Who Is the King of the South in Bible Prophecy?

The King of the South is mentioned in the Bible in a prophecy given in Daniel 11.

Daniel 11 is a prophecy that the prophet Daniel revealed around 538 BC. In Chapter 10 in the Book of Daniel, after Daniel had been in mourning, prayer, and fasting for three weeks, an angel appeared to tell him about future events that affected Jerusalem, his homeland. The events Daniel described didn’t begin until 323 BC. 

In Daniel 11, the “king of the south” refers to the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt who clashed with the Seleucid “king of the north” after Alexander the Great’s empire divided, though some interpret the later verses as a foreshadowing of end-times conflict involving future world powers.

Most of these prophesied events occurred during the intertestamental period, or the roughly 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. During that time, the Ptolemies, based in Egypt, were Kings of the South, and the Seleucids, located in Syria, were Kings of the North. This left Judah in a precarious place in the middle.

Although we see most of the events in Chapter 11 in the history of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, verses 40-45 of Daniel do not fit into their events. Many scholars believe these verses point to a future end time known as the Tribulation. One of the prophecies revealed to Daniel by God was about the King of the South and the King of the North. The prophecy specifically about the King of the South is what we will look at more in this article. 

As context, it's also important to note that, as a young man, Daniel was one of many Jewish believers taken captive when Judah was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, tore down the Temple built by Solomon, and took many of its citizens to Babylon. Daniel, who stayed faithful to God, lived a long life and became a top official in the Babylonian government. God used him to interpret the dreams of the kings and record visions of future prophecies. He lived his whole life in Babylon while Jerusalem lay in ruins, yet he never lost his zeal for his homeland.

Is the King of the South a Person or a Country in the End Times?

In Daniel 11:3, a mighty king gains power, but when his kingdom is divided, it’s left to four men who were not his sons. In 331 BC, Alexander the Great defeated Persia and became the ruler of much of the known world. His kingdom stretched from the Balkans to Egypt in the west and went west to India and Central Asia. About 323 BC, he died of malaria in Babylon, Persia (now Iraq). He was 32 years old and without a successor. After his death, his kingdom was divided into four portions and given to his generals.

One of the generals was Ptolemy I Soter, who ruled a kingdom based in Egypt (which is south of Jerusalem). This kingdom, known as the Ptolemaic dynasty, is identified in Daniel 11 as The King of the South. The history of his dynasty, headed by him and his descendants, matches Daniel’s prophecy of the King of the South to an uncanny degree. Since the period of 11:5-35 covers over 200 years, it is better to consider the King of the South as a country or dynasty instead of as one person.

The King of the North would refer to the Seleucid dynasty, headquartered in Syria (north of Judah), and included Babylon. Armies from the north and the south, clashing with each other, stormed through and ravaged Daniel's homeland. While this prophecy was fulfilled even before the coming of Christ, some biblical scholars and theologians believe the prophecy also refers to events that will happen regarding these world powers in the end times.

Has the Prophecy of Daniel 11 Already Been Fulfilled?

Although most of the events in Daniel 11 can be attributed to the historical actions of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, the events mentioned in verses 36-45 have yet to occur.

In Daniel 11:21-34, references to the King of the North can be traced to the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus IV reigned over the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC to his death in 164 BC. Epiphanes is the title he took for himself to declare that he was a god. After leaving Egypt victorious, he looted and defiled the temple in Jerusalem. His persecution of the Jews in Judea and Samaria led to the revolt of the Jewish Maccabees.

But beginning in verse 35, the theme of the prophecy shifts to the end times. Finding such large time gaps in prophecies is not unusual. In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus himself illustrates such a situation when he stands up in the temple to read Isaiah 61:1-2 and applies it to his ministry. He sits down, without referring to the last part of verse two that did not apply to His ministry then.

Many people understand Daniel 11:36-45 to refer to the end times and the actions of the Antichrist, the future King of the North. The Antichrist’s behavior, while reflecting that of Antiochus Epiphanes, will go even further in his pride and blasphemy.

Is the King of the South Symbolic or Literal?

We have been examining how the events of Daniel’s prophecy closely match the struggles between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires. Some scholars, however, disagree that the prophecies refer to these kingdoms. First, they claim that parts of Daniel had to be written after the events had happened. They refuse to accept that anyone can foretell events taking place in the future to such a degree and ascribe these writings to an unknown Jew who lived in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes.

However, foretelling what God revealed about the future was the role of a prophet of God. And that God did reveal the future to His prophets, sometimes in such detail, is proof of His power and holiness.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 states, “And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is the word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

Second, those who claim this text in Daniel should be interpreted symbolically, not literally. Instead of taking the text literally, they see it as symbolizing a struggle between good and evil. The accuracy of the text causes us to deny this view. Only an all-knowing, all-powerful God could give such a precise prophecy as this to events two hundred years in the future.

Why Christians Should Know about the King of the South Prophecy

The prophecy of the King of the South in Daniel 11 has several applications to Christians today.

1. The accuracy of events in our past points to the accuracy of the events yet to come. We can expect that God’s warnings about the Tribulation should be as precise as those recorded of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties of the past.
2. It shows that God is sovereign over all nations—even those that refuse to accept Him.
3. Such detailed fulfillment of prophecy invites us to examine the Resurrection with equal precision.
4. Just as the details in God’s prophecies proved His holiness to the Jews, it authenticates the Risen Christ to today’s seekers.

Daniel lived in a time when his country had been defeated, Jerusalem lay in ruins, and he lived in exile in a country hostile to his beliefs. Yet, he lived faithfully to God’s teachings, and God used him to uplift His people. Reading and understanding the Bible’s teaching about the King of the South in Daniel 11 should lead us to a deeper appreciation of His glory and power, even in the world we live in today.

For Further Reading:
Understanding End Times Scriptures and Prophecies
Have Any End Times Prophecies Already Been Fulfilled?
What Are Signs and Wonders of the End Times?

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/webking

Tim Suddeth is a stay-at-home dad and butler to his wonderful, adult son with autism. He has been published in Guidepost and has a monthly column at TheWriteConversation.com. He earned his Master of Divinity at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives near Greenville, SC where he shares a house with a bossy Shorky, Tali, and two too-curious Persians. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Substack.