Meaning of ANTIOCHUS

"the firm one."
There are several kings of this name who reigned over Syria and although they are not mentioned by name in the Scriptures, some of them appear in the prophecy of Daniel (Dan. 11).

The best known of them is Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who succeeded his brother Seleucus IV Philopáter, who was poisoned by Heliodorus. Heliodorus was in turn killed by Antiochus IV, who took the throne from the legal heir, the son of his brother (Dan. 11:21). He reigned from 175 to 164 BC.

As a result of his defeat by the Romans in Egypt, he returned to Jerusalem to continue the work of devastation that he had already begun. He ordered the slaughter of all the men and the sale of women and children into slavery. These orders were partially carried out.

The walls were demolished and the city plundered, and he erected a statue of Olympian Jupiter in the temple, offering sacrifices to this god on the altar. Flavius Josephus offers extensive information on these events (Ant. 12:5, 3, etc.; Wars. 1:1, 1-5). He was succeeded by Antiochus V, who did not exercise dominion over Judea.