11:5-45 Throughout this passage, the king of the south describes Alexander’s general Ptolemy and his descendants, who ruled Egypt; the king of the north describes Alexander’s general Seleucus and his descendants, who ruled Syria and Mesopotamia. In the period following Alexander’s death, the kings of Egypt and Syria vied for control of the strategically located land of Palestine. The holy city and the holy people lay between these two powers. These battles continued until their appointed end (11:27, 35, 40, 45; 12:1, 7). These events are described historically in 1, 2, and 3 Maccabees and by Herodotus, Livy, Polybius, Porphyry, and Josephus. 11:5 The first king of the south was Ptolemy I Soter (323–285 BC). One of his own officials was Seleucus I Nicator (321–281 BC), who took over the rule of Syria. Both men were military commanders under Alexander the Great. Initially (320–198 BC), Palestine was under the control of the Ptolemies.