Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11 · Questions · Question 23
Quest. 23. Who was the bud of her rootes, v. 7. and of his exploits.
1. Theodoret giueth this interpretation here: these warres here prophecied of he vnderstandeth of the warres betweene Ptolomeus Philopator and Antiochus the great: by one of his captaines before spoken of, v. 6. he would hauehave vnderstood Scopas generall of Philopators armie, who wunne diuerse places out of Antiochus iurisdiction, and ioyned them to his kingdome: After this Ptolome gaue his daughter in mariage vntounto Antiochus: but she was returned home againe: yet there came a bud of her, she had a sonne that became an enemie vntounto her father.
Contra. This exposition cannot stand. 1. the warres betweene Antiochus the great, and Philopator are afterward spoken of in this chapter. 2. It is vnlike that one of his captaines should be said to be greater then the king himselfe: seeing all his endeauour was to aduance the honour and dominion of the king. 3. neither did the king of Egypt giuegive his daughter to Antiochus the great: but he gaue his daughter Cleopatra in mariage to Ptolome Epiphanes. 4. beside this bud here spoken of inuadeth the kingdome of the North, whereas Theodoret vnderstandeth this bud to rise vp an enemie to the king of the South.
2. This then is the true interpretation. 1. This bud of her, that is, Berenices rootes, was Ptolome surnamed Euergetes, her naturall and Germane brother: who rose vp to reuenge his sisters death. 2. He came with an armie and invaded Syria, and wunne the strong holds: many cities abhorring the cruell fact and parricide of Callinicus reuolted, and submitted themselues to Ptolome: who tooke possession of the countrey, and caused himselfe to be crowned king. 3. but hearing of some commotion in Egypt, he returned, and carried away with him many nobles captiues, and a verie great spoile beside, 40. thousand talents of gold, and many pretious vessels, and 2500. images of their gods, and among them those, which Cambyses before had carried out of Egypt, whereupon the superstitious Egyptians called him Euergetes, benefactor, Hierome.
3. After Ptolome was returned, Seleucus prepared a great nauie, which was ouerwhelmed in the Sea, and he himselfe hardly escaped with a fewe of his companie, hauing nothing left of all that great preparation: in so much that his case was pitied of those which before had reuolted from him: Then he craued aid of Antiochus. Hierax his brother, which Ptolome perceiuing, made peace with Seleucus for 10. yeares, Oecol. Melanct. ex Iustin.
4. Hierax seeing this, then turneth his force against his brother Seleucus: which warre tended to the ruine and destruction of them both: for Hierax was slaine of certaine robbers and theeues, and Seleucus died of a fall from his horse.
5. All this beeing thus reported by forren writers, Iustin. lib. 27. Polybius lib. 5. agreeth with this prophesie of Daniel, both of the preparation and expedition of Ptolome Euergetes against Callinicus, v. 7. his successe in carrying away much spoile and captiues, v. 8. and his returne into his countrey, v. 9.
6. But where it is said, v. 8. he shall continue more yeares then the king of the North: some referre it to the time of their raigne: Calvin saith, whom the Genevens. followe, that Euergetes raigned 46. yeares▪ Oecolamp. 26. whereas Callinicus raigned but 20. yeares▪ but it is better vnderstood, that Euergetes continued diuerse yeares in this victorious estate, hauing the chiefe dominion in Syria, Iun. Polan. for this best agreeth with the former words, wherein his victorie and prosperous successe is described: And Polybius writeth, that Euergegetes and Callinicus died much about the same time, lib. 5.
7. I… his returne which is mentioned, v. 9. Iosephus writeth, that Euergetes comming to Ierusalem did offer sacrifices vntounto God, for his great victorie, and bestowed great gifts vponupon the Temple, lib. post. aduers. Appion. yet afterward he demaunded the ordinarie tribute 20. talents of siluer, which was detained by the couetousnesse of Onias the high Priest: Euergetes sent vntounto him, threatening that if the tribute were not paid, he would diuide their countrey among his souldiers. Then Iosephus Onias sisters sonne went in the name of the Iewes in embassage vntounto Ptolome, and pacified him, and grewe in great fauour with him, Ioseph. lib. 12. antiquit. c. 3.