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
GREEK EMPIRE
(v.3) Alexander
the Great (356BC
323BC)
When
Alexander attacked the Persian Army he referred to the attack upon
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
But
it was rumoured that he was murdered by Cassander who had just arrived in
WARS OF THE DIADOCHI
Alexanders
death began the wars of the Diadochi (322 BC-301 BC).
The
eventual outcome of the wars of succession was that Alexanders kingdom was
divided amongst his four generals.
1.
Ptolemy (367 BC 283 BC) Ptolemy I Soter (Soter means
preserver) founder of the
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 Greats
mother Olympias.
He was married to Thessalonica and renamed the city of
PTOLEMY
(v.5) King of the South
(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
He
was responsible for the translation of the Hebrew scriptures
into Greek (LXX)
ANTIOCHUS
King
of the north
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
Bernice daughter of
Ptolemy Philadelphus given as wife to Antiochus with
dowry of gold to make agreement between
Antiochus
sent his former wife, Laodice into exile at
Antiochus
eventually rejoined Laodice in
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
(v.8)
Ptolomy Euergetes took 2500
gods (returning many that Cambyses had taken from
Ptolomy Euergetes
reigned 25 years outlived Seleucus by 4 years.
(v.10)
Sons of Seleucus prepared armies to gain revenge
against
Seleucus Ceraunus
reigned first but was murdered (poisoned) in
His
brother Antiochus (the Great) reigned after him
ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT
Antiochus the Great (222 BC187 BC) reigned after Seleucus
Ceraunus and he took
Returned
to Raphia in
(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
Not
able to do it.
Left in a rage.
Took
out vengeance on the Jews in
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
(v15-16) Antiochus marched into Coelesyria
and
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
But
Cleopatra, when married, sided with her husband against her father.
Giving congratulations to
The Rosetta Stone
The
Rosetta Stone was written during the reign of Ptolemy
V in 196 BC.
Found 1799
at
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
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
(v18) the
isles moved into
He was
defeated by the Romans at
Payment
for the war had to made to
20
hostages were taken to ensure payment was made including the son of Antiochus.
(v19)
Antiochus was slain in
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
(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
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
Revolt against Antiochus IV known as Antiochus Epiphanes
(Seleucid dynasty).
Antiochus Epiphanes in
Ptolemy VI
in
Conflict
for supremacy in Judaea
Onias a
chief priest - expelled the sons of Tobias from
Sons of
Tobias acted as guides for Antiochus allowing him to invade
Stopped
the daily sacrifices in the
167 BC
Antiochus issued decree forbidding Jewish religious practices.
Forbade
circumcision ordered pigs to be sacrificed on the altar
Onias
fled to Ptolemy dwelt in
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
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