Daniel - Historian of the Future

Week 16 - The Rise of Rome

Daniel 11:36 - 11:43

This weeks section moves ahead to a king of Judea, and the rise of the Roman Empire at the battle of Actium. The provinces to the north of Israel are controlled by Octavius and Agrippa, the provinces to the South by Anthony and Cleopatra. Yes, *that* Anthony and Cleopatra.

Herod the Great

11:36 Herod the "Great" was from an Edomite family that converted to Judaism, after being told to convert or leave when conquered by Hyrcanus. Herod is appointed governor of Judea, but when Antigonas and the Parthians take over Judea, Herod flees to Rome, and proposes to take Judea back for Rome. The Roman Senate makes him Governor of Judea, and he returns with an army, conquers Jerusalem after 3 years, and rules Judea under Rome. He banishes his first wife Doris and 3 year old son Antipater, and marries the neice of Antigonus, Mariamne, in an attempt to gain Jewish favor. But his claim of following Judaism is undermined by the decadent lifestyle of the Herods.
Herod is successful in all he undertakes, from obtaining and maintaining despotic power over Judea throughout the political changes and Actian war, gaining authority over every ruler in Judea, and even the priesthood. He appointed Aristobulus, the last of the Maccabees as high priest, when he married his sister Mariamne. When Aristobulus later denounced some of his policies, he had him murdered. He murdered anyone he suspected of threatening his rule. He undertakes and completes tremendous building projects, including cities, fortresses, and a great expansion of the second temple. He is famous for his decree of slaughter for the babes of Bethlehem, in an attempt to put to death Immanuel. The dynasty of Herod will remain in power until the destruction of Jerusalem. Herod the Great himself will reign until shortly after the Slaughter of the Innocents.
11:37 Herod paid lip service to the God of his fathers, but his treasure went to the god Maozim - the god of force, the Caesars. When the Desire of Women came, Herod had no regard for Him, and sought to murder Him as another rival for the throne. He made the Jewish temple magnificent, but also built temples to Greek and Roman gods outside the Jewish areas.
11:38 Herod gave lavish gifts, imposing heavy taxes to pay for them. He built entire cities dedicated to Caesar, e.g. Caesarea. He was Machiavellian enough to direct his lavish spending to providing for his people during the severe famine of 25BC.
11:39 Herod was obsequious in giving glory to Caesar, usually stopping just short of provoking open revolt among the Jews. He made himself indispensable to maintaining Roman rule over Judea without another expensive war. In all of the fortresses he built, he put a statue of Ceasar. The Jews were pleased with the beautiful temple - until Herod put a golden eagle, symbol of Rome, above the gate. Along with his other lavish gifts, Herod divided land into parcels, which he also gave as gifts.

The Battle of Actium

The focus diverts to the struggle of Octavian and Anthony. With the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Roman empire was split into a temporary triumverate under Octavian in the North and West, Anthony in the South, and Lepidus in the East. Anthony summons Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, to demand an account of her support of Julius Ceasar. She meets Antony on her royal barge in her Venus outfit and seduces him, as she had seduced Caesar before him, causing political scandal throughout the empire. Octavian deposes Lepidus, Anthony challenges that action as unauthorized, and begins acting independently. When the legal triumverate expires at the end of 33BC, Anthony sends a letter to the Senate asking not to be reconsidered, trying to paint Octavian as ambitious like Julius Caesar. He repudiated and divorced Octavian's sister Octavia, and moved to Egypt to be with Cleopatra. 300 Senators (a third of the Senate) defected to Anthony, and reports reached Rome that Anthony planned to setup an eastern senate in Alexandria. Octavius, not wanting to be seen as initiating civil war, declares war on the foreign queen Cleopatra, the perceived cause of all the trouble. In what historians regard as the end of the Roman Republic, he has the troops swear loyalty to him, not to Rome.

11:40 In 31BC Octavian published Anthony's will, obtained though the traitor Plancus, and carefully let it be know how completely Anthony acted as agent of Cleopatra. He declared war against Cleopatra, and began preparations for battle.
Anticipating an attack, Anthony's fleet went toward Italy, getting as far as Corcyra. But finding the sea guarded by a squadron of Octavian's ships, he retreated to Patrae, with his infantry encamped near the promontory of Actium and his fleet in the Ambracian gulf. While Anthony waited at Patrae for the full strength of his forces to arrive from their scattered locations, Octavian's general Agrippa decended with his cavalry through Greek towns and coasts, until he had driven Anthony from the north side of the straight.
Cleopatra advised putting the infantry into strong towns, and returning with the main fleet to Alexandria. Octavian learned of this, and while he at first considered letting Anthony sail and then attacking, Agrippa convinced him to give battle immediately. The day was wet, and the sea was rough when the trumpet sounded and Anthony's ships began exiting the straight. Octavian's ships moved into line and remained quiet. He then ordered them to the right to pass the enemy ships. In danger of being surrounded, Anthony was forced to sound an attack.
Marc Anthony had 500 ships, most of them huge warships with grappling hooks and battering rams. Unfortunately, they were undermanned, as too many men had succumbed to malaria while wintering at Patrae. Anthony did his best, burning ships he could no longer man, and keeping a tight formation. But with so many oarsmen missing or incapacitated, his principle weapon was far less effective.
Octavian had 250 smaller and highly maneuverable ships manned by fresh men. General Quintus Dellius defected to Octavius, and revealed Anthony's battle plans. Anthony had planned to break through the north of the Octavian line with his heaviest ships, but knowing this, Octavian's ships stayed out of range.
Cleopatra saw an opening to open sea, and signalled a retreat. Anthony failed to see the signal (rainy day, remember), and thought this was a panic, and all was lost. So he also turned abruptly and sailed after Cleopatra. The rest of the fleet was lost to Octavian.
Octavian exerted himself to saving the crews of the burning vessels, and also treated the surrendering infantry, who had not already escaped to their home countries, with dignity. This gained Octavian the loyalty of most of the infantry - who thought they had been abandoned by Anthony.
11:41 Octavian now goes through all the countries of the south and east, cementing his empire, overflowing, and passing over them, possessing himself of regions of Africa, Upper Cilicia, Paphlagonia, Thrace, Pontus, Galatia, and other provinces from Illyria to Armenia. He gives himself the title "Caesar Agustus". He also "entered into the glorious land," Judea. For Augustus chose to invade Egypt by way of Palestine, at which time Herod (who had already with great prudence and foresight made his submission to Augustus, and with such skilful diplomacy that it was accepted), rendered him much assistance. Josephus says:
“Caesar went for Egypt through Syria when Herod received him with royal and rich entertainments; and then did he first of all ride along with Caesar, as he was reviewing his army about Ptolemais, and feasted him with all his friends, and then distributed among the rest of his army what was necessary to feast then withal” (Wars I, 20, 3).
Octavius Augustus sent an expedition into Edom, Moab, and Ammon under Aelius Gallus, in which he was joined by 500 of Herod’s guards (Josephus, Ant. XV 9, 3). Dean Prideaux refers to this expedition and its failure, citing Pliny, Strabo, and Dio Cassius (Prideaux’ Connections. Vol. II, pp. 605 et seq.). The Universal History, in a note added to their account of the expedition, says: "The bad success that attended Aelius in this expedition deterred both him and others from any further attempts on that country" (Ancient Universal History. Vol. XIII, p. 498).
11:42 Octavius invades Egypt, and after a few more battles (in some of which, Octavius is aided by information from Cleopatra), Anthony is finally defeated at Alexandria, and falls on his sword. But he fails to die immediately, and asks to be taken to the mausoleum in Alexandria. On arrival, he dies in Cleopatra's arms. Octavian promises to treat Cleopatra well, intending to use her in his triumph. But she kills herself by means of an asp smuggled in a basket of figs.
11:43 According to Farquharson:
“When Caesar afterwards, approaching from Judea, took Pelusium and entered Egypt, the same author says, ‘Cleopatra had erected near the temple of Isis some monuments of extraordinary size and magnificence. To these she removed her treasure, her gold, silver, emeralds pearls, ebony, ivory, and cinnamon. . . . . Caesar was under some apprehensions about this immense wealth, lest, upon some sudden emergency, she should set fire to the whole. For this reason he was continually sending messengers to her with assurances of generous and honourable treatment, while in the meantime he hastened to the city with his army.’ . . . . Her person and the treasures in the monument were afterwards secured by a stratagem, as related by Plutarch; and thus a king of the north had power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt.”
See Ezekiel 29:15 for why this alone rules out a futurist interpretation of this passage.