Known as Monophthalmus (the one eyed). 

The Antigonid Dynasty was established by his son Demetrius (Antigonus II) controlling Macedon and most Greek states. The Antigonids ruled Macedon until 168 BC when it was conquered by the Romans.

3.  Seleucus (358 BC – 281 BC) – Seleucis I  called Nicator founder of Seleucid Empire and Dynasty.

4.  Cassander (350 BC – 297 BC) – Son of Antipater.  Antipatrid dynasty did not last.  He killed Alexander the Great’s mother Olympias.  He was married to Thessalonica and renamed the city of Therma after his wife.

 

PTOLEMY

 

(v.5)  King of the South – Egypt (Ptolemy I Soter, described as the son of Lagus)

 

(v.6)  Ptolemy Philadelphus (309 BC – 246 BC) King of Egypt (283 BC – 246 BC) – son of Ptolemy Lagus

 

Philadelphus who built up the library in Alexandria. 

He was responsible for the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek (LXX)

 

ANTIOCHUS

 

King of the north – Syria

Antiochus Theos – third ruler of the Seleucids (261 BC – 246 BC)

1st ruler Seleucus Nicator, (305 BC – 381 BC)

2nd ruler Antiochus Soter (281 BC – 261BC))

 

MARRIAGE ALLIANCE BETWEEN DAUGHTER OF PTOLEMY AND ANTIOCHUS

 

Bernice daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus given as wife to Antiochus with dowry of gold to make agreement between Egypt and Syria. 

Antiochus sent his former wife, Laodice into exile at Ephesus.

Antiochus eventually rejoined Laodice in Asia Minor and left Bernice and her son in Antioch.

Laodice poisoned Antiochus and murdered Bernice and her son.

Bernice had one son by Antiochus

Laodice had two sons by Antiochus.

 

WAR BETWEEN PTOLEMY EUERGETES AND SELEUCUS

 

(v.7)  Brother of Bernice (Ptolomy Euergetes reigned 246 – 222 BC) brought an army and attacked Syria.

(v.8) Ptolomy Euergetes took 2500 gods (returning many that Cambyses had taken from Egypt).

Ptolomy Euergetes reigned 25 years outlived Seleucus by 4 years.

 

(v.10) Sons of Seleucus prepared armies to gain revenge against Egypt because of what Euergetes did. 

Seleucus Ceraunus reigned first but was murdered (poisoned) in Phrygia during the 3rd year of his reign.

His brother Antiochus (the Great) reigned after him

 

ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT

 

Antiochus the Great (222 BC–187 BC) reigned after Seleucus Ceraunus and he took Seleucia, Coelesyria, Phanuel, Botris, Trieris, Calamus, and invaded Israel.

Returned to Raphia in Egypt where Ptolomy 4th fought against him.

 

(v11) King of the South Ptolomy Philopater moved by bitterness defeats Antiochus

Ptolomy filled with pride over his victory allows Antiochus to flee without following him.

Ptolomy resorts to ‘the lusts of the flesh’.

 

(v12) Entered Jerusalem sought to enter the holy of holies

Not able to do it.

Left in a rage.

Took out vengeance on the Jews in Alexandria

 

See 3 Maccabees chapter 1.

 

 (v13)  Antiochus III the Great returned after the death of Ptolomy Philopater.

 

Ptolomy V Epiphanes (reigned 204 –181 BC). 

He was only 5 years of age when his father died.

Antiochus made a league with Philip of Macedon to divide among themselves the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Antiochus had a great army, great wealth and provision. 

 

 

 

(v14)  the robbers of thy people – refers to the Jews in Egypt.

 

 

(v15-16) Antiochus marched into Coelesyria and Palestine,

 

Antiochus defeats Scopas the General of Ptolemy.

 

PTOLEMY V EPIPHANES AND CLEOPATRA

 

(v 17)  Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Cleopatra (204 – 176 BC)

In 195 BC peace with Ptolemy was established at Raphia when the beautiful Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus III  was given in marriage to Ptolemy Epiphanes.

Antiochus did this for sinister reasons.

Antiochus III sought to conquer Egypt but when he was unable to take it by force (because Rome had an alliance with Ptolemy), he sought to take Egypt by corrupting his daughter so that she would destroy Ptolemy, allowing Antiochus to take control.

 

But Cleopatra, when married, sided with her husband against her father.  

Giving congratulations to Rome for defeating her father in the Roman Syrian War.

 

The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone was written during the reign of Ptolemy V in 196 BC.

 

Found 1799 at Rosetta, Egypt during Napoleon Campaign.

Contained the same message in 3 languages - Hieroglyphics,  Demotic (Both of these are Egyptian), and Greek

The Rosetta Stone became the key to unlock the lost meaning of Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

 

 

The Rosetta Stone is in the British Museum

 

 

 

 

 

THE ROMAN-SYRIAN WAR (192 BC – 188 BC)

 

Having made peace with Ptolemy, Antiochus III the Great was able to put all his resources into Europe.

 

(v18) the isles – moved into Europe (Aegean Sea).  

 

He was defeated by the Romans at Thermopylae (191 BC) and Magnesia (190 BC) and was forced to sign the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC) giving up all claims in Europe and the territory in Asia Minor west of the Taurus.

Payment for the war had to made to Rome in yearly instalments.

20 hostages were taken to ensure payment was made including the son of Antiochus.

 

(v19) Antiochus was slain in Persia attempting to rob a temple in 187 BC.

 

Seleucus IV Philopator  (ruled 187 BC – 175 BC)

 

Seleucus IV Philopator (187 BC – 175 BC) succeeded Antiochus III but was under financial pressure due to need to pay Rome for the Roman-Syrian War.

 

(v 20)  A raiser of taxes.

 

 

 

Assassinated by his minister Heliodorus.

 

Painting by Gerard de Lairesse

 

Heliodorus expulsion from the temple when he attempts to plunder it.

2 Maccabees

 

 

ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES  (215 BC – 164 BC)

Antiochos Theos Epiphanos Nicophoros

Antiochus God Manifest, Bearer of Victory

 

Ruled Seleucid Empire (175 BC – 164 BC)

 

Demetrius, son of Seleucus IV Philopator, held in Rome as hostage.

Infant son, Antiochus, named head of state but murdered by Antiochus Epiphanes.

 

 

(v21) Throne taken by the brother of Seleucus IV Philopator - Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  A vile person.   

Antiochus subdues the land of Israel.

The Little Horn   Daniel 8:9.

 

 

DESECRATION OF THE TEMPLE

 

Revolt against Antiochus IV known as Antiochus Epiphanes (Seleucid dynasty).

Antiochus Epiphanes in Syria

Ptolemy VI in Egypt

 

 

Conflict for supremacy in Judaea

Onias a chief priest - expelled the sons of Tobias from Jerusalem.

Sons of Tobias acted as guides for Antiochus allowing him to invade Jerusalem.

Stopped the daily sacrifices in the Temple for 3½ years.

 

167 BC Antiochus issued decree forbidding Jewish religious practices.

Forbade circumcision – ordered pigs to be sacrificed on the altar

 

Judaea under the brutal control of Bacchides - sent by Antiochus.

 

Onias fled to Ptolemy – dwelt in Heliopolis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MACCABEES

 

Matthias son of Asamonaeus – priest from Modein

Matthias Maccabee (d. c.166 BC) and his five sons refused to worship the Greek gods. 

Matthias slew a Jew as he was about to offer sacrifice in his place.

Killed Bacchides – fled to hills

166 BC Judah Maccabee led a revolt against Seleucid's.

Judah Maccabee died in battle in 160 BC.

Maccabees used guerilla tactics to defeat the Syrians.

 

Commemoration of Hannukah

Cleansed the temple

Jonathan Maccabee (d. 142 BC) made High Priest

Israel became independent state (164 BC – 63 BC)

Simon Maccabee began the Hasmonean dynasty (142 BC) which lasted until 37 BC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanukkah (dedication or consecration)

(25 Kislev)

Miracle of the oil

After the temple was re-dedicated there was only enough oil for the golden lampstand to burn for one day. 

The oil burned for 8 days until more consecrated oil was prepared.

 

Hanukkah (1 Maccabees 56-59)

One light is lite for 8 days.

A bigger light called Shamash meaning guard is also lit each night.

 

See John 10:22