Daniel 11:11
Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The surprising twist here is that the "great multitude" mentioned as being set forth is actually the army that gets defeated. This highlights how overwhelming numbers don't guarantee victory, and the ultimate outcome is divinely orchestrated, not just a result of military might.
The conflict escalates as the king of the south, enraged by territorial losses, mobilizes a large army to confront the king of the north. Despite the king of the north also amassing a significant force, the narrative foreshadows a decisive victory for the south. This engagement, historically identified as the Battle of Raphia, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for control over the region.
Why does a seemingly 'slothful' king suddenly charge into a massive battle? What ignites his fury and leads him to war?
Daniel 11:11 tells us the "king of the south" (Ptolemy Philopator of Egypt) was "moved with rage" to fight the "king of the north" (Antiochus the Great of Syria).
The Trigger: Invasion and Loss The commentators highlight that Antiochus had invaded and taken key territories like Coele-Syria and Palestine from Egypt. This aggression, coupled with the perceived threat to his own kingdom, stirred Ptolemy from his usual indolence. He wasn't just annoyed; he was enraged.
A Bitter Nickname Interestingly, Ptolemy Philopator was known for his deep hatred of his own family, having murdered his father, mother, and brother. Ironically, his people called him 'Philopator' – 'father-lover' – a sarcastic jab at his horrific deeds. This suggests a character driven by strong, perhaps even dark, emotions, making his rage in battle understandable, though not necessarily righteous.
Both kings assembled massive armies, seemingly setting the stage for a clash of titans. But who truly held the power in this epic confrontation?
The verse dramatically shifts focus from the human element of warfare to the divine orchestration of events. It states that the "king of the north" (Antiochus) set forth "a great multitude," but "it shall be given into his hand" – the hand of the king of the south (Ptolemy).
Human Effort vs. Divine Control Ancient historians detail the immense size of these armies – tens of thousands of soldiers, elephants, and cavalry. From a human perspective, victory would seem to depend on sheer numbers and military might. However, Daniel's prophecy cuts through this.
God's Sovereignty in Battle Despite Antiochus's vast forces, the victory was decisively granted to Ptolemy. This wasn't just a lucky break; it was God sovereignly working through the conflict. The immense army of the north was "given into the hand" of the king of the south. This highlights a profound truth: human armies and strategies, no matter how grand, are ultimately subject to God's will and purpose.
Understand the original words
marah · Hebrew Noun
An expression of intense anger or fury. In a biblical context, this is often used to describe human outbursts of wrath or, more significantly, the righteous judgment of God against sin.
hamon · Hebrew Noun
A term often used in apocalyptic literature to denote the vastness of an army or a host of people. It can also refer to the 'multitude' of nations or people who will be gathered for judgment or conflict.
This verse vividly depicts the dramatic Battle of Raphia, a pivotal clash between the Seleucid (Northern) and Ptolemaic (Southern) kingdoms. It highlights how even a seemingly unmotivated ruler like Ptolemy IV could be driven to extraordinary action by existential threat, leading to a surprising victory that reshaped regional power.
223 BC
Antiochus III Ascends Throne
Antiochus III becomes king of the Seleucid Empire (the "king of the north"). He inherits a vast but somewhat fractured kingdom and begins a campaign to reconquer territories lost by his predecessors.
222 BC
Ptolemy IV Philopator Ascends Throne
Ptolemy IV Philopator becomes king of Egypt (the "king of the south"). Known for his profligate lifestyle and paranoia, he is an unlikely warrior, but events will soon force his hand.
c. 219-218 BC
Antiochus Reconquers Seleucid Territories
Antiochus III launches his campaign to regain control of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, territories that had been under Egyptian rule. He achieves significant initial successes.
217 BC— this verse
Battle of Raphia
Roused by Antiochus's invasion and the threat to his kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator gathers a massive army and confronts Antiochus. Despite initial setbacks and Antiochus's larger forces, Ptolemy's army achieves a decisive victory.
This passage shows a similar dynamic where a seemingly smaller force, empowered by God, achieves victory over a much larger army, reflecting the verse's theme of divine intervention in battle.
Judges 7:7Similar to Gideon's reduced army, Daniel 11:11 highlights how a 'great multitude' can be given into the hand of a determined, though perhaps numerically inferior, opponent, emphasizing God's power to grant victory.
1 Samuel 14:6This verse illustrates the principle that victory is not dependent on numbers but on God's power, a theme echoed in Daniel 11:11 where the larger force is ultimately overcome.
2 Chronicles 14:11This passage shows a king crying out to God for help against a vastly superior enemy and receiving deliverance, paralleling the idea that even a 'great multitude' can be defeated when God intervenes, as implied in Daniel 11:11.
ellicottDaniel 11:11: "And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand."
(11) And the king. —The ambiguity of this verse is very great. “He” may refer to either king; so that while some commentators see in the words an account of the successes of Ptolemy against Antiochus in the battle of Raphia (B.C. 217)—the “multitude” being the army…
barnesDaniel 11:11: "And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand."
And the king of the south shall be moved with choler - With anger. That is, that his provinces were invaded, and his strongholds taken - referring particularly to the invasion of Syria and Palestine as mentioned in the previous verse, and the attempt to wrest them…
The surprising twist here is that the "great multitude" mentioned as being set forth is actually the army that gets defeated. This highlights how overwhelming numbers don't guarantee victory, and the ultimate outcome is divinely orchestrated, not just a result of military might.
The conflict escalates as the king of the south, enraged by territorial losses, mobilizes a large army to confront the king of the north. Despite the king of the north also amassing a significant force, the narrative foreshadows a decisive victory for the south. This engagement, historically identified as the Battle of Raphia, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for control over the region.
The conflict escalates as the king of the south, enraged by territorial losses, mobilizes a large army to confront the king of the north. Despite the king of the north also amassing a significant force, the narrative foreshadows a decisive victory for the south. This engagement, historically identified as the Battle of Raphia, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for control over the region.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Daniel 11:11 is available in the Sola app.
217 BC
Ptolemy Regains Territories
Following the victory at Raphia, Ptolemy IV Philopator reasserts Egyptian control over Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. However, his subsequent lack of decisive action to consolidate these gains would prove problematic.
"Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand." — The surprising twist here is that the "great multitude" mentioned as being set forth is actually the army that gets defeated. This highlights how overwhelming numbers don't guarantee victory, and t…
