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Verses 29-31.
About two years later, 168 B.C., Antiochus learns that Ptolemy VI
Philometor and Ptolemy VII Eugeretes have made an alliance against
him. So he decides to attack Egypt. Two years earlier he had been
successful for a brief period of time, but this time when he brings
his army against Egypt, he is surprised by a Roman emissary, Popilius
Laenas.
Antiochus did not know that Rome had
agreed to help Egypt. Chittim or “Cyprus” refers to the
northeast part of the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy. The Romans
had come in ships and when Antiochus arrived in Egypt, Popilius Laenas
told him that he could not enter Egypt. At first Antiochus refused
to go back home, so Laenas drew a circle about him and told him that
he had to respond before he stepped out of the circle. Historians
say that after a few moments of humiliating silence, Antiochus agreed
and left Egypt in a rage. On his way home, he released his rage on
the Jews.
Conclusion.
This is Antiochus’ place in history. Verse 21 calls him a “despicable
man.” Two other Bible translations call him a “vile man”
or a “contemptible man.” Did you think all of the men and
women we saw earlier in the chapter were good people? Did you think
that murder, divorce, revenge, anger, insults, and war were wrong,
bad, wicked, or evil? If you thought that men and women could be any
worse, stop to think about Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was a “despicable
man.” |
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