when he returned to Alexandria he determined to inflict on the Alexandrine Jews the vengeance
for his disappointment. He was succeeded by his only child, Ptolemy V. Epiphanes who was at the
time only four or five years old. PTOLEMAEUS V. EPIPHANES, B.C. 205-181. The reign of
Ptolemy Epiphanes was a critical epoch in the history of the Jews. The rivalry between the Syrian
and Egyptian parties, some time divided the people, came to an open rupture in the struggles which
marked his minority. In the strong language of Daniel “The robbers of the people exalted themselves
to establish the vision.” (Daniel 11:14) The accession of Ptolemy and the confusion of a disputed
regency furnished a favorable opportunity for foreign invasion. “Many stood up against the king
of the south” under Antiochus the Great and Philip III of Macedonia, who formed a league for the
dismemberment of his kingdom. “So the king of the north [Antiochus] came, and cast up a mount,
and took the most fenced city [Sidon], and the arms of the south did not withstand” [at Paneas B.C.
198]. (Daniel 11:14,15) The Romans interfered, and in order to retain the provinces of Coele-Syria,
Phoenicia and Judea, Antiochus “gave him [Ptolemy] a young maiden” [his daughter Cleopatra as
his betrothed wife]. (Daniel 11:27) But in the end his policy only partially succeeded. After the
marriage of Ptolemy and Cleopatra was consummated B.C. 193, (Cleopatra, did “not stand on his
side,” but supported her husband in maintaining the alliance with Rome. The disputed provinces,
however remained in the possession of Antiochus and Ptolemy was poisoned at the time when he
was preparing an expedition to recover them from Seleucus, the unworthy successor of Antiochus.
PTOLEMAEUS VI. PHILOMETOR, B.C. 181-145. On the death of Ptolemy Epiphanes, his wife
Cleopatra held the regency for her young son, Ptolemy Philometor, and preserved peace with Syria
till she died, B.C. 173. The government then fell into unworthy hands, and an attempt was made
to recover Syria. Comp. 2 Macc. 4:21. Antiochus Epiphanes seems to have made the claim a pretext
for invading Egypt. The generals of Ptolemy were defeated near Pelusium, probably at the close
of B.C. 171, 1 Macc. 1:16 ff; and in the next year Antiochus, having secured the person of the
young king, reduced almost the whole of Egypt. Comp. 2 Macc. 5:1. Meanwhile Ptolemy Euergetes
II., the younger brother of Ptolemy Philometor, assumed the supreme power at Alexandris; and
Antiochus, under the pretext of recovering the crown for Philometor, besieged Alexandria in B.C.
- By this time, however, his selfish designs were apparent: the brothers were reconciled, and
Antiochus was obliged to acquiesce for the time in the arrangement which they made. But while
doing so he prepared for another invasion of Egypt, and was already approaching Alexandria when
he was met by the Roman embassy led by C. Popillius Laenas, who, in the name of the Roman
senate insisted on his immediate retreat (B.C.168), a command which the late victory at Pydna
made it impossible to disobey. These campaigns, which are intimately connected with the visits of
Antiochus to Jerusalem in B.C. 170, 168, are briefly described in (Daniel 11:25,30) The whole of
Syria was afterward subdued by Ptolemy, and he was crowned at Antioch king of Egypt and Asia.
1 Macc. 11:13. Alexander, a rival claimant, attempted to secure the crown, but was defeated and
afterward put to death by Ptolemy. But the latter did not long enjoy his success. He fell from his
horse in the battle and died within a few days. 1 Macc. 11:18. Ptolemy Philometor is the last king
of Egypt who is noticed in sacred history, and his reign was marked also by the erection of the
temple at Leontopolis.
Ptolemais
[Accho]
Ptolemee, Or Ptolemeus