30.  -Daniel Chapter 11, Verse 10. Civil War in Palestine, Sons of the Maccabees. BC 168.

Aristobulus and Hyrcanus,

Pompey of Rome. BC 77-63. 

And so, verse 10 is such a verse moving in such a manner, because it is a verse to stop and remember upon those tumultuous historical times gone before. Which verse 6 and its timing finger on the "end of years" within Daniel 11 has already marked.

We have had the end of the Seleucid dynasty in verse 8 and have seen the terrible beating the Kingdom of Palestine experienced at the hands of the King of the South, Ptolemy IX Lathyrus in verse 7 and 8. Then we have read what became of the King of the South, "coming into his kingdom", in verse 9.

So, verse 10, now takes us back to the "Kingdom of Palestine in the North from Egypt and it tells how that Kingdom of the Jews also had its demise, when that "estate" fell into the hands of the Romans.

Verse 10 begins picking up the threads within secular history for Palestine, which, up to now has been a triangle of warring factions of Syrian, Egyptian and Jewish hopes and aspirations.

Verse 10:- "BUT HIS SONS SHALL BE STIRRED UP, AND SHALL ASSEMBLE A MULTITUDE OF GREAT FORCES". The word "But", now takes us back in this continuing story and to the King of the North, -Palestine,- who is left marking time as it were, waiting for prophecy to move back to them, because, "But" means:- except and besides this, or however excepting that or nevertheless.

So, verse 10 is saying, except and besides the King of the South prevailing over the north and carrying captives and goods into Egypt. The northern kingdoms also have their own internal problems, with civil war in Syria and civil war in Palestine. Now verse 10 tells us reader about that civil war in Palestine, as it did with the Seleucids in Syria, which closed that dynasty.

Because we are now talking of Palestine in verse 10, we are also speaking of the dead King Alexander Jannaeus' sons, who were "stirred up", as verse 10 says and caused that civil war from the enmity between each other from the years 76 BC to 63 BC. The action of these sons being "stirred up with a multitude of forces" began after the death of their father and with their mother Alexandra picking up the crown of the Jews and reigning for 9 tumultuous years.

Let us find out in secular history exactly what happened which got them into this mess.

To be "stirred up" to something, is to be "incited" into action, to be agitated and cause a tumultuous disorder and public disturbance. The "2 sons" of Alexander Jannaeus were named Aristobulus and Hyrcanus and the age-old rivalry between the elder and younger son, was played out in them also. But not without interference from others who made their rivalry far more an open wound than it really was, it was this outside interference that did the real "stirring up", as Daniel puts it!

Their mother Queen Alexandra though wearing the crown of the Jews was only a regent on the throne, the real power lay in the priesthood of the Pharisee. She could not take the High priesthood as her husband had before her, because she was a woman, so she made her son Hyrcanus High priest. Her second son Aristobulus was an active man and was a commander of the army. He desired the crown and was outspoken and rebellious against his mother, saying, "she was not capable of ruling the land of Judah, being in her 70's and in poor health and heart". At 73 years old his mother became very sick, so Aristobulus then set about possessing many of the strongholds of the Kingdom and was lord over most of it.

Hyrcanus being a quiet man did not want the crown and preferred an unobtrusive life, but circumstances of the others around him would not allow for this. When Queen Alexandra died, the state of the kingdom now rested between Aristobulus on one hand, making war against Hyrcanus and the elders of the Jews and Pharisees on the other hand. The battle that ensued at Jericho, saw much desertion of soldiers going over to the side of Aristobulus. Whereupon, Hyrcanus fled into the citadel overlooking the Temple, (which later became known as the "Tower of Antonia").

Here also in this citadel was the wife and children of Aristobulus, whom Queen Alexandra when she was alive had imprisoned. After this battle however Hyrcanus and Aristobulus made an agreement and swore an oath of peace between them, confirming that Aristobulus should be king of Judah, but should not meddle in the politics of the land. Hyrcanus should become a private man instead, because his disposition of his nature was toward a quiet life.

Flavius Josephus in his "History of the Jews" tells us more, of how and why, these 2 brothers were "stirred up" into open conflict with each other, after the taking of their oath.

The "stirrer" or "inciters" name was a so-called friend of Hyrcanus, named Antipater -or- Antipas an Idumean, father of King Herod of the Jews. (Known as the Great). I will quote now from Josephus history of that "stirring up" as Daniel foretold. (Book XIV chapter 1).

"THAT KING ALEXANDER (Jannaeus) AND HIS WIFE (Alexandra) MADE HIM (Antipater) GENERAL OF ALL IDUMEA, AND THAT HE MADE A LEAGUE OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THOSE ARABIANS, AND GAZITES, AND ASCALONITES, THAT WERE OF HIS OWN PARTY, AND HAD, BY MANY AND LARGE PRESENTS, MADE THEM HIS FAST FRIENDS. BUT NOW THIS ANTIPATER WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE POWER OF ARISTOBULUS, AND WAS AFRAID OF SOME MISCHIEF HE MIGHT DO HIM, BECAUSE OF HIS HATRED TO HIM; SO HE "STIRRED UP" THE MOST POWERFUL OF THE JEWS, AND TALKED AGAINST HIM TO THEM PRIVATELY; AND SAID THAT IT WAS UNJUST TO OVERLOOK THE CONDUCT OF ARISTOBULUS, WHO HAD GOTTEN THE GOVERNMENT UNRIGHTEOUSLY, AND EJECTED HIS BROTHER OUT OF IT, WHO WAS THE ELDER, AND OUGHT TO RETAIN WHAT BELONGED TO HIM BY PREROGATIVE OF HIS BIRTH. AND THE SAME SPEECHES HE PERPETUALLY MADE TO HYRCANUS; AND TOLD HIM THAT HIS OWN LIFE WOULD BE IN DANGER, UNLESS HE GUARDED HIMSELF, AND GOT SHUT OF ARISTOBULUS; FOR HE SAID THAT THE FRIENDS OF ARISTOBLUS OMITTED NO OPPORTUNITY OF ADVISING HIM TO KILL HIM, AS BEING THEN AND NOT BEFORE, SURE TO RETAIN HIS PRINCIPALITY. HYRCANUS GAVE NO CREDIT TO THESE WORDS OF HIS, AS BEING OF GENTLE DISPOSITION, AND ONE THAT DID NOT EASILY ADMIT OF CALUMNIES AGAINST OTHER MEN. THIS TEMPER OF HIS NOT DISPOSING HIM TO MEDDLE WITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND WANT OF SPIRIT, OCCASIONED HIM TO APPEAR TO SPECTATORS TO BE DEGENEROUS AND UNMANLY, WHILE ARISTOBULUS WAS OF A CONTRARY TEMPER, AN ACTIVE MAN, AND ONE OF GREAT AND GENEROUS SOUL. SINCE THEREFORE ANTIPATER SAW THAT HYRCANUS DID NOT ATTEND TO WHAT HE SAID, HE NEVER CEASED, DAY BY DAY, TO CHARGE FEIGNED CRIMES UPON ARISTOBULUS, AND TO CALUMNIATE HIM BEFORE HIM, AS IF HE HAD A MIND TO KILL HIM; AND SO, BY URGING HIM PERPETUALLY, HE ADVISED HIM, AND PERSUADED HIM TO FLY TO ARETAS, THE KING OF ARABIA; AND PROMISED, THAT IF HE WOULD COMPLY WITH HIS ADVICE, HE WOULD ALSO ASSIST HIM (and go with him). WHEN HYRCANUS HEARD THIS, HE SAID THAT IT WAS FOR HIS ADVANTAGE TO FLY AWAY TO ARETAS. NOW ARABIA IS A COUNTRY THAT BORDERS UPON JUDEA. HOWEVER HYRCANUS SENT ANTIPATER FIRST TO THE KING OF ARABIA, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ASSURANCES FROM HIM, THAT WHEN HE SHOULD COME IN THE MANNER OF A SUPPLICANT TO HIM, HE WOULD NOT DELIVER HIM UP TO HIS ENEMIES. SO ANTIPATER HAVING RECEIVED SUCH ASSURANCES, RETURNED TO HYRCANUS TO JERUSALEM. A WHILE AFTERWARD HE TOOK HYRCANUS, AND STOLE OUT OF THE CITY BY NIGHT, AND WENT A GREAT JOURNEY, AND CAME AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE CITY CALLED PETRA, WHERE THE PALACE OF ARETAS WAS; AND AS HE WAS A VERY FAMILIAR FRIEND OF THAT KING, HE PERSUADED HIM TO BRING BACK HYRCANUS INTO JUDEA, AND THIS PERSUASION HE CONTINUED EVERY DAY WITHOUT ANY INTERMISSION. HE ALSO PROPOSED TO MAKE HIM PRESENTS ON THAT ACCOUNT. AT LENGTH HE PREVAILED WITH ARETAS IN HIS SUIT. MOREOVER, HYRCANUS PROMISED HIM, THAT WHEN HE HAD BEEN BROUGHT THITHER, AND HAD RECEIVED HIS KINGDOM, HE WOULD RESTORE THAT COUNTRY, AND THOSE TWELVE CITIES WHICH HIS FATHER ALEXANDER HAD TAKEN FROM THE ARABIANS, WHICH WERE THESE, MEDABA, NABALLO, LIBIAS, THARABASA, AGALA, ATHONE, ZOAR, ORONE, MARISSA, RUDDA, LUSSA, AND QURBA. (Josephus)- Chapter 11. AFTER THESE PROMISES HAD BEEN GIVEN TO ARETAS, HE MADE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST ARISTOBULUS WITH AN ARMY OF FIFTY THOUSAND HORSE AND FOOT, AND BEAT HIM IN BATTLE. AND WHEN AFTER THAT VICTORY MANY WENT OVER TO HYRCANUS AS DESERTERS, ARISTOBULUS WAS LEFT DESOLATE, AND FLED TO JERUSALEM; UPON WHICH THE KING OF ARABIA TOOK ALL HIS ARMY, AND MADE AN ASSAULT UPON THE TEMPLE, AND BESIEGED ARISTOBULUS THEREIN, THE PEOPLE STILL SUPPORTING HYRCANUS, AND ASSISTING HIM IN THE SIEGE, WHILE NONE BUT THE PRIESTS CONTINUED WITH ARISTOBULUS. SO ARETAS UNITED THE FORCES OF THE ARABIANS AND OF THE JEWS TOGETHER, AND PRESSED ON THE SIEGE VIGOROUSLY. AS THIS HAPPENED AT THE TIME WHEN THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WAS CELEBRATED, WHICH WE CALL THE PASSOVER, THE PRINCIPAL MEN AMONG THE JEWS LEFT THE COUNTRY AND FLED INTO EGYPT".

So, one can see reader by this excerpt of Josephus, how correct are Daniel's words in the "stirring up" of these sons of Judah's land. We read also how Aristobulus and Hyrcanus fought each other with their own armies of soldiers at Jericho. We read of an army of 50,000 men of the Arabians coming against Aristobulus to fight him and keep him under siege.

Again, as Daniel predicted which was to happen when he said, "they shall assemble a multitude of great forces".

A "multitude" is a word meaning, a great number of people collectively, the populace of many people. "Forces" means, - that which is of active energy and produces change, as an organised body of men in an army, which is used to compel or confine. The "forces" were going to grow even bigger, because in Damascus, Syria at that time, conveniently ready to move into Judah's land, were the Roman legions, under the eastern command of Pompey. He, at that time was in Armenia making war against them.

Even Egyptian "troops" were sent to Palestine to assist the Roman consul General Pompey. Because Ptolemy Aleuts (Lathyrus' son) was seeking Roman support for his crown.

The name of the Roman legions commander in Syria was Scaurus, so Josephus tells us.

Both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus sent ambassadors to Scaurus to plead their separate cases for the throne of Judah. Both promising large sums of money to help Scaurus to make up his mind, so he chose Aristobulus.

Scaurus also commanded that King Aretas and his Nabatean army of Arabians to leave Judah's land. Nevertheless, there was a great battle between Aristobulus who now had a very great army, who fought Aretas, and Hyrcanus and killed 6,000 of their men, including the death of Antipater's brother Phalion. Nothing was settled under Scaurus arbitrating between these two sons of Judah's Kingdom. Not until Gnaeus Pompey arrived on the scene to take complete command of the situation, then were the forces of men to further increase.

We must look to the second part of this story of Judah's throne and the second part of Daniel 11:10, which adheres to Pompey, "AND ONE SHALL CERTAINLY COME, AND OVERFLOW, AND PASS THROUGH".

The notable "one" of this prophecy, which is such a certainty in secular history, was General Gnaeus Pompeius -or- "Pompey the Great". Because at that time in history he stood out above lesser men around him like a lion. From Rome in the Northwest to the River Euphrates in the East, Pompey's name was very great, there was no other greater than he, apart from Julius Caesar who commanded the Roman legions fighting and controlling Gaul, to the West of Rome.

At that time in history Rome was a Republic and a boiling pot ready for change. When something is a "certainty" as Daniel explains, it means it is a fixed fact, it is of full assurance,and an exception from doubt. So, the "one" of Daniel's vision that comes as a "fact" of life and history, was a man who stood out from others because of his strong position in the earth at that time. When Daniel said Pompey was to "come", it meant to "come" into the land of Palestine, whose history we are unravelling in verse 10. This leader of men, Pompey, was also to "overflow", or- inundate as water does at times, it is to be abundant in over spreading actions.

Then this "one" called Pompey was to "pass through" the land of Palestine also, or to move along from one end to the other or advancing amongst the land and its peoples.

Let us find out now from secular history, in a condensed fashion, how it happened! Pompey the Great's "overflowing" as a leader of men and as a General of Roman forces, - before it overflowed into Palestine, - had begun in Rome itself long before. During the year 78-79 BC the Dictator of Rome at that time named Lucius Cornelius Sulla had died and Pompey had been one of his most trusted lieutenants. By 70 BC Pompey had won favour with the ruling Senate for his military exploits and he became very popular indeed with the ruling and lower classes as the years rolled on. By 67 BC he cleared the menacing pirates from the Mediterranean Sea within 3 months, when he had been given a time limit of 3 years to do so. He now turned his face to the East and Parthian power, which threatened Roman expansion and power.

The new Irian state of Parthia, which lay between Seleucid Bactria and Babylonia, began to form in the latter part of the third century which broke away from the Seleucid Empire. The Parthian King Arsaces cleverly took advantage of the family quarrels over the Seleucid succession, thereby, was able to remove the Iranian section of their empire and was lost to them. The Parthians consolidated all of Iran from the east and Mesopotamia by 141 BC they then went on to extend their kingdom into Northern Mesopotamia and by 100 BC had pushed their previous masters, the Seleucids, across the Euphrates River, there they became a great power of the Middle East. The Euphrates River was the Parthian frontier and that River was also the eastern boundary for Rome also. So, we have 2 great powers of their day exercising their authority, dis-annulling the Greeks altogether. Parthia had taken the place of the Seleucid Kingdom controlling the "caravan routes" of trade and commerce and also helped to establish the "silk routes" to China, etc.

A meeting between the ambassadors of the Parthians and Romans in 92 BC acknowledged each other's powers as successors to Alexander the Great's territories. Also recognising the Euphrates River as their common frontier. Over the years to follow, Parthian Kings more or less kept friendly relations with Rome, though wars were to break out from time to time. By 69 BC the Roman General Lucullus was looking after Roman interests in that part of the world.

It was 66 BC when Pompey came on the scene in the East and he went on in his "overflowing" or- long march, as Daniel records who succeeded in his war against Mithridates King of Pontus. Then General Pompey signed an alliance with Phraates III the Parthian king. It was short lived however, with friendly alliances and relationships soon to break down. Roman interests ever-circling Parthia with friendly nations with an eye to a Parthian conquest one-day!

Pompey's "overflowing" went into other Parthian vassal states, either occupying them, or making alliances with them, such as:- Gordyene, Media, Elymais etc; By 65 BC the Romans were restoring order in Syrian lands. Pompey first marched -or "overflowed" into Armenia, then into Damascus of Syria, then marched over to Celesyria. After the winter Pompey's army marched into the county around Damascus and demolished the citadel at Apamea, he conquered Lysias and passed over the cities of Heliopolis and Chalcis, then crossed the mountains into Pella and went onto Damascus again.

It was 64 BC and it was in Damascus that Pompey heard the complaints between Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, for the throne of the Jews. So, now the "one who is to come", from Daniel's verse 10 -Pompey,- had arrived on the Palestinian scene and he was to change affairs in Judah's land and its own governing powers for a very long time to come.

Only the year before this the then Roman commander and president of Syria named Scaurus, had been sent by Pompey into Palestine to quell the fighting in that land, whilst he himself remained in Armenia fighting their King Tigranes.

Scaurus had heard the complaints of both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus and found in favour of Aristobulus. Then, when Pompey arrived in Damascus to hear their argument once more, Pompey reversed the decision given by Scaurus he instead supported Hyrcanus. Of course, Aristobulus resisted this decision fiercely within Jerusalem, so once more Pompey and his soldiers marched this time into the Holy Land.

Pompey pitched his camp at Jericho then marched into Jerusalem, where Aristobulus went out to meet him. He promised Pompey money and to deliver Jerusalem to him in peace, but went back on his word. Pompey imprisoned him and went on to siege Jerusalem. Taking the city of Jerusalem, whose gates were opened to him by unknown men whilst his army entered, delivering the city and the palace to him, though the city was taken without much trouble, the temple was another matter. It was fiercely defended during a 3-month siege. Pompey then placed his soldiers and his battering rams etc; around the temple walls and laid siege to it. Hyrcanus had assisted Pompey on all occasions, (as Josephus puts it). The battering rams broke down the greatest towers and the soldiers poured into the temple grounds and with great slaughter of Jews killed 12,000, with very few Romans dead. It eventually fell and Pompey observed the traditional observances within, by commanding that the temple be cleansed and that they be resumed, neither did he plunder the temple.

Pompey restored Hyrcanus as high priest and Aristobulus and his family were taken prisoners to Rome.

The Jewish Kingdom now became part of Syrian Roman territory and leadership. Pompey had settled the Middle East to establish peace with Roman supremacy. All western Syria and Palestine became the new province of Syria, with its capital at Antioch. The surrounding territory taken by the Maccabean Hasmoneans, under the Kingdom of Palestine, was now lost to them, or reorganised into central Palestine, together with Galilee and Peraea.

The power in Judah's land was now in the hands of Antipater, -Hyrcanus so called friend,- who became the minister under Roman supervision. Antipater had played his cards cleverly -as it were,- "stirring up" these 2 sons of Judah whose saga ended in his favour alone. Rome considered this area so important to them, that it was placed under the direct rule of a proconsul.

Flavius Josephus in his history of the Jews laments the miseries of this unhappy land and its peoples, in Book XIV chapter IV,

"NOW THE OCCASIONS OF THIS MISERY WHICH CAME UPON JERUSALEM WERE HYRCANUS AND ARISTOBULUS, BY RAISING A SEDITION ONE AGAINST THE OTHER; FOR NOW WE LOST OUR LIBERTY, AND BECAME SUBJECT TO THE ROMANS, AND WERE DEPRIVED OF THAT COUNTRY WHICH WE HAD GAINED BY OUR ARMS FROM THE SYRIANS, AND WERE COMPELLED TO RESTORE IT TO THE SYRIANS. MOREOVER, THE ROMANS EXACTED OF US, IN A LITTLE TIME, ABOVE TEN THOUSAND TALENTS, AND THE ROYAL AUTHORITY, WHICH WAS A DIGNITY FORMALLY BESTOWED ON THOSE THAT WERE HIGH PRIESTS, BY THE RIGHT OF THEIR FAMILY, BECAME THE PROPERTY OF PRIVATE MEN. BUT OF THESE MATTERS WE SHALL TREAT IN THEIR PROPER PLACES. NOW POMPEY COMMITTED CELESYRIA, AS FAR AS THE RIVER EUPHRATES AND EGYPT, TO SCAURUS, WITH TWO ROMAN LEGIONS, AND THEN WENT TO CILICIA, AND MADE HASTE TO ROME. HE ALSO CARRIED BOUND ALONG WITH HIM ARISTOBULUS AND HIS CHILDREN, FOR HE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, AND AS MANY SONS, THE ONE OF WHICH RAN AWAY, BUT THE YOUNGER, ANTIGONUS, WAS CARRIED TO ROME, TOGETHER WITH HIS SISTERS".

Indeed, Pompey did not stay in Palestine nor Jerusalem for any length of time, as Josephus shows. He "overflowed" -then- "passed through" that land. -As Daniel saw in his vision.- Pompey's haste to "pass through" being brought about from news he had received from Rome. When one "passes through" it is to undergo and experience, it is to go past or beyond and cross over and hand over to others what one has already attained.

We come now to the last sentence in this vision of Daniel 11 verse 10. "THEN SHALL HE RETURN, AND BE STIRRED UP, EVEN TO HIS FORTRESS". The question is "why" did Pompey return to Rome in such haste and be "stirred up" by it? -Secular history gives us much detail to the answer of this question. While Pompey was away from his "fortress" Rome, restoring order, or conquering kingdoms in the East, the city of Rome itself was plunged into disorder. Mostly through plotting and scheming of unscrupulous men, with an ambitious man named Catiline paramount in these endeavours. Three times Catiline made a bid to the Senate to become a consul. (Or- a chief magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, who protected the interests of his country). Three times he was thwarted, he therefore plotted to take over the government by force. He was supported to a large extent by the masses of people, who were discontented, with the existing state of Roman affairs. Catiline's insurrection failed however and he was killed. But the discontent of the people remained.

There remained a chaotic political condition in Rome and it was this condition that "stirred up" Pompey to return to his own land and give his much sort after leadership to stabilise the situation. Pompey had the power of the army behind him and many people wanted and expected him to take over the reigns of government when he returned. But he did not, instead, disbanded his army outside the city as was the custom and waited for an official invitation to enter and be recognised for his military feats. In other words, a "triumphant entry". The real power of Rome lay in the desires and wishes of Pompey the Great, of course backed by his armies, which were loyal to him and the support of the people. Though he never seemed to want to aspire to anything other than a powerful man rising above his contemporaries around him.

It was said, this was mainly due to his weakness and irresolution, nevertheless, he was deemed an honest and upright man.

Pompey was "stirred up" to action once more after his return to Rome in triumph, at which time he wished the Senate to approve and sanction his deeds in the East and also certain lands be given to his veterans. The Senate would not sanction his wishes, nor would they approve the agreements he made with Eastern Kings, though his work was efficient and lasting.

Pompey in fury left the "party" to which he belonged and formed instead a coalition with Julius Caesar and Crassus in 60 BC. Two other Romans joined them whose treatment at the hands of the Senate angered them. This coalition was called the "First Triumvirate".

Julius Caesar giving his daughter Julia in marriage to Pompey, as if to cement their intimacy, yet! It was an alliance of expediency more than friendship. Their idea was not to seize the government, but through their collective influence with their armies and people, to control the distribution of choice offices and of course the military commands. Therefore, Pompey got the recognition he wanted for his Eastern victories. Caesar had his command of Gaul for approx; 9 years. As for Crassus, he was the richest man in all Rome and he used his riches spending money lavishly to gain the support he needed. Crassus also needed the "glory" the others of the Triumvirate had, and it was in the East he meant to acquire it.

Flavius Josephus tells us in his history, "Wars of The Jews". How Crassus came as a successor for the Roman command of Syria and came into Jerusalem and took away all the rest of the gold belonging to the temple. He also took away the two thousand talents that Pompey had not touched, in order to furnish himself for his expedition against the Parthians. (Book 1 chapter VIII).

Secular history tells us of Crassus and how he met his end and it was through him the Parthian question was put to rest.

So, the story goes:- After conflict broke out over the succession of the Parthian throne with Mithridates III and his brother Orodes II, Mithridates fled to Syria in 57 BC -which was then ruled by a Roman legate Gabinius for the Roman Senate. So, when Crassus arrived on the scene in 53 BC and longing for his military glory, crossed the frontier of the Euphrates River, thus breaking all treaties with the Parthians by his actions. The battle near Carrhae (Haran) destroyed the Roman myth of invincibility because Crassus and his son were killed, 7 Roman legions were lost, the Parthians taking 10,000 Roman prisoners, with the golden eagle and insignia of the legions captured.

From the time of Crassus death, the triangle of the "Triumvirate" became a two-man alliance between Caesar and Pompey. Though, there was friction between the 3 men before Crassus death, now the friction between Caesar and Pompey became an open conflict. Even Pompey's wife Julia died in 54 BC which also helped to cut the cord between these two men.

So, let us recap what we have here reader.- When Daniel says, this "one" -Pompey- shall be "stirred up" even to his fortress. Daniel is telling us of Pompey's anger and haste to "return" to his Roman fortress, because of internal problems. Being the reason for his departure from Jerusalem, which Daniel called "passing through". When Daniel says in verse 10- "even to his fortress", -the word "even" means, just and exactly, likewise, or moreover and nay more. In other words, Pompey's "overflowing" would "moreover" include marching back to his "fortress" Rome, in a short space of time. It was also Pompey's going back to his "fortress" of Rome, that also settled the question of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus and the throne of Jerusalem, because Aristobulus was taken back to this "fortress" of Rome with Pompey as a prisoner, there to die of poison after a few attempts of escape.

So ended the Hasmonean dynasty, the "other Kingdom" of the "North" of Egypt that verse 8 tells us of and over which Egypt "prevailed" longer in time. Thereafter its members of the royal house and the people are under the Romans.

Both of these sons by Mariamne and Herod, were executed by Herod the Great.

Both thrones of Syria and Palestine, as separate Kingdoms of the North, have now become one vassal country under their powerful overlord, the northern King of Rome.

Verse 10 also leaves us at the end with a drama set in motion in Rome itself, within secular history, which now sets the stage for the demise of the Kingdom of Egypt which we see in the vision of Daniel 11:11. The Egyptian drama was begun by Julius Caesar.

Before the years of the "Triumvirate" of Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC Caesar and Crassus in 65 BC both tried through trickery and bribery, to attain the goodwill of the people using their offices of command, to establish a "special place" for Julius Caesar and that "place" was Egypt. Crassus through his wealth, found a tribune who was to disclose to the Senate, that Ptolemy XI Alexander II King of Egypt, had died and left Egypt in his will to Rome, thereby annexing Egypt.

Ptolemy Lathyrus' son, named "Aleuts" was on the Egyptian throne at that time and of course the so called "will" raised his legitimacy to that throne! This "special command" of Egypt slipped from Caesar's fingers at "that" moment of history. Because the Egyptian "will", was to be thrown out of that Senate as falsehood. But Julius Caesar's star nevertheless was to rise over Egypt, at a later date.