Daniel 11 15

Daniel 11:15 kjv

So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

Daniel 11:15 nkjv

So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

Daniel 11:15 niv

Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand.

Daniel 11:15 esv

Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand.

Daniel 11:15 nlt

Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 15 meaning

This verse prophesies a significant military triumph of the King of the North over the King of the South. It details an aggressive campaign where the Northern power will successfully besiege and capture a fortified city, utterly crushing the Southern forces. The prophecy emphasizes the complete inability of the King of the South's army, even their most elite troops, to offer any effective resistance.

Daniel 11 15 Context

Daniel chapter 11 provides a remarkably detailed prophecy concerning the ongoing conflicts between the Hellenistic empires, specifically the Seleucid dynasty (King of the North) and the Ptolemaic dynasty (King of the South), following the division of Alexander the Great's empire. These conflicts are known historically as the Syrian Wars, fought over control of Koile-Syria and the coastal regions, which included Judea and was crucial for both empires.

Daniel 11:15 refers to a major military offensive during the Fifth Syrian War, around 201-198 BC. Historically, this describes the campaign of Antiochus III "the Great" of the Seleucid Empire against Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt. Following the Battle of Panium (Dan 11:14), Antiochus III capitalized on his victory to conquer various cities under Ptolemaic control. The verse highlights the overwhelming force and successful siege tactics of Antiochus III, leading to a complete collapse of Ptolemaic resistance, confirming the prophetic pattern of one power dominating the other at specific times, all under divine oversight. This era was characterized by intense power struggles where alliances shifted, and territorial claims were aggressively pursued, significantly impacting the Jewish people living in the contested land.

Daniel 11 15 Word analysis

• So: Implies a logical consequence of previous events, linking this verse to the preceding narrative of power shifts.

• the king of the North (מֶלֶךְ הַצָּפוֹן - melek haṣṣāfôn): This refers to the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, which was geographically north of Judea. At this stage of the prophecy, it signifies Antiochus III, renowned for his military prowess and expansionist goals.

• shall come: A clear prediction of a future action, asserting prophetic certainty.

• and throw up siege ramps (וְשָׁפַךְ סֹלְלָה - vᵉshafak solelāh): Literally, "and pour out an embankment/mound." This describes the construction of earthworks and ramps to overcome city walls during a siege, a common and effective tactic in ancient warfare, indicating a methodical and overwhelming assault.

• and take a strong city (וְלָכַד עִיר מִבְצָרוֹת - vᵉlakad îr mivṣārôt): Signifies the successful capture of a heavily fortified city, illustrating the King of the North's formidable military power. This likely refers to Sidon, which was famously besieged and captured by Antiochus III.

• And the forces of the South (וּזְרֹעוֹת הַנֶּגֶב - ûzᵉrōʿôṯ hanneg̱eḇ): "Arms of the South," representing the military might and general power of the Ptolemaic (Egyptian) kingdom.

• shall not stand (וְלֹא יַעֲמֹד - vᵉlō' yaʿamod): A strong negation emphasizing complete defeat and inability to resist or hold ground. Their defense will crumble.

• nor even his finest troops (וְעַם מִבְחָרָיו - vᵉʿam mivḥārâv): Lit. "and his chosen people/army." This refers to the elite, highly trained, and most capable soldiers. Even the best of the King of the South's military would be ineffective.

• nor shall there be any strength (וְאֵין כֹּחַ - vᵉʾên kōaḥ): Another emphatic negation, stating a total lack of power or capability. Kōaḥ means might, vigor, or strength.

• to resist (לַעֲמֹד - laʿămod): Literally, "to stand." Reiteration of the previous "shall not stand," reinforcing the utter collapse and futility of any opposition.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "throw up siege ramps and take a strong city": This phrase succinctly captures a decisive and skilled military campaign, highlighting the technical and strategic prowess employed for a complete conquest.
  • "And the forces of the South shall not stand, nor even his finest troops, nor shall there be any strength to resist": This tripartite negative statement creates a powerful and emphatic declaration of total defeat. It demonstrates an absolute lack of capacity for the Southern kingdom to defend itself, from its general forces to its elite units, signifying an irreversible shift in regional power.

Daniel 11 15 Bonus section

The events described in Daniel 11:15 correspond closely to the historical records of the Fifth Syrian War (c. 201-198 BC), where Antiochus III achieved significant victories against Ptolemy V Epiphanes. This period marked a crucial shift of power in Koile-Syria and Judea from Ptolemaic to Seleucid control. The detail of "throwing up siege ramps" reflects a common but demanding ancient military practice, underscoring the realism of the prophecy. The complete incapacitation of the Southern forces highlights a major political and military decline for the Ptolemaic dynasty, which suffered from internal unrest and a young, inexperienced king at the time. This verse, therefore, acts as a pivotal point in Daniel's prophetic timeline for the inter-testamental period, leading into the even more detailed descriptions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes later in the chapter.

Daniel 11 15 Commentary

Daniel 11:15 precisely foretells a critical juncture in the conflicts between the Seleucid (North) and Ptolemaic (South) empires. It prophesies the overwhelming success of the King of the North, specifically Antiochus III "the Great," in a decisive military campaign. The detailed description of throwing up siege ramps and taking a fortified city points to his strategic military engineering and effective tactics, leading to the capture of crucial coastal strongholds like Sidon. The repeated emphasis on the complete inability of the King of the South's forces, even their elite, to stand against him underscores the utter dominance of Antiochus III at this phase. This detailed historical accuracy within a prophetic text serves to validate the divine origin of Daniel's visions and reinforces God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations. It's a reminder that even the mightiest human powers operate within the bounds of God's foreordained plan, a pattern consistently shown throughout biblical history.