He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand [on his side], neither be for him.
He shall also set {H7760} his face {H6440} to enter {H935} with the strength {H8633} of his whole kingdom {H4438}, and upright ones {H3477} with him; thus shall he do {H6213}: and he shall give {H5414} him the daughter {H1323} of women {H802}, corrupting {H7843} her: but she shall not stand {H5975} on his side, neither be for him.
He will determinedly advance with the full force of his kingdom, but he will make an agreement with the king of the south and give him a daughter in marriage. His object will be to destroy him, but the agreement will not last or work out in his favor.
He will resolve to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will reach an agreement with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plan will not succeed or help him.
And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him.
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Ezekiel 4:3
Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it [for] a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This [shall be] a sign to the house of Israel. -
Ezekiel 4:7
Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm [shall be] uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it. -
2 Kings 12:17
¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. -
Proverbs 19:21
¶ [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. -
Psalms 56:9
When I cry [unto thee], then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God [is] for me. -
Matthew 12:30
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. -
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:
Daniel 11:17 continues the intricate prophetic narrative detailing the conflicts between the "King of the North" (typically identified as the Seleucid king, Antiochus III the Great) and the "King of the South" (the Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy V Epiphanes). This verse describes Antiochus III's cunning strategy to consolidate power and undermine his rival.
Historical and Cultural Context
This verse points to a specific historical event around 193 BC. After various military campaigns, Antiochus III, the King of the North, decided to employ a different tactic against Ptolemy V. He proposed a marriage alliance, offering his own daughter, Cleopatra I (not the famous Cleopatra VII of Antony and Caesar fame), to Ptolemy V. This was a common political maneuver in the ancient Near East, intended to secure peace and extend influence without direct military conquest. However, Antiochus's true intention, as the prophecy reveals, was to "corrupt" or subvert the Ptolemaic kingdom from within through his daughter's position.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "corrupting her" comes from the Hebrew word שָׁחַת (shachat), which means to spoil, ruin, or destroy. In this context, it implies an intent to undermine the Ptolemaic kingdom through the marriage. Antiochus's aim was to gain an advantage and weaken Egypt by planting an agent within its royal family, even if that agent was his own daughter. The KJV's "daughter of women" simply emphasizes her human origin, a common Hebrew idiom, contrasting perhaps with divine or supernatural elements and highlighting her role as a pawn in political games.
Related Scriptures
The detailed prophecies of Daniel 11 are unique in their specificity, revealing God's knowledge of future events. This chapter should be read in conjunction with other sections of Daniel that speak of future kingdoms and their interactions, such as the vision of the four beasts in Daniel 7 or the ram and goat in Daniel 8. The idea that human plans do not always succeed aligns with Proverbs 19:21: "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand."
Practical Application
While this verse describes ancient history, its principles remain relevant. It reminds us that human intentions, even those cloaked in peace or alliance, can be driven by self-interest and a desire for control. We are called to discern motives and recognize that not all overtures are genuine. More profoundly, it reinforces the truth that God's ultimate purposes cannot be thwarted by human cunning or power. Even when world leaders scheme and nations clash, God remains in control, working out His sovereign will for all of history, giving us peace in a tumultuous world, as also seen in Psalm 46:10.