Daniel 11:25
And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While it sounds like the King of the South is simply outmatched, the true reason for his defeat is external betrayal. His mighty army isn't defeated by superior force, but by the "devices" – treacherous plans – being plotted against him by those he should have been able to trust.
This verse describes Antiochus, the "king of the north," launching a full-scale military invasion against the "king of the south," who represents Egypt. Despite Egypt mobilizing a massive army, they are ultimately defeated not by superior force, but by treachery and cunning plots orchestrated against their king. This sets the stage for Antiochus to gain significant control over Egypt, though not without internal betrayal playing a crucial role in Egypt's downfall.
Sometimes, the biggest threats don't sneak in the back door. They march in with overwhelming force, loud and clear.
This verse describes a significant shift in the conflict between the 'king of the north' (Antiochus Epiphanes) and the 'king of the south' (Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt).
A Direct Assault
This direct confrontation, with both sides amassing huge armies, sets the stage for a dramatic outcome. It’s a picture of empires clashing head-on.
What happens when overwhelming military might isn't enough to secure victory?
The core of this verse lies in the shocking phrase: 'but he shall not stand.' Despite preparing an immense army and meeting the enemy in battle, the king of the south faces defeat.
The Crucial 'Why'
This teaches a powerful lesson: external strength and preparation can be undermined by internal division and deceit. Victory isn't always won on the battlefield alone.
Understand the original words
machashabah · Hebrew Noun
A scheme, plot, or conspiracy devised with evil intent. In Scripture, it often refers to human efforts to circumvent the sovereignty of God.
This prophecy unfolds against the backdrop of intense political and military rivalry between the Seleucid Empire (Syria) and the Ptolemaic Kingdom (Egypt), centered on control of key territories. The text highlights how military might alone wasn't enough; internal plots and external political pressures played a crucial role in the outcomes.
196 BC
Marriage of Antiochus III and Cleopatra
Antiochus III the Great marries Cleopatra, daughter of the Egyptian king Ptolemy V, as part of a peace treaty. Cœle-Syria and Phoenicia are promised to them as part of Cleopatra's dowry.
187 BC
Death of Antiochus III
Antiochus III dies, and his son Seleucus IV Philopator inherits the throne. The status of Cœle-Syria and Phoenicia remains a point of contention with Egypt.
175 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Takes Power
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, brother of Seleucus IV, seizes the Seleucid throne. He begins to assert claims over the disputed territories.
c. 170 BC
Antiochus IV Invades Egypt (First Time)
Antiochus IV Epiphanes invades Egypt, aiming to depose Ptolemy VI Philometor and place his own protégé on the throne. This is the first of his major incursions.
This passage provides a historical account that aligns with the prophecy in Daniel, detailing Antiochus' invasions of Egypt with vast armies and the resulting defeat and political upheaval of the Egyptian king.
This verse describes a previous conflict where the king of the south is stirred up to battle but is overcome, echoing the theme of initial might being insufficient against strategic plotting found in verse 25.
Daniel 8:10-12This passage speaks of a 'horn' that waxes great and casts down 'some of the host' and the stars to the ground, reflecting the theme of aggressive power and its impact, similar to Antiochus' actions against the king of the south.
Psalm 2:2-4This psalm describes earthly rulers conspiring against the Lord and His Anointed, highlighting a cosmic perspective on the machinations and power struggles that ultimately are subject to divine sovereignty, similar to the political conflicts described in Daniel.
Proverbs 12:18This proverb directly contrasts reckless words with wise speech, paralleling the biblical concept that 'devices' or cunning plans can lead to downfall, a theme central to the defeat described in Daniel 11:25.
ellicottDaniel 11:25: "And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him."
(25) The south.— Here, for the first time in the second portion of the prophecy, mention is made of the southern king. It is highly probable that the deceit mentioned in the last three verses had this king and his provinces for…
jfbDaniel 11:25: "And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him."
- A fuller detail of what was summarily stated (Da 11:22-24). This is the first of Antiochus' three (Da 11:29) open invasions of Egypt.against the king of the south—against Ptolemy Philometer. Subsequently, Ptolemy Physcon (t…
While it sounds like the King of the South is simply outmatched, the true reason for his defeat is external betrayal. His mighty army isn't defeated by superior force, but by the "devices" – treacherous plans – being plotted against him by those he should have been able to trust.
This verse describes Antiochus, the "king of the north," launching a full-scale military invasion against the "king of the south," who represents Egypt. Despite Egypt mobilizing a massive army, they are ultimately defeated not by superior force, but by treachery and cunning plots orchestrated against their king. This sets the stage for Antiochus to gain significant control over Egypt, though not without internal betrayal playing a crucial role in Egypt's downfall.
This verse describes Antiochus, the "king of the north," launching a full-scale military invasion against the "king of the south," who represents Egypt. Despite Egypt mobilizing a massive army, they are ultimately defeated not by superior force, but by treachery and cunning plots orchestrated against their king. This sets the stage for Antiochus to gain significant control over Egypt, though not without internal betrayal playing a crucial role in Egypt's downfall.
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c. 169 BC— this verse
Antiochus IV Campaigns in Egypt
Antiochus IV launches a significant military campaign into Egypt with a large army. The Egyptian forces, led by Ptolemy VI's regents, meet him in battle but are ultimately defeated.
c. 168 BC
Roman Intervention
The Roman Republic intervenes forcefully, demanding Antiochus IV withdraw from Egypt. This intervention halts Antiochus' ambitions and forces a strategic retreat.
"And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against hi…" — While it sounds like the King of the South is simply outmatched, the true reason for his defeat is external betrayal. His mighty army isn't defeated by superior force, but by the "devices" – treacher…
