Daniel 11 10

Daniel 11:10 kjv

But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

Daniel 11:10 nkjv

However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

Daniel 11:10 niv

His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

Daniel 11:10 esv

"His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.

Daniel 11:10 nlt

However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy's fortress.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 10 meaning

Daniel 11:10 describes a significant military resurgence and aggressive campaign. It foretells that the successors of the previously mentioned King of the North (Seleucid dynasty) would actively prepare for and escalate conflict, assembling a massive army. This formidable force would advance swiftly and overwhelmingly, like a destructive flood, sweeping through vast territories and carrying the war directly to the fortified positions of the King of the South (Ptolemaic dynasty).

Daniel 11 10 Context

Daniel 11 provides a remarkably detailed prophecy concerning the ongoing conflicts between the "King of the North" (Seleucid Empire based in Syria) and the "King of the South" (Ptolemaic Empire based in Egypt) following the death of Alexander the Great. These wars primarily revolved around the control of Coele-Syria, the region including Judea. Verse 10 specifically describes the aggressive actions that follow the temporary setback of the King of the North in verse 9, where he was defeated and forced to retreat by the King of the South. Historically, this verse refers to Antiochus III the Great (King of the North), who, after suffering defeat at Raphia, recovered and mounted new, aggressive campaigns against Ptolemaic Egypt to reclaim lost territories. The detailed accuracy of this prophecy underscores divine foreknowledge over human history, demonstrating God's sovereign control over world empires.

Daniel 11 10 Word analysis

• His sons (וּבָנָיו - u'vanav):
  • וּ (u') - "and," a conjunction linking to prior events.
  • בָנָיו (banav) - "his sons." While literally "sons," in prophetic and ancient Near Eastern contexts, this can refer to direct descendants, successors, or even those who continue the legacy/lineage of a king or kingdom. Here, it signifies a generation that follows the previously described king, referring to the subsequent aggressive actions of the Seleucid dynasty under Antiochus III, consolidating power and preparing for a counter-attack after his father's (Seleucus II Callinicus) defeats.
• will prepare for war (יִתְגָּרוּ - yit'gawroo):
  • Root: גָּרָה (garah) - to excite, stir up, provoke, contend.
  • Hitpael form: "to engage themselves in provocation" or "to make war aggressively." Implies intentional, energetic preparation and active initiation of conflict, not merely passive defense. It speaks of a purposeful, confrontational mindset.
• and assemble (וְאָסְפוּ - v'asfu):
  • Root: אָסַף (asaf) - to gather, collect. A standard term for assembling people, specifically an army.
• a great army (הָמוֹן רָב - hamon rav):
  • הָמוֹן (hamon) - "multitude," "crowd," often with a connotation of noise or tumultuous mass, frequently used for a vast military force.
  • רָב (rav) - "great," "numerous," intensifying the magnitude of the multitude. Together, it stresses an exceptionally large and formidable military assembly.
• which will advance (וּבָא - u'va):
  • Root: בֹּא (bo') - to come, to enter, to advance. Indicates a forward movement, an aggressive invasion.
• like a flood (וְשָׁטַף - v'shahtaf):
  • Root: שָׁטַף (shataf) - to overflow, inundate, wash away. This is a powerful, destructive simile, depicting the army's movement as irresistible, pervasive, and overwhelming, like a river bursting its banks. It conveys the speed, volume, and destructive force of the invasion.
• and sweep over (וְעָבָר - v'avar):
  • Root: עָבַר (avar) - to pass over, pass through, transgress. This further emphasizes the unhindered penetration and traversal of the enemy territory.
• They will return (וְשָׁב - v'shav):
  • Root: שׁוּב (shuv) - to turn back, return. This implies a continuation or a renewed surge of the attack after initially sweeping through the land. Some interpretations see it as a second wave of invasion or reclaiming previously conquered areas.
• and again carry the fighting (וְיִתְגָּרוּ - v'yit'gawroo):
  • The repetition of "yit'gawroo" (prepare for war/stir up trouble) emphasizes persistent aggression and sustained military effort, not a one-time campaign. It signals renewed, active hostility.
• to his fortress (עַד מִבְצָרוֹ - ad miv'tsaro):
  • עַד (ad) - "to," "as far as," marking the objective or limit of the invasion.
  • מִבְצָרוֹ (miv'tsaro) - "his fortress," referring to the stronghold or fortified defenses of the opposing king (King of the South). It highlights the intention to directly confront and attack the heart of the enemy's strength.

Words-group analysis:

• "His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army": This phrase describes a deliberate and massive military mobilization. It points to careful strategic planning and resource gathering to create an overwhelming force, indicating a shift from a defensive stance to an aggressive offensive.
• "which will advance like a flood and sweep over the land": This imagery highlights the irresistible momentum and vastness of the invading army. It signifies a rapid, widespread conquest, where opposing forces or territories are easily submerged and overcome.
• "They will return and again carry the fighting to his fortress": This signifies sustained aggression and an intense focus on breaking the enemy's defensive capabilities. The act of "returning" and "carrying the fighting again" points to persistent campaigning aimed at penetrating and occupying the most vital and protected enemy strongholds.

Daniel 11 10 Bonus section

The historical period covered by Daniel 11:10-19 largely focuses on Antiochus III's campaigns against Egypt and his ultimate defeat by the Romans, showing how the "King of the North" could indeed advance dramatically and sweep over the land, only to face a greater power in the future. The exact identity of "his sons" has been a point of scholarly discussion, with some taking it as referring to a singular powerful successor (Antiochus III as a "son" or descendant in the royal line) who acts, while others understand it to encompass immediate successors who together represent the continued aggressive policies. The consensus points to Antiochus III’s resurgence in the Fourth Syrian War and subsequent campaigns (circa 219–217 BC and beyond) as the fulfillment.

Daniel 11 10 Commentary

Daniel 11:10 vividly foretells the re-emergence of Seleucid power under Antiochus III the Great following a period of setback. The prophecy emphasizes deliberate and extensive preparation, portraying the raising of a formidable army ("great army") driven by aggressive intent ("prepare for war"). The subsequent military advance is depicted with powerful flood imagery, conveying irresistible force, speed, and widespread conquest, indicative of how thoroughly and easily this large army would overwhelm resistance and territory. The repetition of "carry the fighting" highlights the relentless nature of the campaign, indicating a sustained effort to directly target and breach the fortified defenses of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. This historical fulfillment by Antiochus III against Ptolemy IV after the Battle of Raphia serves as a potent testament to the precise, divinely-revealed knowledge embedded within Daniel's prophecy, confirming God's sovereign hand in shaping the course of human history and the destinies of empires.