9) The king of the south.–According to the Hebrew text, these words are in the genitive case (so Theod. Jer.), though the English Version is supported by the LXX. In this case the meaning is, “The king of the north shall come into the kingdom of the southern king,” and then shall return to his own land–i.e., the north–apparently without gaining any advantage.

As excellent a translation as the King James Version was (and is), its editors never claimed to be infallibile. Their marginal notes indicate instances where they lacked absolute certainty over some readings. They acknowledged this in their preface:

…it hath pleased God in his divine providence, here and there to scatter words and sentences of that difficulty and doubtfulness, not in doctrinal points that concern salvation, (for in such it hath been vouched that the Scriptures are plain) but in matters of less moment … in such a case, doth not a margin do well to admonish the Reader to seek further, and not to conclude or dogmatize upon this or that peremptorily? … They that are wise, had rather have their judgments at liberty in differences of readings, than to be captivated to one, when it may be the other.

Source: Literatura Bautista

Seleucus II Caallinus [Beautifully Triumphant], The Son of Antiochus II and Laodice (265 B.C.E. – 225 B.C.E.) ascended the throne of The Seleucid Empire in 246 B.C.E. at the age of nineteen years. He reigned for twenty-one years (246 B.C.E.- 225 B.C.E.).

After Ptolemy III had returned to Egypt in 245 B.C.E. (having invaded The Seleucid Empire as far as Babylon;) Seleucus II (having first regained the loyalty of Babylonia and Mesopotamia,) marched into Syria, where he recovered Antioch by 244 B.C.E.

By 242 B.C.E. the interior of Northern Syria had been regained. In 241 B.C.E. The Third Syrian War (246 B.C.E. – 241 B.C.E.) ended with peace finally agreed and a treaty signed. Ptolemy III recognized Seleucus II as King of The Seleucid Empire and The Eleutheros River was once again accepted as the boundary between the two empires. Ptolemy III did, however, retain his conquests in Thrace, Ephesus, and most importantly of all, the vital port of Seleucia Piera. (This city contained the tomb of the Seleucid Dynasty’s founder, Seleucus I, and controlled much of the trade from Antioch, one of the most important cities in The Seleucid Empire.)

The Seleucid desire to recover Seleucia Peira would prove to be one of the main casus of the outbreak of The Fourth Syrian War in 219 B.C.E.

Seleucus II, according to many historians, was not a great Seleucid king, but he fathered ‘two sons’ (noted in Daniel 11:10) who regained much of the empire which were lost during his reign.

Co-Co, The Chimpanzee Schoolmaster, did not judge Seleucus II as harshly, however. What son could withstand a mother such as Laodice!

• Seleucus II was the son of the vengeful Laodice, who not only killed her own husband, Antiochus II, Berenice, her husband’s wife, and the young Antiochus III, and her friend, Danae, but persuaded his brother, Antiochus Hierax, to force Seleucus II to relinquish the Western part of his kingdom, Anatolia, to him.

• Seleucus had to flee for his life from his brother’s forces in Anatolia. He was bereft even of his crown. Ironically, Antiochus Hierax mourned his brother’s seeming death.

• Seleucus almost lost his life in a disastrous naval battle, which many saw as a divine punishment for his part in the murder of his father, Antiochus II.

• Seleucus married his aunt, Laodice, sister to his father, and sired the two sons who would restore his kingdom to its former glory.

• Like his brother, Antiochus Hierax, Seleucus II, was a true Macedonian king who led his forces in battle from the front of the cavalry right wing. Antiochus Hierax was eventually killed in battle but his horse refused to allow the murderer to live – galloping over a cliff to kill him. His brother, Seleucus II, was killed by a fall from his horse – a not uncommon death for monarchs of this era.

Co-Co, The Chimpanzee Schoolmaster, used to wonder how different the history of Seleucus II would have been if his younger brother, Antiochus Heirax, had been loyal like the son of King Saul, Jonathan. was to David, Brotherly love is one of the most honourable of virtues as the ancient king of Israel, David, celebrated in his psalm, the glorious Psalm 133

Psalm 133: 1 – 3 (3 Verses)

‘Behold!

How Good and how Pleasing it is for Brethren to dwell [even] together in unity!

It is:

• like the Precious Ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard – that went down to the skirts of his garments

• as The Dew of Hermon and

• as the Dew That Descended upon The mountains of Zion: for there THE LORD commanded The Blessing – even Life for Evermore.‘

Next Week: The Sons of Seleucus II (Daniel 11:10)