The king of the South mentioned in Daniel 11 refers to a series of rulers who controlled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. Alexander’s vast empire was divided among his generals after his death, with Ptolemy I Soter taking control of Egypt around 323 BC. He established the Ptolemaic dynasty that would rule Egypt for nearly 300 years until the Roman conquest in 30 BC.
Daniel 11 provides a detailed prophecy of events involving the kings of the North (the Seleucid dynasty based in Syria) and the kings of the South (the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt). Verses 5-15 focus on the ongoing conflicts between these two powers over the course of several generations. The kings of Egypt during this time period who are specifically mentioned include:
- Ptolemy I Soter (323-283 BC) – Daniel 11:5
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) – Daniel 11:6
- Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222 BC) – Daniel 11:7-9
- Ptolemy IV Philopator (222-204 BC) – Daniel 11:11-12
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180 BC) – Daniel 11:14
Daniel 11:25 refers cryptically to “the king of the South” who will wage war against the Seleucid king Antiochus III. This is commonly understood to refer to Ptolemy IV Philopator, who defeated Antiochus III at the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC. After this defeat, Antiochus III turned his attention to expanding the Seleucid Empire to the east and north, before attempting again to conquer Ptolemaic lands in the Fifth Syrian War (202-195 BC).
Verses 29-35 describe the later invasion of Egypt by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his war against Ptolemy VI Philometor, the young king under the regency of his mother Cleopatra I:
At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. (Daniel 11:29-35 ESV)
After Ptolemy VI died in 145 BC, his brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon became sole ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy VIII is most likely the king of the South referred to in Daniel 11:40, as the one who later comes into conflict with Antiochus IV shortly before his death in 164 BC:
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:40 KJV)
In summary, the prophecies in Daniel 11 refer to the following Ptolemaic rulers as “king of the South” in their ongoing conflicts with the Seleucid Empire to the north:
- Ptolemy I Soter
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus
- Ptolemy III Euergetes
- Ptolemy IV Philopator
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes
- Ptolemy VI Philometor
- Ptolemy VIII Physcon
God used the highly detailed prophecies regarding these kings to demonstrate His power and foreknowledge hundreds of years in advance. While secular historians view the interactions between these empires as merely political and military affairs, the book of Daniel presents them as earthly manifestations of the unseen spiritual battle between the kingdom of God and the forces of evil. God is sovereign over the rise and fall of human kingdoms, using worldly rulers as His instruments to bring about His eternal plans and purposes.
The Historical Background of the Kings of the North and South
To understand the identities of the kings of the North and South in Daniel 11, it is helpful to review the historical context of the breakup of Alexander the Great’s empire.
When Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC at just 32 years old, he left behind an enormous empire stretching from Greece to India. Yet he had no heir or clear successor, leading to a power struggle between his generals.
After a period of conflict, Alexander’s empire was divided into four main parts between 303-281 BC:
- Cassander ruled over Macedonia and Greece
- Lysimachus took control of Thrace and much of Asia Minor (modern Turkey)
- Seleucus I Nicator initially received the eastern satrapies of Babylon, Media, Susiana but eventually expanded his territory to include Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, and lands eastward.
- Ptolemy I Soter was appointed satrap of Egypt but established it as an independent kingdom.
The dividing line between the kingdoms of the North and South was set at the border between Israel and Egypt. The Ptolemies ruling Egypt were the kings of the South, while the Seleucid dynasty based in Syria to the north were the kings of the North. This geographical distinction drives the prophecies of Daniel 11.
Ptolemy I Soter (Daniel 11:5)
After gaining control of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter took advantage of the wars between the other successor kingdoms to expand his borders. According to Daniel 11:5:
“Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.” (Daniel 11:5 ESV)
Ptolemy I was indeed strong, founding the great Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. But Seleucus I Nicator (“one of his princes”) eventually became even stronger, ruling over a vast eastern territory. So the prophecy accurately foretold the increasing power of Seleucus relative to Ptolemy.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Daniel 11:6)
After Ptolemy I Soter died in 283 BC, his son Ptolemy II Philadelphus took the throne of Egypt. Seeking peace with the Seleucid Empire, Ptolemy II gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to the Seleucid king Antiochus II Theos around 250 BC. However, trouble soon followed:
“After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.” (Daniel 11:6 ESV)
As prophesied, Antiochus II Theos later divorced Berenice and remarried his former wife Laodice. Laodice then conspired to have Antiochus, Berenice, and her infant son murdered to secure the throne for her own son Seleucus II Callinicus.
Ptolemy III Euergetes (Daniel 11:7-9)
Berenice’s brother Ptolemy III Euergetes succeeded their father Ptolemy II Philadelphus as king of Egypt. Seeking to avenge his sister Berenice’s death, Ptolemy III invaded the Seleucid Empire:
“There shall arise from the shoot of her roots one in his place who shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail.” (Daniel 11:7 ESV)
Ptolemy III defeated Seleucus II Callinicus in the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), conquering territory as far north as Babylon and temporarily occupying the Seleucid capital Antioch. The prophecy of his vengeance was fulfilled:
“He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.” (Daniel 11:8 ESV)
The immense treasures Ptolemy III plundered from the Seleucids became famous, even being mentioned in the Rosetta Stone. After this victory he refrained from further campaigns northward.
Ptolemy IV Philopator (Daniel 11:11-12)
Ptolemy IV Philopator ruled Egypt from 222-204 BC. His reign is described in Daniel 11:11-12:
“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. And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.” (ESV)
This accurately depicts Ptolemy IV’s victory over Antiochus III the Great at the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC. Ptolemy raised a large army but still found himself in a difficult position before God gave him victory, allowing his pride to grow. Despite winning the battle, Ptolemy was unable to secure long-term gains over the Seleucids.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes (Daniel 11:14)
After Ptolemy IV died in 204 BC, his young son Ptolemy V Epiphanes became king of Egypt under the regency of Tlepolemus. The prophecy notes:
“In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.” (Daniel 11:14 ESV)
Ptolemy V faced numerous internal and external challenges to his reign as a boy king. He survived repeated attempts to depose him, including an invasion by Antiochus III. None succeeded in ending the Ptolemaic dynasty, just as Daniel foretold.
Ptolemy VI Philometor (Daniel 11:25)
Ptolemy VI Philometor came to the throne as a young child upon the death of his father Ptolemy V in 180 BC. His mother Cleopatra I served as regent over Egypt initially. Daniel 11:25 cryptically refers to “the king of the South” who would engage in battle against the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great:
“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.” (ESV)
This prophecy was fulfilled when Antiochus III’s Fourth Syrian War (219-217 BC) culminated in the Battle of Raphia against the forces of Ptolemy IV Philopator, the father and predecessor of Ptolemy VI. Antiochus later made a comeback against Egypt during the Fifth Syrian War (202-195 BC) but was forced to withdraw due to Roman intervention.
Ptolemy VIII Physcon (Daniel 11:40)
After the death of Ptolemy VI in 145 BC, his brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon rose to sole power in Egypt. He is most likely the king of the South mentioned in Daniel 11:40:
“At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.” (ESV)
This prophecy describes the clash between Ptolemy VIII and the Seleucid king Demetrius II Nicator. Demetrius invaded Egypt with a large army but was defeated in 139 BC, fulfilling the prophecy. The end of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties soon followed, marking the “time of the end” prophesied in Daniel regarding these kingdoms.
Lessons from the Kings of the North and South
The amazingly detailed prophecies about the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings provide powerful testimony about the sovereignty and foreknowledge of God. Reflecting on their stories teaches us some valuable lessons:
- God is sovereign over human history and directs the rise and fall of nations according to His will.
- God alone has perfect foreknowledge of future events; He reveals glimpses through prophecy to establish the trustworthiness of His Word.
- The hidden spiritual realities behind earthly conflicts are even more important than what we see unfold.
- Pride goes before destruction; God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
- God cares about justice and avenges those who suffer and are oppressed.
- No one thwarts God’s eternal purposes; His will shall certainly prevail in the end.
As we study Bible prophecy, we should humbly seek deeper understanding of God’s Word. But more importantly, prophecy should strengthen our trust in God’s sovereignty and grace shown through Jesus Christ. For His kingdom and righteousness are what truly matter, rather than human dynasties that fade away. May we live in reverent awe of the One who knows and ordains all things for His glory.