Antiochus Ii
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Antiochus Ii in the Bible?
Antiochus II Theos, son and successor of Antiochus I, engaged in the Second Syrian War against Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. To secure peace, he divorced his wife Laodice and married Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II. Following Ptolemy's death, Antiochus repudiated Berenice, recalled Laodice, and designated her son Seleucus II as his heir, leading to the murder of Berenice and her child.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Antiochus II's diplomatic marriages and succession crisis clarifies the complex political landscape of the 3rd century BC, providing historical context for the tensions between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic dynasties that influenced the geopolitical environment described in biblical narratives concerning the intertestamental period.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.