31. Egypt and Judea now under Mark Antony, and Cleopatra VII. Rome: Rebellion of Hasmoneans, Antigonus II, Herod the Great. 

31.  -Daniel Chapter 11, Verse 11.

Egypt and Judea now under Mark Antony, and Cleopatra VII. Rome:

Rebellion of Hasmoneans, Antigonus II, Herod the Great. BC 44-30. 

We had that sly man Antipater the Idumean becoming a minister over Judea, under Rome.

Now we move in Daniel 11:11, into the next sphere of Judean troubles. This history in verse 11 is not concerned so much with men who the world considered great, instead it's "which" man at a given time affected Judean affairs the most.

After the great "one" Pompey who "overflowed" throughout these lands, came the time of Julius Caesar who went down into Egypt chasing Pompey, though Caesar was to be caught up in civil war in Egypt and even receiving forces from Palestine to help in that fight, yet! Judea more -or- less was kept out of that skirmish.

Let us now recap a little in history on Pompey and Julius Caesar so that we may "see" these times of turmoil, which were eventually going to usher in verse 11. In 53 BC, Caesar and Pompey were determined to break each other's power over Roman affairs. The Roman Senate had entrusted Pompey with the safety of the state. Pompey's forces were very great, but they were scattered throughout the empire, whereas Caesar's forces were smaller but were on a war footing and ready for action.

Then in 49 BC came about the much spoken of expression one hears, namely, "he crossed the Rubicon". (The Rubicon was a small River in Italy separating Caesar's province from Italy). It became clear Caesar meant to march on Rome and defy the Senate its authority. Pompey fled onward to Greece and within 3 months Caesar was master of Italy. Pompey now gathered his troops, taking a powerful army from Greece, Egypt and the Middle East. In 48 BC Caesar marched on Pompey's supply centre at Dyrrhachium (Durazzo) Greece. Pompey drove Caesar back to Thessaly. In the second battle however in 48 BC, at Pharsalus, Pompey was utterly beaten and he fled to Egypt, where his luck was to run out, because he stepped ashore from his ship and was stabbed to death by an assassin of the boy King Ptolemy XIII, who was afraid of his presence in Egypt.

Caesar had pursued Pompey into Egypt where a struggle for power was in full swing, between Ptolemy and his sister the famous Cleopatra VII.

Here in Egypt civil war was raging and the struggle for power between Cleopatra and her husband and brother Ptolemy XIII, Caesar choosing the side of Cleopatra got caught up in the fight. He was besieged by the Egyptian fleet, and though hard pressed he defeated them. Caesar's ingenuity as a general was driven to the limits, but he was eventually victorious. The boy King Ptolemy XIII was killed in 47 BC. Caesar now placed Cleopatra on the throne and married her to her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. He took Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe as a prisoner to Rome, who appeared in Caesar's triumphant march.

Caesar, remained in Egypt during the winter of 48-47, and through a liaison with Cleopatra, she bore him a son Caesarion, (Ptolemy XV). Then Caesar departed to attend to other difficulties in the East and returned to Rome. Now he was more secure in his power than any previous Roman had been.

During this time in Judea Antipater was the power of Rome and for his help in the Egyptian trauma Julius Caesar conferred on him Roman citizenship, an honour which also went to his children. In 44 BC Caesar's Dictatorship (or sole rulership) was extended to a life tenure, he assumed the title Imperator, (Emperor). His person was now declared divine and as a god his effigy was used on coinage. However, he was stabbed to death by his conspirators in 44 BC and fell at the foot of his previous foe, that of a statue of Pompey in the Senate House. Now the stage was set for another power struggle in Rome, this time between Mark Antony, and the young Octavian, Julius Caesar's heir. Anarchy, turmoil and civil war was once more the order of the day. Here now were the seeds of Judean blood shed sown and the vision of Daniel 11:11, were "seen" in the mists of time.

Let us unravel the first line of verse 11. "AND THE KING OF THE SOUTH SHALL BE MOVED WITH CHOLER, AND SHALL COME FORTH AND FIGHT WITH HIM". Here reader we are dealing with the closing chapters of Egyptian rule, after its long saga had been spelled out step by step through the centuries, when Egyptian history was closely woven with that of Palestine and the Jewish problems therein. In verse 11 however, it begins with the "King" of the south and not with the "Queen" of the south, which would refer to Cleopatra.

The influence Egypt had in biblical history, as did forebears Cleopatra VII and others, who fought within Judah's territory itself, was a long story. Verse 11 of Daniel 11 without a doubt, is dealing with the times of Cleopatra VII and her struggles for power over Egypt. She did indeed share the throne with her brothers as kings of the South. First her elder brother Ptolemy XIII then her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. But the real King and power of the South, that of Egypt in verse 11, was out of Rome itself, who set up and pulled down whoever it wanted to, on the Egyptian throne.

The King of the south at this "time" in biblical history of verse 11, namely 41-40 BC, was Mark Antony, -or- Antonius Marcus. Let us look more closely at this statement and into the life of Mark Antony himself.

Antony was an outstanding military and political leader of men and close friend of Julius Caesar and Herod the Great of Judea. (Son of Antipater the Idumean). Antony took charge of the affairs of Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar. His skill as an orator was seen to the full at Caesar's death, turning the Roman people against Caesar's assassins. Of course - Antony is best remembered by men, for his love of Cleopatra of Egypt which eventually set him against Rome. -He served as a cavalry commander under Gabinius in Judea, Syria and Egypt, 58 to 57 BC. During the years 54 to 50 BC, he served under the soldier and statesman Julius Caesar in Gaul. In 48 BC when the civil war broke out between Pompey and Caesar, Caesar's aid became Antony, who gradually advanced up the ladder of honour until the outbreak of civil war between Caesar and Pompey, when Antony was made Commander -in- Chief of Italy. He supported Caesar and commanded the left wing of the army at the battle of Pharsalus.

After Caesar's death in 44 BC, Antony saw himself as Caesar's replacement. But, 19-year-old Octavian, Caesar's adopted son and heir, became Antony's rival. It seems that Octavian's Roman contemporaries, more or less ignored him, partly because of his youth and partly because he was a sickly young man, which did not help his path to glory. Nevertheless, Octavian eventually succeeded in winning some of the populace and some of Caesar's troops over to himself, through the usual Roman way of monetary backhanders and games, to help smooth the way to popularity. So, Mark Antony was Octavian's rival and expected heir to Julius Caesar, but the Roman Senate through Cicero's eloquence, backed Octavian Augustus against Antony, thus, making him a senator despite his youth.

Octavian Augustus's soldiers compelled the Senate, against their wishes, to make him a Consul under the name of Gaius Julius Caesar. Then Octavian climbed the next rung of the ladder and had the Senate to officially recognise him as Caesar's adopted son. By 43 BC Octavian came to an agreement with Mark Antony and Lepidus, (who had been one of Julius Caesar's supporters before his death). These three men formed the Second Triumvirate to control the Roman Empire. They divided up the ruling of the West between them, the East at that time being occupied by Brutus and Cassius. The battles that followed in Grecian lands against Brutus and Cassius, made Mark Antony a victorious leader of his army, which saw the forces of Caesar's enemies crushed at the battle of Philippi. Both Brutus and Cassius committed suicide. (Octavian being ill at the time).

Now Antony was allocated the East to command, Lepidus had Africa, and Octavian returned to Italy. Mark Antony now older, and an expert soldier and orator compared to Octavian, vied with each other for the complete mastery of the Greco/Roman world. Many, many, Romans acknowledging Antony as the master of all things Roman. If only for his many great successes in foreign wars. Apart from the fact Antony had shared the consulship with Julius Caesar in 44 BC.

From here on reader, we will see "who" really ruled Egypt, whether from far, or within Egypt itself. -After this period of the Roman civil war had ended, we read in history that Mark Antony summoned the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, to attend him in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia (Asia).

To explain the reason of her refusal to send aid to them during the civil war, she going out to meet him from Egypt at his command during 41 BC.

When one person "summons" another person, it is to call them by right of authority over them. It is to command them to appear in a court of justice to answer that higher authority. When Cleopatra was called to "attend" Antony, it was for the lesser personage to wait upon, the great personage and it is to pay heed, listen, and wait upon. So, from this one reference in history, we see "who" ruled the East, Egypt included. Let us read now other facts to bear this out. Cleopatra knew her limitations as ruler of Egypt where Rome was concerned, just like her father Aleuts, before her. She used her whiles of a woman, as her weapon to conquer or divide the Romans in their power struggles. Antony was in control in the East of all things Roman, Egyptian, Syrian, or Judean etc; as Cleopatra well knew it! She could only try and bend him to her wishes, but not order him by right of majesty. She had remained neutral when the Romans were fighting in their power struggles, between Pompey and Caesar and the early struggles of Octavian and Antony. She also knew that she was beholding to Rome for her position on the throne of Egypt, through killing her brother and taking her sister prisoner.

When Antony sat on the golden throne of Egypt with Cleopatra, it was he, who gave her great chunks of the Roman Mediterranean countries, which included parts of Syria and Judea. Antony had fallen completely in love with her when he met her at Tarsus in 41 BC and had returned to Egypt with her. Therefore, secular history says, by this action he signalled to the Roman world his affiliation with Cleopatra. In other words affiliation means, to receive into a family a son, or into a main society as a member or branch of that society. Antony was a Roman Emperor in his own right under the rules of the Triumvirate. So now he also ruled Egypt 2 ways, as a member of the Egyptian family ruling,and as a overall ruler by right as an Emperor of Rome. So Daniel the "seer", in verse 11 was stating who indeed was the King of the South and who was the true ruler. Daniel is also hiding the meaning of this prophecy throughout the past centuries, until the "time" to understand it is reached. Which learning "time" belongs to the "end time" of man's secular history. (Because the truth of these verses, must be strong enough to bring out of the world God's children before the end of our known mad world. Which will enable these children to know that the "Comforter" has come, to save their lives. (The "Comforter" being absolute truth, within God's words of comfort, the Bible)!

The remainder of Daniel's prophecy tells the full story of Antony's ruling of the South and Judea. Which endorses the above statement and assures one we have indeed unravelled the right people of secular history herein. So let us now continue that unravelling process. To repeat the line in Daniel verse 11 is as follows. "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". These times of history were times of many uncertainties and the infighting within Rome itself, made their vassal kingdoms easy pickings for the likes of the strong nation called Parthians, to the north of Judea.

The Parthians were gradually taking over kingdom after kingdom and by 40 BC they had invaded all Roman Syria and had entered Judea. Mark Antony by this time had left Egypt and had gone back to Rome, being reconciled once more to Octavian, who had given him his sister Octavia in marriage. Antony had made Herod and his brother Phasael Tetrarchs of Judea. These sons of Antipater were now going to feel the full weight of the Parthians coming down into Judea from the North. The Parthians brought with them Antigonus's son of King Aristobulus II, the last of the Hasmonean dynasty to claim the Jewish throne as king of Judea. Indeed, they brought a multitude of people with them as Daniel states and a multitude of Jews followed Antigonus, being glad at having a son of their own people to rule over them. Of course, there was also a great number of people fearful of Antigonus return to the throne and of his friendship with the Parthian horde, because they had a reputation as being cruel warriors. At that point of time in secular history 40 BC, the Parthians had dislodged the Romans from most of that province and had crowned Antigonus as King. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his book the "Antiquities of the Jews", tells us that Antigonus, had promised the Parthians 1,000 talents and 500 women of the principal families of Judea, for their help in his restoration to the throne. He tells us also how Hyrcanus the Jewish high priest, -who was brother of Antigonus's father, Aristobulus II,- was taken prisoner by Antigonus and how he had his ears cut off so he could no longer serve as a high priest without blemish before God.

Herod's brother Phasael was also taken prisoner, fearing torture and death he caused great injuries to himself trying to commit suicide, who Antigonus nevertheless killed. Josephus tells of Herod's escape with his family etc; going down into Egypt. Then eventually crossing to Rome and how Herod appealed to the Senate for help to drive the Parthians and Antigonus out of Palestine.

The Romans were induced by Antony to espouse the cause of Herod and the Senate declared Antigonus an enemy of Rome, because of his former position to them and because Antigonus had taken the government of Judea from them in favour of the Parthians.

So, it was an advantage to make Herod King and friend of Rome, which then enabled them to enter the Parthian war, whilst Judea was safe in Herod's lands. So much cruelty and fighting went on in the land of Palestine, so much intrigue and exchange of money and presents from this man or that man always ready to help the cause of who gave them the most be it Jew, Roman, Parthian, etc; Antigonus as king was to eventually reign for a tumultuous 3 years. Before the "anger" (choler) of Herod backed by the "anger" of Antony and Rome with a multitude of forces, once more entered Judea to take away Antigonus and the multitude of Parthians and other forces, now the stage is set to fulfil Daniel's vision. This time Herod stood as King of Judea proclaimed by Antony and Rome in 39 BC. Herod's Judean Kingdom now replaced the Hasmonean Jewish dynasty, Judea became separated from greater Syria once more, with its kingdom accepting Jerusalem as its capital city and not Antioch. -Before Herod was made king of Rome and during Mark Antony's chase into Greece of Brutus and Cassius, in 43 BC, Antigonus had at that time entered into Judea with help from his friends Menneus, Marion and Fabius. Antigonus had already raised an army and had proposed to take his throne from the Romans. But his uncle Hyrcanus was against him and in league with the Tetrarch Herod, whose granddaughter Mariamne he was to marry. Herod in fury (choler) went out to meet Antigonus who beat him in battle and drove him back over Judean borders. Herod then met Antony in Asia around this time, when many ambassadors complained of the power Herod and his brother Phasael had over them. Thus, making Hyrcanus but a mere figurehead and it should not be so.

Herod had gained Antony's respect and ear, by a large sum of money, so things remained in Herod's favour.

During 40 BC Antigonus allying himself with the Parthians entered Judea once more. This time with a great army of men. He was to turn the tables on Herod who fled to Rome, with Antigonus seizing the throne.

So it came to pass as the seer Daniel proclaimed in Daniel 11:11. The King and Imperator of the South lands, who was Antony, set up another King in his own right, who was Herod. He was also a Roman citizen in his own right, (from his father Antipater).

King Herod was in a different category than Cleopatra, (queen of the south),- she was not a Roman citizen. Neither did she have the backing of the Senate. Her position on the Egyptian throne relied entirely upon which Roman in power was seduced by her, at a particular time in her history. She tried to seduce Herod but failed. Also had thoughts of seducing Octavian after Antony's death, that to failed. I said at the beginning of this chapter, that this biblical history in verse 11 is concerned with which man affected Judean affairs the most.

Here in verse 11 the verse gradually opens out, then runs over into verse 12 during these vacillating historical times of power struggles.

In some verses the King of the North, is Syria, Rome, or the Parthians. They making Judea change its position also, sometimes annexed to Egypt as south sometimes annexed to Syria or Rome etc; as north.

Now we read in verse 11 that Judea will again be classed as South. Being south of Rome, Syria, or the Parthians geographically.

Judea has also taken upon itself yet, two more Kings that of Antigonus whose ancestral dynasty straddled Daniel 11:7,8,10

The new dynasty for the South to appear, was that of the Herodian-Idumean dynasty, which was forged by powerful Rome for Herod I called the Great, whose dynasty straddles Daniel 11:12-14.

Though Mark Antony remains the over-all Imperator of these south lands at that time in history, he's also the acknowledged King of the North, Rome, despite the power struggles of others in the Triumvirate, that of Octavian and Lepidus. It is a time of very involved state of affairs in both secular and biblical history, which, with only hindsight of secular history that we today possess, can unravel this puzzle.

Here in verse 11, we are now faced with Herod the Great King of the South, fighting Antigonus and the Parthians, from the North of Judea on behalf of Antony and Rome. Daniel is telling us of the "anger" (choler) which moved Herod King of the south and Judea against Antigonus, claiming Judea's throne and his multitude of forces from the North.

That "anger" (choler) coming to pass because Herod was overwhelmed by that multitude of forces, barely escaping with his life and that of this family to Rome and Antony, thus, to tell his story of his position as Tetrarch having been destroyed. Herod's "anger" also at the imprisonment and death of his brother Phasael at the hands of Antigonus. His "anger" towards Antigonus was strengthened by the fact that his former glory was at the mercy of one man, who was destroying all his plans for ruling the Jews, which his father Antipater had so cunningly made for his sons. So, death for Antigonus must have been Herod's all-consuming passion during his defeat. Antony too was "angry" at the Parthians moving into Roman territory and setting up a King who was opposed to his wishes.

Flavius Josephus in his history tells us, how Herod sailed out of Italy with an army of strangers and his countrymen, he landed at Ptolemais and went on into Galilee against Antigonus. Josephus tells how Antony -coming out of Athens-, was fighting also in Asia. He sent for his commanders called, Silo and Ventidius, who were in Syria at the time to assist and fight for Herod. Ventidius also sent Macheras to assist Herod, with two legions and a thousand horsemen, Antony encouraging them to make haste. The fighting in Judea was cruel and fierce with no quarter given. Herod's other brother Joseph was also killed, whereupon Antigonus finding his dead body cut off his head and his body lay with his army of six regiments all slain.

The latter part of Daniel 11:11, says; "EVEN WITH THE KING OF THE NORTH; BUT THE MULTITUDE SHALL BE GIVEN INTO HIS HAND". This is not a clear sentence when one first reads it, as one asks which King is given the multitude, north or south? The whole verse reads however like this:- The king of the South - (Herod) shall be moved with anger and shall come forth and fight with him - (Antigonus). "even", (Or- "moreover") and above fighting Antigonus, Herod was fighting the King of the North, which at that point of time was the Parthians. He, (the King of the Parthians) shall set forth a great multitude.

Now we come to the last sentence with the word "but", (or- bestowed) into his (Herod's) hand. Or when one is given "into hand", it is the extremity of the arm which has the power to hold and grasp. It's a performing power in care or management, in this case already prepared and received from the "power" of the arm, Rome. It now reads, Herod, who becomes King of the South, Judea, receiving the multitude of soldiers and Jews in his power. He eventually became known by secular men as "The Great".

Let us now read a little of how Herod had this power over Antigonus and the Parthians, when they had already become entrenched in Judea over the years. Again, we go to Flavius Josephus to give us secular history's story of that fact. Josephus writes much about these times of fighting so we must just pick out a few points to show Herod's courage and subtleties in fighting Antigonus. Herod and his armies marched to Joppa and Masada taking these strongholds from the enemy. At Masada, Herod's relatives were besieged by Antigonus army and the people of the country along the way joined Herod's army for many reasons. Herod took 10 bands of soldiers, five Roman, five Jewish, and horsemen and then took Jericho, which was full of plunder. Herod had sent Ptolemy (a General), to Samaria with six hundred horsemen and three thousand armed footmen to fight Antigonus. The fighting did not go well, with Ptolemy being attacked by the people of Galilee who was slain by time. So, Herod returned to Galilee and punished the people for what they had done. Herod marched against families of so-called robbers, who had taken up refuge in caves in the mountains, the sides of which were steep precipices and sharp rocks, yet! Herod flushed them out, by lowering soldiers in chests on chains from the top of the mountain, who were armed with darts and hooks and clothed in armour. The soldiers killed the people with darts or hooked them out of the mouth of the caves and sending them onto the sharp rocks below. They set the places on fire burning many, all this was done until all was subdued.

Meanwhile, the King of Parthia's son Pacorus fell in battle and the Parthians were defeated.

Mark Antony was now nearing Antioch after leaving Samosata upon the Euphrates, with him were his troops and horsemen. Herod, after more fighting and killing went out to meet Antony coming towards him. Antony, hearing of Herod's approach sent out an army dressed in their correct attire, as a mark of respect for the help that Herod had given him in Judea. Antony then embraced him with great affection. Antony's battles had ended and he went down into Egypt leaving the General Sosius to assist Herod, with mopping up operations in other cities and places.

Antigonus knew the war was over for him and tried to escape from Jerusalem, but he was unlucky, Jerusalem was now taken in a storm of slaughter. The Romans were in a "rage", after the long siege, which they endured to do so. There was murder on all sides, no one was spared neither the babes, women, nor old people, they fell like flies. Even Herod pleaded with Sosius the Roman General to spare the people. Josephus says: in page 443 book IV:-

"ALTHOUGH THE KING (Herod) SENT ABOUT, TO SPARE THE PEOPLE, YET NOBODY RESTRAINED HIS HAND FROM SLAUGHTER, BUT, AS IF THEY WERE A COMPANY OF MADMEN, THEY FELL UPON PERSONS OF ALL AGES, WITHOUT DISTINCTION, AND THEN ANTIGNOUS, WITHOUT REGARD TO EITHER HIS PAST OR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, CAME DOWN FROM THE CITADEL, AND FELL DOWN AT THE FEET OF SOSIUS, WHO TOOK NO PITY ON HIM BEYOND MEASURE, AND CALLED HIM ANTIGONE (i.e.; a woman, not a man). YET DID HE NOT TREAT HIM AS IF HE WERE A WOMAN, BY LETTING HIM GO AT LIBERTY, BUT PUT HIM IN BONDS, AND KEPT HIM IN CLOSE CUSTODY". Josephus then tells what befell Antigonus. "SO WHEN SOSIUS HAD DEDICATED A CROWN OF GOLD TO GOD, HE MARCHED AWAY FROM JERUSALEM, AND CARRIED ANTIGNOUS WITH HIM IN BONDS TO ANTONY; BUT HEROD WAS AFRAID LEST ANTIGNOUS SHOULD BE KEPT IN PRISON (only) BY ANTONY, AND THAT WHEN HE WAS CARRIED TO ROME BY HIM, HE MIGHT GET HIS CAUSE TO BE HEARD BY THE SENATE, AND MIGHT DEMONSTRATE, AS HE WAS HIMSELF OF ROYAL BLOOD, AND HEROD BUT A PRIVATE MAN, THAT THEREFORE IT BELONGED TO HIS SONS HOWEVER TO HAVE THE KINGDOM, ON ACCOUNT OF THE FAMILY THEY WERE OF, IN CASE HE HAD OFFENDED THE ROMANS, BY WHAT HE HAD DONE. OUT OF HEROD'S FEAR OF THIS IT WAS THAT HE, BY GIVING ANTONY A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY, ENDEAVOURED TO PERSUADE HIM TO HAVE ANTIGNOUS SLAIN, WHICH IF ONCE DONE, HE SHOULD BE FREE FROM FEAR". Book XV page 444 continues on with Josephus's story. "NOW WHEN ANTONY HAD RECEIVED ANTIGNOUS AS HIS CAPTIVE, HE DETERMINED TO KEEP HIM AGAINST HIS TRIUMPH; BUT WHEN HE HEARD THAT THE NATION GREW SEDITIOUS, AND THAT, OUT OF THEIR HATRED TO HEROD, THEY CONTINUED TO BEAR GOODWILL TO ANTIGNOUS, HE RESOLVED TO BEHEAD HIM AT ANTIOCH, FOR OTHERWISE THE JEWS COULD NO WAY BE BROUGHT TO BE QUIET. AND STRABO OF CAPPADOCIA ATTESTS TO WHAT I HAVE SAID, WHEN HE THUS SPEAKS; "ANTONY ORDERED ANTIGNOUS THE JEW TO BE BROUGHT TO ANTIOCH, AND THERE TO BE BEHEADED". AND THIS ANTONY SEEMS TO ME TO HAVE BEEN THE VERY FIRST MAN WHO BEHEADED A KING, AS SUPPOSING HE COULD NO OTHER WAY BEND THE MINDS OF THE JEWS SO AS TO RECEIVE HEROD, WHOM HE HAD MADE KING IN HIS STEAD; FOR BY NO TORMENTS COULD THEY BE FORCED TO CALL HIM KING, SO GREAT A FONDNESS THEY HAD FOR THEIR FORMER KING; SO HE THOUGHT THAT THIS DISHONOURABLE DEATH WOULD DIMINISH THE VALUE THEY HAD FOR ANTIGNOUS'S MEMORY, AND AT THE SAME TIME WOULD DIMINISH THE HATRED THEY BARE TO HEROD".

So reader, it was as Daniel saw in his vision, the "multitude" of people that of Parthians, Jews and Antigonus were "given" into Herod's hands, through the Roman might under Antony and Herod's own cunning. Herod was now King of the Jews of the South, endorsed by Antony's hand in 37 BC.