September 9: “GETTING EVEN”

But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the north, and deal with them and prevail. Daniel 11:7

The brother of Berenice, Ptolomy III Euergetes, ascended to the throne of Egypt in 246BC. Motivated with a sense of necessity and duty to avenge his murdered sister, he built his military specifically for an aggressive campaign against Syria. His enormous success against the Seleucid kingdom provided military momentum that he harnessed for the conquering of territory well into Mesopotamia. This extension of Ptolemaic power spread beyond the boundaries heretofore established.

And he shall carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North. 11:8

Ptolemy III, king of the South, had racked up military victories over and above avenging his sister’s murder. With Egypt’s influence expanded into Syria and Mesopotamia, he set goals to restore Egypt’s cultural heritage and wealth. A search for the sacred images and artifacts taken from Egypt in previous conflicts resulted in their recovery and restoration to their original temples. The military successes over the Seleucid kingdom and restoration of the temple idols led to great popularity for Ptolemy III. His death in 222BC, two years after the death of Seleucus III fulfilled the prophecy that he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. 11:9

This brief statement references a military campaign involving Ptolemy III and Seleucus II. Following the successful recovery of the precious articles of silver and gold by Ptolemy III, Seleucus II (Callinicus, the older son of Laodice) attempted to regain his authority. His march against Egypt (240BC) was all about reestablishing his prestige by recapturing lost territories. But the effort resulted in a humiliating defeat and he returned to Syria empty handed, fulfilling v.9.

The symbols for divided Greece gain deeper meaning as this history unfolds: belly and thighs of bronze, four-headed leopard, and four horns of the male goat. These divisions from a single body show the futility of mankind’s strife against itself, all for the purpose of self-exaltation. The mindset of man’s glory over God will result in continuous strife until God Himself brings it to a close.

[The LORD] makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:9-10