Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes not just the taking of fortified cities, but the active construction of siege works ("cast up a mount"), highlighting the sheer force and methodical nature of the king of the north's assault. It also notes that not even the "best troops" or "chosen people" of the south could stand, revealing a profound breakdown in the south's military and leadership that left them utterly defenseless.
Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the Egyptian forces had temporarily gained control of key territories, the "king of the north" (Antiochus the Great) returns to reclaim them. He launches a successful military campaign, employing siege tactics to capture fortified cities, utterly defeating the Egyptian armies and their best troops, leaving them no ability to resist his advance.
Ever wondered how ancient armies conquered seemingly impenetrable fortresses? This verse gives us a glimpse into the brutal realities of ancient siege warfare.
The phrase 'cast up a mount' refers to building a siege ramp or mound. This was a common, labor-intensive tactic where armies would pile earth, stones, and wood against a city's walls. The goal was to either bring soldiers level with the battlements for direct assault or to provide a platform for siege engines like catapults and battering rams.
'Well-fortified city' or 'city of munitions' highlights that these weren't just any towns, but strategic strongholds designed for defense. The king of the north's success in taking these suggests not only military prowess but also effective siege tactics that overcame formidable defenses.
What happens when an army's best efforts and elite troops are completely outmatched? This verse paints a stark picture of overwhelming defeat.
The verse emphasizes the utter failure of the 'forces of the south.' It specifically mentions that 'not even his best troops' could stand. This wasn't a minor setback; it was a catastrophic collapse of military power.
The repetition of 'no strength to stand' underscores the complete incapacitation of the southern forces. They were not just defeated; they were rendered powerless, unable to offer any effective resistance. This highlights the decisive and overwhelming nature of the king of the north's victory in this encounter.
Understand the original words
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solelah · Hebrew Noun
Structures or ramparts built by an army to besiege and eventually capture a city. Symbolically, it represents the instruments of warfare used to overcome human defenses.
mivtsar · Hebrew Noun
A location protected by walls or strong defenses. Biblically, this can refer to literal cities or metaphorically to the trust people place in human power rather than in God.
This passage vividly describes Antiochus the Great's military campaign against Ptolemaic Egypt, culminating in his decisive victory and recapture of key territories. The mention of 'casting up a mount' and taking 'well-fortified cities' points to the siege warfare of the era, particularly the fall of Sidon, where Egyptian forces were trapped and ultimately surrendered due to famine, demonstrating their complete inability to withstand the Seleucid advance.
c. 202 BC
Antiochus the Great Reclaims Territory
After Antiochus the Great, king of the Seleucid Empire (the "king of the north"), returned from his campaigns in the east, he began reclaiming territories in Coelesyria and Palestine. These regions had been recently taken by the Egyptian general Scopas.
200 BC
Battle of Panium (Paneas)
Antiochus decisively defeated the Egyptian forces led by Scopas near the Jordan River. This victory significantly weakened the Ptolemaic (Egyptian) forces and paved the way for Antiochus to recapture key cities.
200 BC— this verse
Scopas Flees to Sidon
Following his defeat at Panium, Scopas retreated with his remaining soldiers to the heavily fortified city of Sidon. He sought to hold this strategic location against Antiochus's advancing army.
199 BC
Siege and Fall of Sidon
Antiochus the Great besieged Sidon. Despite Egyptian attempts to relieve the city, Scopas and his men were eventually forced to surrender due to starvation, highlighting the inability of Egypt's best forces to resist Antiochus.
198 BC
Antiochus Consolidates Control
After the fall of Sidon, Antiochus continued his campaign, taking other cities and establishing Seleucid control over Judea and the surrounding regions. The land prospered under his rule, as the prophecy foretold.
This verse highlights how victory doesn't depend on earthly might ('the arms of the south shall not stand'), echoing the theme that God's power is supreme, as David famously declared 'the battle is the LORD's'.
Isaiah 41:10Daniel 11:15 describes a seemingly insurmountable military power; Isaiah 41:10 reassures God's people that He is with them, empowering them and upholding them, even when facing overwhelming opposition.
Jeremiah 52:7This verse details the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, with the city's 'fenced cities' being breached and its 'chosen people' taken captive, mirroring the devastating military success described in Daniel 11:15.
Psalm 33:16-17The overwhelming military success of the 'king of the north' in Daniel 11:15 could leave one feeling helpless; Psalm 33:16-17 reminds us that no earthly army or ruler can guarantee victory, pointing to God as the ultimate source of deliverance.
ellicottDaniel 11:15: "So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand."
(15) The king of the north.— This prince attacks the fortress of his rival, who is unable to resist him. Here it is supposed that the allusion is to the capture of Sidon by Antiochus the Great. The troops of Ptolemy under Scopas had acquired possession of Jerusalem an…
jfbDaniel 11:15: "So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand."
- king of … north—Antiochus the Great.take … fenced cities—Scopas, the Egyptian general, met Antiochus at Paneas, near the sources of the Jordan, and was defeated, and fled to Sidon, a strongly "fenced city," where he was forced to surrender.chosen people—Egypt's ch…
The text emphasizes not just the taking of fortified cities, but the active construction of siege works ("cast up a mount"), highlighting the sheer force and methodical nature of the king of the north's assault. It also notes that not even the "best troops" or "chosen people" of the south could stand, revealing a profound breakdown in the south's military and leadership that left them utterly defenseless.
After the Egyptian forces had temporarily gained control of key territories, the "king of the north" (Antiochus the Great) returns to reclaim them. He launches a successful military campaign, employing siege tactics to capture fortified cities, utterly defeating the Egyptian armies and their best troops, leaving them no ability to resist his advance.
After the Egyptian forces had temporarily gained control of key territories, the "king of the north" (Antiochus the Great) returns to reclaim them. He launches a successful military campaign, employing siege tactics to capture fortified cities, utterly defeating the Egyptian armies and their best troops, leaving them no ability to resist his advance.
"Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand." — The text emphasizes not just the taking of fortified cities, but the active construction of siege works ("cast up a mount"), highlighting the sheer force and methodical nature of the king of the nort…
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Last reviewed October 2026