Daniel 11:9

Daniel 11:9 says, So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.  Matthew Henry says that due to disputes in his own kingdom that this ruler, most likely Ptolmey, had to return to his own land.  Verse ten adds, But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.  Again, Matthew Henry says these are two sons of the defeated king of the north.  They would be stirred up to reclaim their kingdom, though one would only live a couple of years.  The second would be Antiochus the Great and he would rule for thirty seven years.  These are still just prophecies being fulfilled, which is what we need to understand today.  We really don't have to know all the names and dates, though it is good if we do, but we do need to acknowledge that God's prophecies did come to pass then and will in the future.  Verse eleven continues, 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: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.  Verse twelve states, And when he hath taken away the multitude, his thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.  The king of the south will briefly be victorious again, but this will not last long.  Matthew Henry says this was Ptolemaeus Philopater, who was moved with indignation at the indignities done by Antiochus the Great.  Verse thirteen adds, For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.  The king of the north will return with greater power than before.  Again, we can look back and see these kings and kingdoms as they rose and fell, but Daniel was looking ahead.  We today may attempt to assign names to the kingdoms involved in the wars before the second coming of Christ, but that is not the main concern.  Just as Daniel was not given the names of these kings and kingdoms, but only the assurance that they would come to and fall from power, we can be just as certain of Christ's return at God's appointed time.  Verse fourteen continues, And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.  Matthew Henry says that the Jewish people would willingly align themselves with the king of the north in an attempt to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel, but they would fall.  We cannot force our interpretation onto God's prophecies.