Daniel 11 9

Daniel 11:9 kjv

So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

Daniel 11:9 nkjv

"Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.

Daniel 11:9 niv

Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

Daniel 11:9 esv

Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

Daniel 11:9 nlt

"Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 9 meaning

Daniel 11:9 prophesies a military campaign by the "king of the North" (Seleucid monarch Seleucus II Callinicus) against the "kingdom of the South" (Ptolemaic Egypt, under Ptolemy III Euergetes). The verse foretells the outcome: despite his initial move, the Northern king will ultimately fail in his objective and retreat, returning to his own territory without success or lasting gain. This specific event signifies a reversal of fortunes from a previous campaign and underscores God's meticulous foresight in human affairs.

Daniel 11 9 Context

Daniel chapter 11, specifically verses 1-35, provides an extraordinary detailed and accurate prophetic history of the Ptolemaic (Kingdom of the South) and Seleucid (Kingdom of the North) dynasties. These were the Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged from the division of Alexander the Great's empire (mentioned in Dan 11:3-4). The "king of the North" generally refers to the Seleucid rulers who controlled Syria and Mesopotamia, while the "king of the South" refers to the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt.

Verse 9 occurs in the middle of this intricate historical unfolding. It follows the narrative of Ptolemy III Euergetes (King of the South) exacting heavy revenge upon Seleucus II Callinicus (King of the North) in the Third Syrian War (11:7-8). Ptolemy III had sacked Seleucid territories, brought back much booty, and reigned "more years than the former king," indicating his successful rule. Verse 9 then describes Seleucus II's retaliatory campaign, which historically occurred around 241 BC. This campaign was an attempt to regain lost prestige and territory, but as the prophecy declares, it was doomed to fail. This verse, therefore, highlights a specific reversal in the ongoing geopolitical struggle between these two major powers, setting the stage for subsequent interactions prophesied in the following verses.

Daniel 11 9 Word analysis

• So: Implies a connection to the preceding events, particularly the aggressive actions and successes of the "king of the South" described in Daniel 11:7-8. It signifies a consequence or a counter-movement.
• he: (Hebrew: huwʾ - הוּא) Refers unambiguously to the "king of the North," identified as Seleucus II Callinicus. This personal pronoun highlights a singular protagonist initiating the action.
• shall come: (Hebrew: yābōʾ - יָבוֹא) Future tense verb, predicting a military movement, an invasion, or a march. It denotes a decisive initial action by the Northern king.
• into the kingdom of the South: (Hebrew: ba-malkût hadārôm - בְּמַלְכוּת הַדָּרוֹם) This specific geographical and political designation points to Ptolemaic Egypt. It indicates the target of the Northern king's aggressive maneuver.
• but he: (Hebrew: wəhuwʾ - וְהוּא) The conjunction "but" (waw conjunctive) introduces a strong contrast or opposition to the previous clause. The second "he" again refers to the same King of the North.
• shall return: (Hebrew: wəšāḇ - וְשָׁב) This is the crucial word, implying a withdrawal or retreat. It carries the weight of an unsuccessful venture; the king leaves the field of conflict without achieving his objectives. This "returning" marks the failure of the preceding "coming."
• to his own land: (Hebrew: ’el-’arṣōw - אֶל-אַרְצוֹ) Signifies the ultimate destination of the retreating king. He ends up back where he started, reinforcing the idea that his campaign yielded no territorial gain or victory. It means his campaign was futile.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• So he shall come into the kingdom of the South: This phrase describes the initial movement—an aggressive, forward military push by the Seleucid king into Egyptian territory. It portrays an attempt to project power and perhaps avenge previous defeats, specifically the heavy losses Seleucus II suffered during the Third Syrian War at the hands of Ptolemy III.
• but he shall return to his own land: This contrasting phrase decisively reverses the expectation set by the first part. The "return" signifies not a successful conquest, but a retreat. The "to his own land" underscores that the venture was a failure, with no new territory acquired or lasting victory secured. This demonstrates the futility of his military action and foreshadows God's ultimate control over even the most powerful human rulers' ambitions. The swift change from "coming into" to "returning to his own land" implies a rapid, decisive failure rather than a prolonged occupation.

Daniel 11 9 Bonus section

The historical fulfillment of Daniel 11:9 points specifically to the ill-fated campaign of Seleucus II Callinicus against Ptolemy III Euergetes. Josephus, Porphyry (a non-Christian historian quoting earlier sources), and Jerome (commenting on Daniel) all acknowledge this exact historical parallel, showing that even early pagan and Christian commentators recognized the specific fulfillment of this highly detailed prophecy. This specific defeat marked a low point for the Seleucid empire during this period, following the successes of Ptolemy III. It set a precedent for the ongoing back-and-forth between these powers, all under the overarching hand of God. The divine foresight showcased in these details serves as foundational proof of the inspiration of the book of Daniel and its accurate portrayal of future events.

Daniel 11 9 Commentary

Daniel 11:9 succinctly captures a significant moment in the tumultuous interactions between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires, providing yet another piece of astonishingly accurate prophetic history. Following the severe humiliation Seleucus II (King of the North) endured from Ptolemy III (King of the South) in the Third Syrian War (verses 7-8), this verse details Seleucus II's counter-attack. The prophecy, made centuries in advance, states he would "come into the kingdom of the South" – initiating a military expedition – but would "return to his own land." Historical accounts corroborate this. Seleucus II indeed launched a retaliatory campaign around 241 BC, attempting to invade Ptolemaic Egypt. However, this expedition met with disaster, characterized by shipwrecks and troop desertions. He suffered significant losses and was forced to retreat, returning to his kingdom without having achieved any victory or having secured any advantage.

The precision of this forecast serves multiple purposes. For the original Jewish audience, it reinforced the absolute sovereignty of their God over human history and political powers, providing assurance that His promises and prophecies concerning Israel's future (even amidst these warring gentile nations) were equally certain. It is a powerful testament to the prophetic reliability of Scripture. This specific reversal of fortune, where a mighty king's ambition leads only to retreat, demonstrates the limits of human power when set against the predetermined counsel of God.