Daniel 7:24

The ten horns] are to be sought among Alexander and his successors. The following table of the Greek kings of Syria and Egypt may be useful here:

Syria.

B.C.

Egypt.

B.C.

Seleucus I (Nicator)

312-280

Ptolemy I (Soter)

305-285

Antiochus I (Soter)

280-261

Ptolemy II (Philadelphus)

285-247

Antiochus II (Theos)

261-246

Seleucus II (Callinicus)

246-226

Ptolemy III (Euergetes)

247-222

Seleucus III (Ceraunus)

226-223

Ptolemy IV (Philopator)

222-205

Antiochus III (the Great)

223-187

Ptolemy V (Epiphanes)

205-181

Seleucus IV (Philopator)

187-176

Ptolemy VI (Philometor)

181-146

Antiochus IV (Epiphanes)

176-164

Antiochus Epiphanes was the son of Antiochus the Great, and the younger brother of Seleucus IV, whom he succeeded on the throne. Seleucus Iv was murdered by a usurper named Heliodorus; but Antiochus speedily drove out the latter. The real heir to the throne was Demetrius, the son of Seleucus IV, but he only obtained the kingdom after the death of Antiochus. Another rival of Antiochus is said to have been Ptolemy VI, of Egypt, whose mother, Cleopatra, was a daughter of Antiochus the Great. These relationships are shown in the accompanying table:

The ten horns are variously reckoned as including or excluding Alexander the Great, and as comprising only Syrian, or both Syrian and Egyptian kings. Including Alexander, the first seven may be Alexander the Great, Seleucus I, Antiochus I, Antiochus II, Seleucus 11, Seleucus III, Antiochus III, and the last three Seleucus IV (whose murder may have been instigated by Antiochus Epiphanes), Heliodorus, and Demetrius. If Alexander be omitted, the first seven will include Seleucus IV; while the last three may be Heliodorus, Demetrius, and Ptolemy VI. The number ten may be a round one, and the exact interpretation of the ten horns is of less consequence than the recognition of the little horn as Antiochus Epiphanes.

25. The v. exactly describes the conduct of Antiochus (1Ma 1:41-50). Laws] RV 'the law.' A time, times, and the dividing of (RV 'half a') time] Three years and a half appears all through the book of Daniel as the period appointed for the tyranny of Antiochus. It is to be regarded as a round period (the half of seven years), denoting a short and incomplete interval of time.