Daniel 11:29
At the time appointed he shall returne, and come toward the South: but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. Daniel 11:29 (KJV)
The verse is part of the prophetic vision given to Daniel, who lived during the Babylonian exile. The book of Daniel contains a series of prophecies that foretell events involving the rise and fall of various kingdoms, especially the power struggles that followed the death of Alexander the Great.
Daniel 11:1‑28 records the ongoing conflict between the king of the North, representing the Seleucid dynasty, and the king of the South, representing the Ptolemaic dynasty. These two Hellenistic kingdoms vied for control of the region that included the land of Israel. Within this larger narrative, verse 29 marks a shift of focus to a particular monarch who “shall return” at a set time.
Many scholars identify this returning monarch with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who reigned from 175 to 164 BC. Antiochus IV launched a military campaign against Egypt, the Ptolemaic realm that lay to the south of his Syrian base. The verse’s language of moving “toward the south” aligns with that historical expedition.
The prophecy adds that the king’s actions “shall not be as the former, or as the latter,” indicating that the outcome of this southern campaign would differ from his earlier successes. Historically, Antiochus IV’s Egyptian campaign ended in setback, contrasting with his prior victories in the region.
While the passage contains concrete historical references, the visions in Daniel also employ symbolic imagery that has been interpreted in various ways, including perspectives that see the text as pointing beyond the immediate Hellenistic period toward future prophetic fulfillment.
In summary, Daniel 11:29 describes a king who will return at an appointed time and move toward the south, a scenario most commonly linked to Antiochus IV’s unsuccessful Egyptian campaign. The verse reflects both the specific historical clash between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms and the broader prophetic themes that run throughout the book of Daniel.
