What is the context?
Many rise against the southern king, including violent people from Daniel’s own nation. Their attempt fails. The northern invader takes a fortified city and establishes himself in the Beautiful Land.
He makes another agreement involving a daughter given in marriage, intending to gain control through it. That plan does not achieve what he intends.
He then turns toward the coastlands, but a commander turns back his aggression. Returning toward his own fortresses, he falls and disappears. The passage follows power that expands through force and marriage arrangements, then meets limits it cannot overcome.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley identifies the northern ruler as Antiochus III and the daughter as Cleopatra, whose loyalty did not serve her father’s design. He connects the reversal in the coastlands with Roman opposition. Henry sees the succession of reversals within God’s knowledge of the nations’ affairs.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.