Daniel 11:8

Translations

Modern

He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,

Traditional

And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

Literal

And even their gods, with their princes, with the vessels of their desiring, silver and gold, he will carry away into captivity to Egypt. And he will stand back some years from the king of the north,

Latin

Insuper et deos eorum, et sculptilia, vasa quoque pretiosa argenti et auri, captiva ducet in Ægyptum: ipse prævalebit adversus regem aquilonis.

Original

Hebrew

English

He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,

Notes

Daniel 11:7–8

one from her family line: Berenice’s brother Ptolemy III Euergetes, became king of the south from 246 to 221 BC. He invaded Syria with his army, defeated the king of the north, Seleucus II Callinicus, who ruled from 246 to 226 BC, and occupied the fortress cities of Antioch and Seleucia. He expanded the Ptolemaic kingdom to its greatest size. When he returned to Egypt, he took their idols with him but left Seleucus II on the throne.

Daniel 11:5–45

In this passage, the king of the South refers to Alexander's general Ptolemy and his descendants, who ruled Egypt. The king of the North refers to Alexander's general Seleucus and his descendants, who ruled Syria and Mesopotamia.

After Alexander's death, the kings of Egypt and Syria fought for control of Palestine, a strategically important land. The holy city and its people were caught between these two powers. These battles continued until their predetermined end (Daniel 11:27, 35, 40, 45; 12:1, 7).

Historical accounts of these events appear in 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees and in the works of Herodotus, Livy, Polybius, Porphyry, and Josephus.

Daniel 11:2–12:7

The messenger shared a broad overview of history. It started with Persia, continued through the fall of Greece, and covered the rise and fall of a wicked king or several kings (Daniel 11:21–45). It concluded with the final resurrection and victory of God's people.

Daniel 10:1–12:13

This final vision spans from 536 BC to a future when Daniel will rise from the dead and receive his inheritance. All earthly kingdoms will be destroyed. The eternal kingdom of the Son of Man will arise. God's people will finally be rescued, and death, the ultimate enemy, will be defeated.

Theme notes and profiles

Daniel Hellenistic Kingdoms Apocalyptic Literature

Events

Prophecies of Danielc. 606 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 37:19
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
Isaiah 46:1–2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
Jeremiah 43:12–13
I will kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and take their gods as captives. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in his garment, and he will depart from there unscathed.
Exodus 12:12
On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
Hosea 10:5–6
The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile.
Jeremiah 46:25
The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh.
Deuteronomy 12:3
Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.
Daniel 1:2–3
And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
Isaiah 2:16
…against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel.
Genesis 31:30
Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
Daniel 10:3
I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
Numbers 33:4
…who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Apocalyptic Book of Daniel Daniel (Person) Seleucia

Topics

Silver: Vessels of Syria: Prophecies Respecting: Its History in Connection with the Macedonia Empire The Macedonian Empire: Predictions Respecting: Its Four Divisions

Daniel 11:8

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