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Daniel 5:19,20,23
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down…

Daniel 8:25
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnifyhimself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Deuteronomy 8:14
Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

the king of the South will be proud in heart
The king of the South is typically identified as a ruler from the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. The phrase "proud in heart" indicates arrogance or overconfidence, a common theme in biblical narratives where pride often precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18). This pride could stem from a temporary victory or perceived strength, reflecting the human tendency to rely on one's own power rather than on God.

and will cast down tens of thousands
This suggests a significant military victory, where the king of the South achieves a substantial defeat over his enemies, likely the forces of the king of the North. The casting down of tens of thousands indicates a large-scale battle with heavy casualties, emphasizing the might and ferocity of the conflict. This aligns with the historical accounts of large battles during the Hellenistic period.

but he will not triumph
Despite the initial success and the destruction of many enemies, the ultimate victory is not achieved. This phrase highlights the temporary nature of human achievements and the futility of prideful endeavors. It serves as a reminder of the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations, as seen throughout the book of Daniel. The lack of triumph could also foreshadow future defeats or the eventual downfall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, aligning with the prophetic nature of Daniel's visions.

• Daniel is foretelling a moment when the forces of the king of the North (Antiochus III) are seized and removed after their defeat at Raphia (cf.Daniel 11:11).

• Though the battle is real history, the Scripture also reminds us of God’s unseen hand directing nations (seeIsaiah 46:9-11;Proverbs 21:1). Nothing happens outside His sovereign plan.

• By recording this event centuries in advance, God confirms the absolute reliability of His Word (cf.Isaiah 42:9).

• Ptolemy IV, the Egyptian ruler, tasted an overwhelming victory and let success swell his heart. Pride always follows when triumph is credited to self instead of the Lord (Proverbs 16:18;2 Chronicles 26:16).

• Even a pagan king’s pride illustrates a universal danger: victories, promotions, or blessings can tempt anyone to self-exaltation if God is forgotten (Deuteronomy 8:11-14;James 4:6).

• The narrative underscores that human pride never catches God off guard; He foretold it here to show His knowledge of every motive (1 Samuel 16:7).

• Historical accounts note that Ptolemy’s counter-attack cost the Seleucid side roughly ten to twelve thousand lives. The text uses broad language—“slaughter many thousands”—to stress the scale of bloodshed.

• Scripture elsewhere calls attention to mass casualties as sober reminders of sin’s ruin and the futility of man’s wars (Psalm 46:9;Matthew 26:52).

• God is never the author of evil, yet He records these tragedies to warn, humble, and steer hearts toward His peace (Isaiah 2:4).

• Despite the resounding victory, Ptolemy gained no lasting strength. Within a few years his moral decay, heavy taxation, and internal unrest wiped out the advantage (cf.Daniel 11:13).

• The verse confirmsPsalm 75:6-7—promotion and downfall come from the Lord alone. Earthly success detached from Him is fleeting (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

• This pattern anticipates the ultimate kingdom of Christ, the only reign that truly endures (Daniel 2:44;Revelation 11:15).

Daniel 11:12 records a literal event in which Egypt’s king wins a short-lived victory, grows arrogant, slays multitudes, yet gains no lasting power. The verse demonstrates God’s precise foreknowledge, exposes the emptiness of pride, and reinforces that genuine triumph belongs solely to the Lord who directs history toward His everlasting kingdom.

And he shall cast down.--These words describe the victory of the southern king after he has taken the "multitude" of the northern king.

But he shall not be strengthened--i.e., he does not prove so successful as he had hoped. His aim was to gain complete supremacy over his rival, but for reasons which are about to be stated he was unable to gain his object. Those interpreters who see a distinct reference to the wars of Ptolemy and Antiochus point out that though the loss of the Syrians was very great, yet Ptolemy did not follow up his success as he should have done. Instead of striking a decisive blow, he was content with regaining the towns which Antiochus had taken from him.