The Kings of the South and the North
Daniel 11:6 "And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times."
in the end years... Literally, "after some years"—about 65 years. Thus a number of historical events are passed over at this point (cp. 2Ch. 18:2).
they shall join... They: the kings of the north (Syria) and of the south (Egypt) shall make a league together. Having been in a bloody war for several years, they agreed to terminate it in 250 B.C. by the marriage of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, king of Egypt, 285-247 B.C., to Antiochus II Theos, the king of Syria, 262-246 B.C. The marriage was on condition that Antiochus would put away his wife, Laodice, and her children, and this he did. Since Berenice brought an immense fortune to her husband, it seemed that all would go well. But after a while Antiochus recalled his former wife, Laodice, and her children; and she, fearing that he might later recall Berenice, caused him to be poisoned and Berenice to be murdered with her son. She then set her own son Callinicus (Seleucus II) upon the throne. He was called Antiochus II. Antiochus I reigned 280-262 B.C.
But she shall... Berenice shall not retain the power of the Syrian throne (her posterity shall not reign over Syria). This was fulfilled, for Antiochus II left her and her infant son in Antioch and returned to live with his divorced wife, Laodice, who was responsible for all three being killed.
neither shall he... This predicts the death of Antiochus II by Laodice who poisoned him and put her own son on the throne.
but she shall... Berenice shall not retain the power of the Syrian throne (her posterity shall not reign over Syria). This was fulfilled, for Antiochus II left her and her infant son in Antioch and returned to live with his divorced wife, Laodice, who was responsible for all three being killed (Dan. 11:6).
they that brought... The Egyptian women who accompanied Berenice from Egypt strove to defend her when she was murdered and many were killed.
he that begat... Literally, "he whom she brought forth," referring to the son of Berenice who was killed with her.
he that strengthened... This refers to her own father who gave her to Antiochus for a wife.
The king of Egypt shall enter into the kingdom of the north to make an agreement. It appears, a daughter tries to marry, to help the agreement to be signed. She is not accepted, and neither is the agreement signed. The expedition is a failure.
Berenice, daughter of Egypt’s Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.), married Syria’s King Antiochus II Theos (261-246 B.C.). The latter part of the verse refers to the political advantage they hoped the alliance would produce. Antiochus divorced his wife to marry Berenice. Later that divorced wife murdered Berenice, her baby son, and even Antiochus by poisoning him. Thus she brought her own son, Seleucus II Callinicus, to the throne.
Ptolemy I Soter died in 285 b.c. and Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Ptolemy’s son, ruled in Egypt (285-246). Meanwhile Seleucus was murdered in 281 and his son Antiochus I Soter ruled till 262. Then Seleucus’ grandson Antiochus II Theos ruled in Syria (262-246). Ptolemy II and Antiochus II were bitter enemies but finally (after some years) they entered into an alliance in about 250. This alliance was sealed by the marriage of Ptolemy II’s daughter Berenice to Antiochus II. This marriage, however, did not last, for Laodice, whom Antiochus had divorced in order to marry Berenice, had Berenice killed (she was handed over). Laodice then poisoned Antiochus II and made her son, Seleucus II Callinicus, king (246-227).
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