Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:22 "And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant."

with the arms... With the help of the arms of his supporters, his competitors for the throne were overthrown and broken.

also the prince... Not only were his competitors overthrown but the high priest, Onias, was deposed and Jason, who had given him a great sum of money, was installed in his place (2 Macc. 4:4-10).

Antiochus IV is introduced as a contemptible (vile) person in vs. 21. He took to himself the name Epiphanes which means “the Illustrious One.” But he was considered so untrustworthy that he was nicknamed Epimanes which means “the Madman.” The throne rightly belonged to Demetrius Soter, a son of Seleucus IV Philopator, but Antiochus IV Epiphanes seized the throne and had himself proclaimed king. Thus he did not come to the throne by rightful succession; he seized it through intrigue. He was accepted as ruler because he was able to turn aside the invading army, of the Egyptians. He also deposed Onias III, the high priest mentioned above, called here a prince of the covenant.

The prince that had made covenant was on the side of this one, who took over without a fight. Egypt’s armies were swept away by Antiochus’ invading forces as by a flood.