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Daniel 11:10

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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.

But his sons {H1121} shall be stirred up {H1624}, and shall assemble {H622} a multitude {H1995} of great {H7227} forces {H2428}: and one shall certainly {H935} come {H935}, and overflow {H7857}, and pass through {H5674}: then shall he return {H7725}, and be stirred up {H1624}, even to his fortress {H4581}.

His sons will rouse themselves to muster a large and powerful army, which will advance like a flood passing through. In another campaign, it will march on the enemy stronghold.

But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress.

And his sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress.

Commentary

Daniel 11:10 reads: "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."

Context

Daniel 11 is a remarkable chapter, known for its highly detailed prophecy concerning the political and military conflicts that would unfold in the centuries following Daniel's time. It specifically describes the struggles between two major Hellenistic dynasties that arose after the death of Alexander the Great: the Ptolemies of Egypt (the "King of the South") and the Seleucids of Syria (the "King of the North"). These two powers frequently clashed over control of the land of Israel, which lay strategically between them.

Verse 10 continues the narrative, following the initial division of Alexander's kingdom. "His sons" refers to the successors of the "king of the North" mentioned in previous verses, typically understood to be Seleucus I Nicator. This verse foretells a significant military resurgence by the Seleucid dynasty, leading to a powerful invasion.

Key Themes

  • Military Mobilization: The verse highlights massive assembling of forces, emphasizing the scale of the impending conflict.
  • Overwhelming Invasion: The imagery of "overflowing" and "passing through" conveys an unstoppable, flood-like conquest, indicative of a dominant military campaign.
  • Prophetic Accuracy: Daniel's prophecy here, like much of chapter 11, demonstrates an astonishing level of detail that aligns remarkably with historical events, underscoring God's foreknowledge and sovereignty over human affairs.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "stirred up" (נָעוּ - na'u) suggests being agitated, provoked, or roused to action, particularly for war. It implies a vigorous and determined military preparation. The term "overflow" (שָׁטַף - shataph) is often used in prophetic literature to describe an overwhelming, flood-like invasion or conquest, signifying a force that sweeps away all opposition. This powerful imagery is also found in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah 8:8 and Daniel 9:26, portraying irresistible power.

Historical Significance

Historians and biblical scholars widely interpret this verse as referring to the campaigns of Antiochus III the Great, a powerful Seleucid king who reigned from 223-187 BC. He was a son of Seleucus II Callinicus (or successor in the Seleucid line). After initial setbacks, Antiochus III launched extensive campaigns against the Ptolemaic kingdom. The "one" who "shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through" is identified as Antiochus III, who indeed assembled a formidable army and launched a series of successful invasions into Ptolemaic territories, including Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, which were crucial for controlling the land of Israel. His return "to his fortress" likely refers to his base of power in Syria, from which he would continue to plan and execute further military actions.

Practical Application

The precise fulfillment of prophecies like Daniel 11:10 offers profound reassurance. It demonstrates that God is not merely an observer of history but its orchestrator. Even amidst the chaotic rise and fall of empires, the Lord's plan is unfolding, and His word is true. For believers today, this provides a foundation of trust that God is sovereign over all circumstances, from global geopolitical shifts to individual lives. Just as He accurately foretold the movements of ancient kings, we can be confident in His ultimate victory and the fulfillment of all His promises, including the final establishment of His kingdom.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 46:7 (3 votes)

    Who [is] this [that] cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

  • Jeremiah 46:8 (3 votes)

    Egypt riseth up like a flood, and [his] waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, [and] will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

  • Daniel 11:7 (3 votes)

    But out of a branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:

  • Daniel 9:26 (3 votes)

    And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

  • Jeremiah 51:42 (3 votes)

    The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.

  • Isaiah 8:7 (2 votes)

    Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

  • Isaiah 8:8 (2 votes)

    And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.