Who are the kings of the north and south in this prophecy?

In this passage the “king of the south” points to the rulers of Egypt who came from Ptolemy’s line, and the “king of the north” points to the rulers of Syria from Seleucus’ line. After Alexander’s empire broke into four parts, these two houses fought again and again. Their wars often crossed through the land of Israel, so their choices deeply affected God’s people. The exact name changes from king to king, but the titles north and south follow these two rival kingdoms over time.

Who is the vile person who gains the kingdom by flatteries?

The “vile person” who comes in peaceably and gains the kingdom by flatteries is understood as Antiochus Epiphanes, a ruler from the northern kingdom. He did not receive the throne in an open, honored way, but slipped into power through schemes and smooth words. He used lies, sudden attacks, and broken promises. He especially harmed the Jews, attacking the holy covenant, stopping the daily sacrifices, and setting up what is called the abomination that makes desolate in the sanctuary.

What is the abomination that maketh desolate in this passage?

The “abomination that maketh desolate” here is linked to the acts of the northern king who attacks the sanctuary. He sends forces to pollute the temple, stop the daily sacrifices, and set up something unclean in God’s place. Many readers connect this with Antiochus Epiphanes putting pagan worship and an idol or pagan altar in the temple. It is called an abomination because it is hateful idolatry, and it brings desolation because it leads to great ruin and suffering for the people and the sanctuary.

What does it mean that the people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits?

This line speaks of faithful Jews in a time of harsh rule and persecution. While many are led astray by flatteries, those who truly know God stand firm. Their strength does not come from armies or wealth, but from trust in God and loyalty to His covenant. They act bravely, resist forced idolatry, teach others, and refuse to give up their faith, even when it costs them their lives. The verse shows that real strength in dark times comes from knowing God, not from human power.

How does this long list of wars show God’s rule over history?

The passage walks through many changes of kings, sudden deaths, broken plans, and shifting borders, yet it is given ahead of time as a clear word from God. That shows that these events are not random. God knows which king will rise, how far he will go, where he will fall, and how their fights will touch His people. Even proud rulers who “do according to their will” can only go as far as God allows. Phrases like “time appointed” remind us God sets the limits and the seasons.

Why does God’s people suffer so much in this prophecy?

In this vision, the land of Israel sits between fighting empires, so God’s people suffer as armies pass through, taxes are raised, and rulers attack the holy covenant. Some faithful people even fall by sword, fire, captivity, and loss. The passage says this happens “to try them, and to purge, and to make them white” until the time of the end. Their trials are not pointless. God uses them to test faith, cleanse His people from false trust, and show who truly belongs to Him, even in pain.

What does this passage teach about pride and false worship in rulers?

Several rulers in this chapter grow proud after victories and riches. One king’s heart is lifted up after a big win, but he gains no lasting strength. Another king exalts himself above every god, speaks proud words against the God of gods, and honors a strange god of power and strongholds instead of the true God. Their pride leads them to attack God’s covenant and people. The passage shows that such pride and false worship may seem to succeed for a time, but in the end these kings fall with no one to help.

How can believers today apply the message of this prophecy?

This passage reminds believers that world events, even confusing and painful ones, are not outside God’s hand. Empires and leaders change, but God sets their limits. It also shows that knowing God gives strength when rulers are unjust or when faith is costly. Like the faithful in the passage, believers today are called to stay loyal to God’s ways, resist pressure to compromise, accept that there may be loss, and trust that God’s plan will stand even when proud powers seem to win for a while.

What is meant by “the time appointed” and “the time of the end” here?

The passage often speaks of “the time appointed” and ends with a clash “at the time of the end.” This shows that God has fixed times for these events. Kings do not choose their own times; God has set when they rise, act, and fall. Faithful readers have seen this in more than one way. Some link much of this to past rulers like Antiochus, others see a future final king in the closing verses. In both views, the main point is that God controls the timing and the end of all proud rule.

Dan.11.1

Daniel 11:1

KJV GOD

Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

Kings of the South and North

1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

5 ¶ And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

7 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:

8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

10 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.

11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

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.

16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

17 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.

18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.

19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

27 And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.

29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

30 ¶ For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.