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Verses 20-23. When we come to verse 20, Ptolemy V Epiphanes is dead, Ptolemy VI Philometor is pharaoh in Egypt and Cleopatra is the queen mother. Antiochus III The Great is now dead and Seleucus IV Philopator, his son, becomes king over the Seleucid Empire. He is the one who “shall arise in his place.” Seleucus inherited a great debt that his father did not pay to Rome for his failed invasion. So he “imposes taxes” to pay off the debt to Rome. and sent his prime minister, Heriodorus, to Palestine - “the glorious kingdom” - to collect taxes. Seleucus died of poisoning after a reign of only eleven years - “within a few days he shall be destroyed.” With verse 21, Antiochus IV Epiphanes arrives on the scene of history. Epiphanes means “the magnificent one” or “the illustrious.” He was not of royal blood and had no right to the throne. The throne belonged to Demetrius Soter who was in prison in Rome. So Antiochus made alliances with the king of Pergamos and others in the area, as well as Rome. Rome helped Antiochus take the throne in Antioch and become the new king over the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus defeated numerous coup attempts and attacked Egypt when he heard they were planning to attack. Antiochus agreed to an alliance with Ptolemy VI Philometor to help Ptolemy claim all of Egypt. But the alliance lasted only while Antiochus was militarily weak. |
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