Daniel 11:15

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.

So the king {H4428} of the north {H6828} shall come {H935}, and cast up {H8210} a mount {H5550}, and take {H3920} the most fenced {H4013} cities {H5892}: and the arms {H2220} of the south {H5045} shall not withstand {H5975}, neither his chosen {H4005} people {H5971}, neither shall there be any strength {H3581} to withstand {H5975}.

"Then the king of the north will come, set up siege-works and capture a fortified city; the forces of the south will be insufficient defense, even his elite troops will not be strong enough to resist.

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

So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand.

Daniel 11:15 is a pivotal verse within one of the Bible's most detailed prophecies, outlining future conflicts between two major powers in the ancient world. This verse describes the overwhelming military success of the "king of the north" against the "king of the south," marking a significant turning point in their ongoing struggle.

Context of Daniel 11:15

The book of Daniel, particularly chapter 11, presents a remarkable series of prophecies concerning the historical interactions between the Ptolemaic dynasty (the "king of the south," ruling Egypt) and the Seleucid dynasty (the "king of the north," ruling Syria), which emerged from the division of Alexander the Great's empire. These prophecies are so precise that they have often been mistaken by critics for history written after the fact, yet their divine origin is evident in their unparalleled accuracy.

Verse 15 specifically details the military campaign of Antiochus III (the Great), the Seleucid king, against Ptolemy V of Egypt during the Fifth Syrian War (c. 202-198 BC). This period saw Antiochus III's aggressive expansion, particularly his successful efforts to reclaim Coele-Syria from Ptolemaic control. The prophecy vividly describes the siege tactics, where the king of the north would "cast up a mount" (a siege ramp) to take "fenced cities" (fortified strongholds), illustrating the strategic and overwhelming nature of his assault.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Foreknowledge: This verse, like much of Daniel 11, profoundly demonstrates God's ability to declare the end from the beginning. It underscores His perfect knowledge of future events, even centuries before they occur.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The historical accuracy with which these prophecies unfolded provides compelling evidence for the divine inspiration of Scripture. The defeat of the "arms of the south" and their "chosen people" (elite troops) by Antiochus III is well-documented in secular history, testifying to the Bible's reliability.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Kingdoms: Despite the seemingly chaotic struggles between earthly powers, Daniel's prophecies consistently reveal that God is ultimately in control. Kings rise and fall, and empires clash, but all are part of His overarching plan and purpose.
  • Military Might and Its Limits: While the verse highlights the immense strength of the king of the north, it also subtly points to the transient nature of human power. Even the most formidable military forces eventually succumb to larger divine purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cast up a mount" refers to a common ancient siege tactic where attackers would build an earthen ramp or mound to reach the level of a city's walls, allowing them to breach defenses or deploy siege engines. The "fenced cities" are literally "cities of fortifications," emphasizing their strong defenses. The repeated phrase "shall not withstand, neither... strength to withstand" is a powerful Hebrew idiom emphasizing the complete and utter inability of the southern forces to resist the northern king's advance.

Practical Application

For believers today, Daniel 11:15 offers profound comfort and a call to trust in God's unwavering control. In a world often marked by political turmoil, conflicts, and uncertainty, this passage reminds us that no earthly power or event is outside of God's sovereign oversight. Just as He precisely foretold ancient geopolitical struggles, we can trust that He holds the future in His hands, including the ultimate triumph of His kingdom. Studying fulfilled prophecy strengthens our faith and encourages us to live with confidence in His divine plan.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 6:6

    For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.

  • Ezekiel 17:17

    Neither shall Pharaoh with [his] mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

  • Ezekiel 4:2

    And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set [battering] rams against it round about.

  • Daniel 8:7

    And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

  • Jeremiah 5:10

    ¶ Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they [are] not the LORD'S.

  • Joshua 1:5

    There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    ¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

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