The Rise of an Evil King From the North

Daniel 11:20–28
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During his brief reign, Seleucus V taxed the people greatly. His Jewish tax collector, Heliodorus, took matters into his own hands and poisoned his master (v. 20). This assassination only set the stage for someone much worse. Verse 21 says, “In his place will arise a contemptible (evil) person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He will come in (peace) without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” Many believe this man, Antiochus IV, came out of Syria. He was NOT next in line to the throne, not the son of the last king. But he took the throne by manipulation and false promises. A favorite tactic of his was to offer his intended victims an alliance. Then, once they were off their guard, he would move against them. 

Antiochus IV took the title “Epiphanes”, which meant “Illustrious or Glorious” in Greek. The Jews however, loved to take names like that and change them slightly to make a pun or a joke. So they Jewish people called him Antiochus “Epimanes”, meaning “the mad man, the man out of his mind.” 

The “prince of the covenant” mentioned in verse 22 most likely referred to Onias III, the Jewish high priest at that time. Antiochus IV removed him from his office. Antiochus IV failed to conquer the king of the south. He leaded his army in great battles and brought back some treasures, but he did not win (vv. 23-28). 

Application

“A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with a perverted heart devise evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.” – Prov. 6:12-15 (ESV). When you see the wicked prospering, remember it’s only temporary. God, the righteous judge will make all things right in the end.