Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. [Daniel 11:2]

The three Persian kings after Cyrus (539-529 BC) were Cambyses (529-522 BC) who was the son of Cyrus, Gaumata (522 BC), and Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BC). Xerxes I Ahasuerus (486-465 BC) was the fourth Persian king after Cyrus, who lived an opulent life style, married a Jewess named Esther, and attempted to conquer Greece in 480 BC. Subsequent Persian kings after Xerxes I included Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465-424 BC) who was the son of Xerxes I, Xerxes II (424 BC), Darius II Nothius (423-404 BC), Artaxerxes II Mnemon (404-358 BC), Artaxerxes III Ochus (358-338 BC), Arses (338-336 BC), and Darius III Codomanus (336-331 BC).

Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. [Daniel 11:3 - 11:4]

Alexander the Great (336-323 BC) at the age of 20, assumed command of the Grecian army, swept through Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Egypt, as the first king of the Grecians. In 332 BC, he conquered Palestine, showing great consideration to the Jews. With Alexander's premature death in 323 BC, the Grecian Empire was broken into four separate divisions under the control of four former generals who became kings sixteen years later, after considerable political wrangling and the murder of all of Alexander's heirs. Known as the Diadochi, the four Grecian division heads were Cassander who ruled over Macedonia and Greece, Lysimachus who ruled over Thrace and Asia Minor, Seleucus I Nicator (311-280 BC) who ruled over Syria, and Ptolemy I Soter (323-285 BC) who ruled over Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Palestine.

The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. [Daniel 11:5]

Ptolemy I ruled over Egypt and Palestine for 38 years and Seleucus I ruled over Babylonia, adding extensive territories both east and west. Ultimately, Seleucus I united three of the four kingdoms under his control as king of the North.

After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. [Daniel 11:6]

Ptolemy Ceraunus, younger brother of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC), killed Seleucus I. Antiochus I Soter (280-261 BC) succeeded his father Seleucus I and was succeeded by his son Antiochus II Theos (261-246 BC). Berenice, daughter of the king of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC), married Antiochus II. Ptolemy II died and Laodice, former wife of Antiochus II, then killed him with poison, and placed her son Seleucus II Callinicus (246-226 BC) on the throne. Afterwards, Seleucus II killed Berenice and her son near Antioch.

One of her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. [Daniel 11:7 - 11:8]

The death of Berenice resulted in war between Seleucus II and Berenice's brother Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221 BC), who became the king of Egypt after the death of his father. He attacked Syria, Phoenicia, Cilicia, Babylonia, and Mesopotamia, capturing each. Ptolemy III overtook Antioch and/or Seleucia, the port of Antioch, where he recovered 2,500 Egyptian gods and 40,000 talents of sliver which had been carried off to Syria by the Persian king Cambyses, when he conquered Egypt in 525 BC.

Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress. [Daniel 11:9 - 11:10]

Seleucus III Ceraunus (226-223 BC) and Antiochus III Magnus (223-187 BC), respectively, succeeded their father Seleucus II. Ptolemy IV Philopater (221-203 BC) succeeded Ptolemy III as king of Egypt, and, he was attacked by Antiochus III, who beat the army of Ptolemy IV near Berytus. Fighting with an army of 78,000 men, Antiochus III (the Great) took the battle as far as the fortress of the city of Raphia in southern Palestine.

Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. [Daniel 11:11 - 11:12]

The historian Polybius recorded that during the battle for Raphia in 217 BC, the raging defensive forces of Ptolemy IV which numbered 75,000 men defeated the attacking forces of Antiochus III and killed 10,000 infantrymen. However, subsequently, a force of Egyptians fought internally against Ptolemy IV who was puffed up with pride and living in luxury after his victory over Antiochus III. The civil battles resulted in the death of 60,000 Egyptian citizens.

For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped. In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. [Daniel 11:13 - 11:14]

After the death of Ptolemy IV, he was succeeded by his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203-181 BC), who proceeded to battle with Antiochus III over Syria and Phoenicia. Palestinian Jews joined the forces of Antiochus III in the battle against Ptolemy V, but were defeated by the Ptolemaic general Scopas in 200 BC.

Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. [Daniel 11:15]

Antiochus III was in command of a very large army, easily conquering Palestine, and obtaining the voluntary loyalty of the Jews without any resistance. While preparing for war with the Romans, Antiochus III came to the city of Raphia on the Palestinian border of Egypt and made peace with Ptolemy V. In an effort to gain control in Egypt, Antiochus III offered his daughter Cleopatra I in marriage to Ptolemy V in 194 BC, however, after the marriage Cleopatra I became loyal to her husband, who sustained his control over Egypt.

Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him. After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more. [Daniel 11:18 - 11:19]

The following year, Antiochus III turned his attention to Asia Minor and mainland Greece where some Grecian cities were under Roman control. The fleet of Antiochus III was twice defeated at sea by the Roman fleet near Phoceia and near Ephesus. Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I then sent an embassy to Rome to congratulate the Romans on their victory and to encourage the Romans to press on with the war in Asia. According to the First Book of Maccabees 1:10, during the war, Epiphanes, son of Antiochus III was captured and was taken to Rome as a hostage. Ultimately defeated in 190 BC by the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus in the battle of Magnesia in Asia Minor, Antiochus III retired to the remainder of his kingdom and was killed three years later by the Persians, as he was robbing the temple of Jupiter Belus in Elymais, to raise money to pay the tributes imposed by the Romans.

His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle. [Daniel 11:20]

Antiochus III was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopator (187 - 175 BC). As a tributary of the Romans, Seleucus IV sent his tax collector, Heliodorus, to rob the temple of Jerusalem to obtain money, however, Heliodorus engineered a conspiracy against Seleucus IV and killed him. Shortly before the death of Seleucus IV, he sent his son Demetrius to Rome in a hostage swap for his brother Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), who succeeded him.

He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. [Daniel 11:21 - 11:23]

When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses - but only for a time. [Daniel 11:24]

Antiochus IV exacted tributes from the Palestinian nations, advanced the Grecian ideals and worship of pagan gods throughout his kingdom, appointed his cronies to positions of power as tribute collectors, allowed his friends to plunder the temple wealth, and he set his sights on capturing all of Egypt. He allowed the position of Jewish high-Priest to be bought and sold by the highest apostate bidder, and, according to the Second Book of Maccabees 4:30, he gave the peoples of Tarsus and Mallus to his mistress, as a gift.

With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. [Daniel 11:25]

Upon the death Antiochus's sister Cleopatra I, the eunech Eulaeus, personal governor of Cleopatra's son, claimed Phoenicia and Coelosyria from Antiochus IV as a dowery for the young boy king. In 170 BC, Antiochus IV attacked and overtook the Egyptian army between Pelusium and the mountain Casius. Capable of destroying the whole Egyptian army, Antiochus IV spared many as a friendly gesture, and, soon after, he captured all of the Egyptian cities, which he also befriended. Antiochus IV blamed the war on Eulaeus, personal governor to Ptolemy VI Philometer (181-146 BC), so as to make friends with the young boy king.

The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. [Daniel 11:27]

Antiochus IV entered into an outward, sycophant uncleship with the young king Ptolemy VI and let him assist with affairs of the kingdom, from the Egyptian city of Memphis. Egyptians in the city of Alexandria, seeing that Ptolemy VI was in the custody of Antiochus IV, declared Euergetes, younger brother to Ptolemy VI, to be the next king of Egypt. Pretending to establish Ptolemy VI on the Egyptian throne, Antiochus IV made war upon Euergetes and beseiged him and Euergetes's sister in Alexandria, defeating the Egyptian navy at sea. At the same time, the Egyptians in Alexandria sent emissaries to Rome to request assistance.

The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. [Daniel 11:28]

Antiochus IV returned to Syria in the spring of 169 BC, leaving Ptolemy VI to rule from Memphis. During the winter, Ptolemy VI and his brother Euergetes reconciled and were reunited in Alexandria, where Ptolemy VI assumed the role of the king of Egypt. While in Judea on the way to Syria, Antiochus IV directed his captains to make spoil of the Judean and Jewish wealth, capturing 1,800 talents of gold and silver, including the gold altar from the temple in Jerusalem, to be taken to Antioch. He ordered Apollonium, a captain of 22,000 men, to enter Jerusalem on the sabbath in a parade of arms, killing grown men who came out to see them, taking young men and women captive, and selling them as slaves for money.

At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. [Daniel 11:29 - 11:30]

Returning to Egypt in the spring of 168 BC to besiege Alexandria and the two young boy Egyptian kings, Antiochus IV was met by the Roman ambassadors, Popilius Loena, C. Decimius, and C. Hostilius. Prior to accepting a kiss on the hand from Antiochus IV, Popilius gave written tables to Antiochus IV upon which the Roman Senate had issued a decree of support for Egypt. Popilius drew a circle on the ground around Antiochus IV, and directed him to immediately offer his decision regarding his intentions toward the Egyptians, before leaving the circle he was standing in. Shocked by the approach of Popilius, Antiochus IV acknowledged the Roman demands and then he kissed the hand of Popilius, with the agreement to retreat to Syria. Antiochus IV returned to Syria, sulked at his treatment by the Romans, and vented his anger on his subjects the Jews by setting up the worship of heathen gods in all Judea, and, he killed those who would not worship his gods.

His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. [Daniel 11:31]

According to the First Book of Maccabees 1:44 - 1:57, Antiochus IV sent word to Jerusalem to stop all burnt offerings and sacrifices. He ordered an end to circumcision, burned the books of the Law, erected altars in the sacred precincts of the temple of Jerusalem for the sacrifice of hogs and unclean cattle, erected a dreadful desecration upon the altar in the temple of Jerusalem, erected pagan altars in all Judean towns, and ended the burning of incense. And, according to the Second Book of Maccabees 6:2 - 6:6, the forces of Antiochus IV forbade Sabbath worship, covered the altar of the temple in Jerusalem with abominable offerings, amused themselves by lying with prostitutes in the sacred precincts of the temple, and renamed the temple as Zeus Olympius. The dreadful desecration, known as the abomination that causes desecration, set up in the location of the altar in the temple of Jerusalem in 168 BC, was an altar and statue to the pagan god Jupiter (Zeus Olympius).

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know God will firmly resist him. Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. [Daniel 11:32 - 11:33]

The Jews were forced underground in order to keep the sabbath and Antiochus IV openly rewarded apostate Jews with positions of responsibility. In chapters 6 & 7 of the Second Book of Maccabees, the stories of the deaths of Eleazar, a leading scribe, and a mother and her seven sons are told. Eleazar set an example for others by refusing to eat pork and voluntarily submitting to the torture wheel. The mother and her seven sons each refused to submit and were skinned alive, dismembered, and boiled in a hot pan. Despite attempts by Antiochus IV to convince the youngest son with flattery and promised riches, the son set an example for other youths to follow the laws of their fathers and forefathers, even unto death.

When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. [Daniel 11:34]

Observing the cruelties of Antiochus IV, Judas, who was called Maccabeus, and his followers secretly entered the villages of Judea and called on their kinsmen to join them in revolt. By enlisting those who had clung to the Jewish religion, they mustered 6,000 men, and were joined by the Hasideans, who were war-like Israelite volunteers. At the same time, Judas selected Eupolemus and Jason to go to the Roman Senate as emissaries to request assistance. The Roman Senate was sympathetic and sent brass tablets to Jerusalem with a written testimony of Roman support for the Jews.

The story of the death of the elderly scribe Eleazar in the Second Book of Maccabees, Chapter 6, is the most poignant story regarding the willingness of the wise to stumble under the Law. Given the choice of violating his conscience by eating pork to extend his natural life, or violating Jewish law by submitting to obvious suicidal death, Eleazar went straight to the torture wheel and ordered his oppressors to send him down to Hades at once. As he was dying, he said, "The Lord, in his holy knowledge, knows that, though I might have escaped death, I endure dreadful pains in my body from being flogged; but in my heart I am glad to suffer this, because I fear Him." Similarly, one of the seven tortured sons, at the point of death, said to his oppressors, "Do not be falsely deceived; for we suffer these things because of ourselves, for we sin against our own God, so these amazing things have happened. But you must not suppose that you will go unpunished for having attempted to fight against our God."