The Bible Says
Daniel 11:10-13 Meaning

Here in Daniel 11:10-13, the angelic revelation to Daniel moves into an ongoing sequence of power shifts, betrayals, and alliances following Alexander the Great’s divided empire. In this section, Scripture zooms in on the Seleucid kingdom to the north (centered in ancient Syria) and the Ptolemaic kingdom to the south (centered in Egypt). Israel is caught in between these territories and their wars. Throughout these verses, God once again shows Daniel that the rise and fall of leaders, and even entire dynasties, unfold under His ultimate authority, reminding us that “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” (Daniel 4:17).

The prophecy begins by describing how His sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, that he may again wage war up to his very fortress (v. 10).

Historically, his sons refers to the offspring of Seleucus II (the then-ruling king of the North). Two of these sons were Seleucus III (reigned 226-223 BC) and Antiochus III (reigned 223-187 BC), known as “Antiochus the Great.” Upon their father’s death, these heirs would mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces, signaling renewed hostilities with the Ptolemaic South.

One geographical detail in this passage involves the territories that the Seleucids aimed to reclaim. Much of the conflict centered around Phoenicia (part of modern-day Lebanon) and Judea (encompassing the land of Israel). These were key crossroads for travel and commerce, making them highly coveted by both Northern and Southern dynasties. The text’s language-overflow and pass through (v. 10)-pictures swift, unstoppable movements of armies through these regions, up to his very fortress, underscoring the North’s aggressive campaign to push deeper into Ptolemaic holdings.

From a spiritual standpoint, these entangled wars reveal that even massive armies, boasting a multitude of great forces (v.10), can only operate within God’s permitted boundaries. As in earlier verses of Daniel, human rulers feel unstoppable, yet the Lord remains sovereign (Proverbs 21:1). Historically, Antiochus III’s campaigns would achieve considerable success, but the Bible continually reminds us that true security and lasting victory belong to God’s Kingdom. This theme culminates in the New Testament, where Jesus proclaims a Kingdom “not of this world” (John 18:36), an eternal reign far surpassing these fading dynasties.

When the conflict intensifies, the angelic message states: The king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight with the king of the North, then the latter will raise a great multitude, but that multitude will be given into the hand of the former (v. 11). Following Seleucid incursions, the king of the South here is typically identified with Ptolemy IV Philopator (reigned 221-204 BC), who becomes enraged by the Northern aggression. Ancient records align with this as Ptolemy IV raised a substantial Egyptian army to resist the threat of Antiochus III. Both armies will meet in the Battle of Raphia (modern-day Rafah) in 217 BC.

The phrase will raise a great multitude (v. 11) once again captures the spectacle of Hellenistic warfare. Antiochus III will raise a great multitude to battle Ptolemy IV. One of Ptolemy’s governors, Theodotus, will betray his king and hand over terrain and thousands of soldiers to Antiochus. Various ancient writings describe these vast forces, replete with cavalry, infantry, and even war elephants. Of the many battles in the Hellenistic Age, the Battle of Raphia stands out as one of the greatest in scale. Reportedly, Ptolemy IV had 75,000 combatants and Antiochus III had 68,000.

Both sides had enormous militaries. The former in the verse-Ptolemy IV-successfully overcomes this Northern host; that multitude of armies will be given into the hand of Ptolemy. He defeats the Seleucid enemy at the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC, dealing a significant blow to the Seleucid forces, halting their advance.

Despite the outward display of might, the deeper spiritual insight is that such battles hinge on divine orchestration, a recurring principle in Daniel. God’s people, living primarily in Judea at this time, found themselves subject to foreign rulers’ military decisions.

The prophecy continues by revealing the king of the South’s reaction after his success: When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail (v. 12). Although Ptolemy IV triumphs and captures many soldiers (the multitude…carried away), the text notes his growing pride: his heart will be lifted up. Historically, pride often followed major battlefield victories, and Ptolemaic Egypt was no exception. Ptolemy IV viewed himself as secure and unstoppable.

That self-confidence led to a reckless expansion of violence, shown in the phrase he will cause tens of thousands to fall (v. 12). In the broader Hellenistic world, victorious kings often subjected conquered territories to harsh reprisals, extracting new taxes and imposing strict controls on local populations. In the process, tens of thousands might literally die from military repression or forced labor, stressing once more that conflict in this era was brutal and relentless.

However, God’s Word quickly corrects any notion of lasting invincibility by stating, yet he will not prevail (v. 12). Pride precedes downfall (Proverbs 16:18). Although Ptolemy IV enjoyed immediate success, his ultimate hold on these territories was fleeting. The Seleucid Empire would return in force under Antiochus III, eventually undoing many Ptolemaic gains. Whether in ancient times or in our present, Scripture repeatedly warns that any empire built on arrogance and violence will face divine reckoning (Psalm 2:1-5).

Finally, the angelic messenger declares: For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and after an interval of some years, he will press on with a great army and much equipment (v. 13). True to the cyclical nature of these conflicts, the Seleucids regroup and amass an even mightier force than before. Historian Polybius mentions how Antiochus III took time to consolidate resources after his earlier defeat, acquiring further territory and rebuilding an army. By approximately 202 BC (some years after an interval, v. 13), he was ready to mount a new offensive against the southern domains.

Geographically, the king of the North planned to retake Phoenicia and Judea, strategic regions bridging Africa and Asia. These areas were essential for trade routes, naval bases, and agricultural surplus. In the broad biblical context, Israel sat in the crosshairs of these two hostile kingdoms. As we learned in previous chapters of Daniel, God’s chosen people were often caught amidst the world’s greatest powers. Yet in so allowing, the Lord demonstrated His sovereignty: He could preserve His covenant nation despite the storms of politics and war.

On a theological level, the mention of much equipment (v. 13) and the greater multitude underscores the intensity of Hellenistic warfare. Still, what resonates most is that no matter how vast the Seleucid armies became, they remained subject to God’s overarching narrative (Daniel 11:36). The repeated message for believers is to anchor hope in the everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15), not in the fleeting might of human rulers. Earthly empires, whether ancient or modern, will rise after an interval and then decline, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.

We see that Daniel 11:10-13 forms part of a larger storyline describing how God’s people found themselves at the intersection of major empires. Even minute historical details-kings, alliances, betrayals-occur exactly as foretold, testifying to the trustworthiness of Scripture. Across these power struggles, Scripture consistently points toward a future hope, where Christ reigns as the true King, establishing a kingdom founded not on coercion or intrigue, but on sacrificial love (Philippians 2:8-11). Such a vision encourages us, in every generation, to place our faith in God’s enduring sovereignty rather than in any temporary might of this world.