Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 11:7

"But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come unto the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail." — Daniel 11:7 (ASV)

Until now, there has been no account of any war between the northern and southern king, but we must not forget that Ptolemy Philadelphus and Antiochus Theos were at war for ten years or more. In this and the following verses, there is a description of a severe war, in which the southern king is victorious. This is explained as referring to the war between Ptolemy Evergetes and Seleucus Callinicus, which lasted 246-243 B.C., and in which Ptolemy was successful, carrying back with him into Egypt on his return large quantities of spoil and images of gods which he had taken. The coincidence between history and prophecy is far from establishing the truth of the explanation; but the mention of Egypt in Daniel 11:8 directs our attention to a country which will in the future become the scene of the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Out of a branch of her roots. The same words occur in Isaiah 11:1. The meaning is, “a branch growing from her roots shall stand up in the place of the person last mentioned.” It is not easy to say which king is meant, nor is there any agreement among commentators as to what is intended by “her roots.” According to one view, “her parents” are intended, so that “the branch” is someone of collateral descent with herself. According to another view, the words mean “her family.”

With an army. Literally, to the army. Theodotion and the Septuagint both translate it as δύναμιν, which Theodoret explains to be a name for Jerusalem. The person spoken of comes to attack the army, and the fortress has been supposed to be Seleucia. However, the use of the plural “them” in the latter part of the verse makes it more probable that the word “fortress” is used collectively for fortified cities.