Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11 · Questions · Question 14 – Question 17
14. Quest. Of the petie diuisions of Alexanders kingdome among his seuerall captaines, before it grew into fowre, and of their mutuall dissension.
Three things here shall be briefly touched concerning Alexanders captaines, 1. of their feuerall diuisions. 2. of their ciuill warres, which they made one with an other. 3. of their bloodie endes.
1. After that Alexanders captaines had by a generall consent chosen officers for the whole kingdome, Arideus was appointed Viceroy during the nonage of Alexanders children: Perdiccas, protectour, whome Antipater afterward succeeded in that place: Seleucus generall for the armie: Craterus Treasurer: then they sorted the seuerall Prouinces among them: Ptolomeus had Egypt, Laomedon Syria, Philotas Cilicia, Antigonus Lycia, Pamphylia, and Prygia the greater, Cassander Caria, Menander Lydia, Leonatus Phrygia the lesse: Eumenes Cappadoeia and Paphlagonia, Phiton Media. ex Curtio. Lysimachus Thracia, Antipater Ma…edonia. H. Br. And Iustinus maketh mention beside of others: to Nicanor called Seleucus, were committed the Parthians, to Amyntas the Bactrians, to Neoptolemus the Persians, to Peucestes the Babylonians, to Philippus the Hircanians. And the other Prouinces remained vnderunder their gouernment, which held them Alexander yet liuing. Thus Alexanders Empire beeing distributed among so many petie gouerners, 15. or 16. in all, could not long so continue vnderunder so many masters, but they presently fel at variance among themselues. And in this respect Demades wittily compared Alexanders armie when he was dead, to Cyclops the huge gyant when he had lost his eye: for as that huge bodie wanting light to direct it, hit here and there, and could not guide it selfe: so this vnruly companie wanting a guide, dashed one vponupon an other, as a shippe without a pilote runneth vponupon the rocks and sands.
2. We are in the next place then briefly to see the ciuill dissention and warres which were mooued among these captaines.
1. The first warre was begunne thorough the ambition of Perdiccas, who beeing in greater authoritie then the rest, intended to marrie Cleopatra Alexanders sister, and so to take vponupon him the gouernement: which his purpose that he might the better atchieue, he first enterpriseth to remooue the lettes and impediments: and sendeth Eumenes against Antipater, and Antigonus, and he himselfe goeth against Ptolome into Egypt: but he was slaine of his owne souldiers: and not long after Alcetas his brother, and his sister were slaine also: and this was his ende, who was the first beginner of sedition.
2. After this a second stirre beganne betweene Eumenes, and Antigonus: in which battell Neoptolemus and Craterus were slaine, and Eumenes was betraied by his souldiers vntounto Antigonus, whome he killed.
3. Then Cassander after he had most treacherously extinguished Alexanders familie, quarrelleth with Antigonus, from whome he would hauehave taken certaine cities in Asia, and ioyneth with Ptolome, and Seleucus, who feared Antigonus greatnes: but Antigonus vanquisheth Cassander, and maketh him to restore the cities in Asia.
4. After this Antigonus setteth vponupon Seleucus, and Ptolome: but first he was ouercome by Ptolome at Tyrus, who tooke Demetrius Antigonus sonnes pauilion, with all the princely furniture, but restored it againe: afterward Demetrius surprized Cilles one of Ptolomes captaines, and 8000. men, but returned them safe to Ptolome, to requite his former humanitie and kindnes.
5. Then followed a soare battell betweene all of the chiefe captaines remaining, not farre from Ephesus: on the one side were Seleucus and his sonne Antiochus, Lysimachus, and Ptolomes forces: on the other Antigonus: the night before the battel, Antigonus had a vision, wherein Alexander appeared, saying vntounto him, that now he would goe vntounto his enemies: whereby Antigonus vnderstood, that hauing beene hitherto victorious, he should be ouercome now: And so it fell out, for as he pursued Antiochus in battell, he was slaine by Seleucus horsemen, beeing almost 80. yeare old: his sonne fledde to Athens, and renewed the warre, but he was taken by Seleucus, and long suruiued not his father: then the rest diuided the kingdome of Antigonus among them.
6. The last battell betweene Alexanders captaines, was betweene Lysimachus and Seleucus. This Lysimachus was a man of valour: for beeing familiar with Callisthenes, whome Alexander killed, he was commanded to be cast vntounto the lyons: but he killed the lyon, and so escaped: for which his valour he was afterward much made of by Alexander. But this Lysimachus among his vertues, had enormous vices: he married two sisters, and had children by them both, but the one killed the others child: the mother for succour fledde vntounto the other kings allied vntounto her: hereupon beganne the quarrell betweene Lysimachus and Seleucus: but Lysimachus beeing ouercome, was slaine. Melancth. ex Pausan.
3. In the last place let vsus take a view of their bloodie endes. Perdiccas first killed Meleager: Ptolome killeth Cleomenes Perdiccas friend: and Perdiccas himselfe is slaine of his owne souldiers, going against Ptolome. Craterus and Neoptolemus are slaine in battell: Philotas killeth Phiton: and he with Eumenes are slaine by Antigonus: Antigonus fighting against Seleucus is killed: Lysimachus by Seleucus, Seleucus is slaine by Ptolome Ceraunus brother to Ptolome Philadelphus then raigning in Egypt: and the same Ceraunus not long after was slaine by Brennus: Demetrius Antigonus sonne rooteth out the house of Cassander: and so he and his posteritie held the kingdome of Macedonia, vntill the Romans possessed it. And this was the ende of Alexanders captaines.
15. Quest. Why the Angel prosequuteth the storie onelyonly of the king of the South, and of the North, omitting the the rest.
Two reasons may be yeelded hereof. 1. The other kingdomes, the one of Asia the lesse in the North to Egypt, which fell vntounto Antigonus, after he was slaine and vanquished by Seleucus, was diuided among the other captaines, and so it was extinguished: and the other kingdome of Macedonia in the West, was translated from Cassander and his posteritie, vntounto Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus: neither was it in power answerable vntounto the other two kingdomes, of Syria, and Egypt: and therefore these onelyonly are mentioned: for vers. 5. the Angel speaketh onelyonly of two mightie kingdomes, which should preuaile aboue the rest.
2. An other reason is, Iudea stood in the middes betweene these two kingdomes of Syria and Egypt, by which occasion, these kings waging battell one against an other, Iudea beeing in the middes, went to wracke betweene them: Melancthon. And sometime the Iewes fauoured one, and sometime an other, and then the aduersarie part still afflicted them: and thus betweene these two kings were the Iewes molested the space of three hundred yeares. Lyranus. And a third cause there was of trouble vntounto the Iewes: sometime the Ptolomies of Egypt challenged the gouernment and soueraigntie of Iudea, sometime the kings of Syria: but in the last sociall warre against Antigonus it was agreed, that the most part of Iudea should belong vntounto the Seleucians, as Antiochus the great alleadgeth in an embassage sent vntounto Ptolome Philopator king of Egypt: Polyb. lib. 5. Therefore mention is made onelyonly of these two kings, because they onelyonly had to doe with the people of God: and as Hierome saith, scripturae propositum est, non externam absque Iudais historiam texere, it is the intent and purpose of the Scripture, not to follow a forren historie without respect vntounto the Iewes. And Iosephus hereof thus writeth, Antiocho magno in Asia regnante, &c. While Antiochus the great raigned in Asia, Iudea was continually troubled and Coelesyria: for while he had warre with Ptolomeus Philopator, and his sonne Epiphanes, whether he did ouercome, or were ouercome, they went to wracke, euen like vntounto a shippe driuen to and fro of the windes: inter prosperam & adversam Antiochi fortunam iactat a est, Iudea was tossed vp and downe betweene the prosperous and aduerse fortune of Antiochus. Ioseph. lib. 12. antiquit. c. 3.
16. Quest. Of the Kings of Egypt, and Syria, of whome Daniel prophesieth in this Chapter.
The kings of Egypt which succeeded one another after the diuision of Alexanders kingdome into foure parts, were these:
1. Ptolomeus the sonne of Lagus, called Ptolomeus Soter, which signifieth a sauiour; because he rescued diuers kings that fledde vntounto him for succour, as Seleucus, and Pirrhus king of Epyrus: but he contrarie to his name made hauocke of Syria and Iudea.
2. Ptolomeus Philadelphus, so called, either because he married his owne sister, or by the contrarie, because he killed two of his brothers. Iun. in commentar.
3. Ptolome Euergetes, a benefactour: he was a great fauourer and patron of learning, as his father was: the Egyptians called him a benefactour, because he brought home the images from Babylon which Cambyses had carried away.
4. Ptolomeus Philopator, so called by the contrarie, for he killed his father, mother, and brother.
5. Ptolomeus, surnamed Epiphanes, that is, the famous or renowned.
6. Ptolomeus Philometor, which signifieth a louer of his mother, or beloued of his mother, by the contrarie, for his mother hated him.
7. Ptolomeus Physcon, so called of his great bellie.
8. Ptolome Lathurus, so named because beeing exiled by his mother, he secretly practised to returne againe.
9. Ptolome Auletes, so surnamed the piper, because he would publikely in his princely habit contend with fidlers and pipers, to exceede them in fidling and piping.
10. He left behind him his sonne Ptolome Dyonisius, and Cleopatra: this Dyonisius caused Pompey to be killed, that fledde thither for succour, beeing ouercome of Cesar: who because he afterward practised against Iulius Cesar, was by him commanded to be slaine, and the kingdome was giuen to Cleopatra his sister, who afterward married to Antonius. ex Melancth. Bulling. And these were the Egyptian kings, vntill the Romanes reduced it into a Prouince after the death of Antonius and Cleopatra.
These also were the kings of Syria, called the kings of the North.
1. The founder and beginner of this kingdome was Seleucus surnamed Nicanor.
2. Next vntounto him was Antiochus surnamed Soter, a sauiour.
3. Then Antiochus called Theos, which signifieth God, because he required diuine ho… to be giuen vntounto him, Bulling. or, as Pausanias, he was saluted by that title of the Mile…ians for expelling their tyrants.
4. Seleucus Callinicus, which signifieth an excellent warriet, the sonne of Antiochus Theos by Laodice: his brother Antiochus Hierax, so tearmed for his rapacitie, raigned together with him in an other part of the kingdome.
5. Seleucus Ceraunus, that is, a flashing or lightning, was the next, but he raigned not long, therefore by some he is omitted, as Hugo Card. Melancth.
6. Antiochus surnamed Megas, the great, succeeded his brother Ceraunus.
7. Then Seleucus Philopator (so called, because his father loued him) raigned: but not long.
8. Antiochus Epiphanes, the famous, by the contrarie, for he was of a base nature, and despised, v. 2. or rather as some call him Epimanes, the madde or furious Antiochus, succeeded Philopator.
Thus farre the prophecie of Daniel is extended to the 8. king of Syria, which was Epiphanes, and to the 6. of Egypt Ptolome Philometor. At these the prophesie staieth, because the principall intendement of this prophesie is, to foreshew the troubles, which the people of God should endure vnderunder Antiochus Epiphanes: and this prophesie there ending, signifieth that the comming of the Messiah was not farre off: and beside after this time, when such …auocke was made of the people of God by Antiochus, the kings of Syria (as a iust recompence for their crueltie against Gods people) did one cut an others throat, and so the kingdome by ciuill dissention was rent a sunder, vntill it came vntounto the Romanes. These then were the kings that succeeded Epiphanes.
9. Antiochus Eupator Epiphanes sonne, whome Demetrius his vncles sonne killeth.
10. Demetrius succeedeth, whome one Alexander faining to be Epiphanes sonne, killeth, and vsurpeth the kingdome by Ptolome Philometors meanes.
11. Demetrius Nicanor sonne of the other Demetrius, killeth Alexander.
12. Antiochus Sedetes expelleth Demetrius his brother.
13. Tryphon killeth Sedetes, and is king.
14. Antiochus the brother of Demetrius called Eusebes for his pietie, because hauing besieged Ierusalem in the feast of the Tabernacles, for reuerence of their feast he did forbeare them, and sent them sacrifices to offer, he killeth Tryphon: and he himselfe is slaine in a bat…ell by Arsaces king of the Parthians.
15. Demetrius Nicanor is restored againe to his kingdom.
16. One Alexander vsurpeth the kingdome, who is ouercome by Antiochus Gryphus.
17. Antiochus called Gryphus of his Eagles or hooked nose, was the sonne of Demetrius: betweene him and Antiochus Cyzicenus so named of the place where he was brought vp, the sonne of Sedetes, was great warre.
18. Seleucus the sonne of Gryphus prosecuteth his fathers quarrell, he killeth Cyzicenus. Thus the familie of the Seleucians by mutuall discord, was at the length extinquished, and then Tygranes king of Armenia taking aduantage of this ciuill dissention, vsurped the kingdome, and held it certaine yeares vntill he was subdued by Pompey. Melancth. Bulling.
17. Quest. Of the first Ptolome called here the king of the South.
1. This Ptolome was held to be the sonne of Lagus, but in truth he was the sonne of Philippus king of Macedon, who married his mother beeing great with child, vntounto Lagus. 2. Alexander for his singular valour exalted him, Iustin. for when Alexander was in daunger at Oxydrace, he onelyonly of all his friends rescued him. 3. He was the chiefe author of diuiding the Empire, and tooke vponupon him the gouernment of Egypt, slaying Cleomenes the gouernour thereof, and he ouercame Perdiccas, that came against him with an armie. 4. After the death of Perdiccas, he recouered Phoenicia, Syria, and Cyprus to his kingdome, and by his sonne Megas obtained Cyrene. Pausan. in Attic. 5. He restored Pirrhus king of Epyrus to his kingdome, and Seleucus expelled by Antigonus, fleeing vntounto him for succour. Hierome. 6. But he was cruell to the Iewes, inuading them vponupon the Sabbath day, when they suspected nothing, and carried many of them away captiue: but afterward he became more indifferent toward them, giuing them the like priuiledge in Alexandria, as the Macedonia…s had. Ioseph. lib. 12. antiquit. 7. He raigned well nie fourtie yeares after Alexanders death, and died in the 124. Olympiad, (as Polybius writeth) in the same yeare that Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolome Ceraunus likewise ended their daies. 8. He left behind him Philadelpus, Ceraunus, and other children beside. Pausan. And this was the king of the South (that is of Egypt, which was South to Iudea,) which (the text saith, v. 5.) shall be mightie.