Angels are hidden working to bring about God's purpose. Specifically, we read that angels are working Hebrews 1:14.Waiting for response for Hebrews 1:14 Here we see an example of this as the angel works with Darius the Mede to do God's will.
Four kings stand up after Darius the Mede: Cambyses II, Bardiya, Darius the Great, and Xerxes I (also known as Xerxes the Great). Xerxes attacked Greece and in 480 BC attached with a huge army and suffered huge defeat and never recovered.
After being stirred by the Persians provoking them, the Greeks were led by a "mighty king", Alexander the Great. In 13 short years, he amassed the largest empire in the entire ancient world "ruling with great dominion" and never suffered defeat "doing according to his will".
"When he [Alexander] shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken" - he suddenly died in 323BC and his empire fell apart. After around 40 years, it was "divided toward the four winds of heave" - it was split 4 ways to his 4 generals. His empire did not "go to his posterity" as he had an unborn son at his death which did not rule over the empire.
This prophecy is focused on the people of Israel Daniel 10:14Waiting for response for Daniel 10:14 so when there are references to the king of the North and king of the South, these can be identified based on their position to Israel. When the Greek empire was split into 4, v.4Waiting for response for Daniel 11:4 the Ptolemy occupied the country to the South, Egypt. In opposition to Ptolemy, the first country to the North of Israel was Syria which was occupied by Seleucus I Nicator. Wherever these kings are mentioned, it seems to be referring to whoever rules over Egypt (king of the South) and Syria (king of the North), the first king of the South being Ptolemy and the first king of the North being Seleucus I Nicator, but these countries changed hands, meaning the king of the North and South also changed.
Lots of detail about the actions between the king of the North and king of the South. Unfortunately, it's difficult to know exactly what happened as this happened over 2000 years ago, though it was probably helpful to the saints of those days when it was happening and they were reading about it in Daniel. The contention and conflict between the Seleucid Empire (King of the South) and the Ptolemaic Empire (King of the North), however, was clearly prophesied in these verses.
Looking in history, we can see that the Romans conquered the Greeks. In 168BC, it's recorded that the king of the North (the Seleucid king who occupied Syria) at the time came against Egypt and met a Roman envoy on the way. A Roman consul famously drew a line in the sand around the Seleucid king "coming against him" and said along the lines of if you cross this line and attack Egypt, Rome will declare war on you. The king would have been "grieved" and "returned". At the time, Rome controlled Cyprus and therefore we see they are referred to by "the ships of Chittim [Cyprus]".
This is referred to by Jesus Matthew 24:15-16Waiting for response for Matthew 24:15-16 and is the destruction by the Romans of Jerusalem in AD70. The Romans "Polluted the sanctuary" and "took away the daily sacrifice".
Eventually, the Roman Empire included both Syria and Egypt, meaning there was no king of the North and king of the South, as the same king occupied both. This continued as the Saracens occupied both, and then the Turks occupied both. This means we don't see any references to the king of the North/South in these verses. It's difficult to confirm exactly what these verses refer to, but it's clear to see that much violence was prophesied in the land of Israel, and looking back at history, this is confirmed.
The land of Israel was "divided for gain", resulting in the land becoming desolate. This fulfilled earlier prophecies by God e.g. Leviticus 26:33-34.Waiting for response for Leviticus 26:33-34
We have another reference to the king of the South after him not being mentioned. When was Syria and Egypt under separate reign again? Britain took Egypt from the Turks in 1882, resulting in a new king of the South, as deduced by John Thomas and recorded in his book, Elpis Israel, in 1849. In 1917, Britain and the Commonwealth "pushed" at the North, taking Beersheba which opened the way for them to capture the whole of the land of Israel. On the same week in 1917, the Balfour Declaration was made which read "His Majesty’s Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object".
This is where we are up to in this chapter, midway through this verse. "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him..."
By linking other scripture we can speculate that Israel will be invaded from the north by a confederacy of nations headed by Russia, and at this time God will intervene. Ezekiel 38 The autocrat of Russia will take the role of “the king of the North” and “push at” the king of the South (Egypt) v.40,Waiting for response for Daniel 11:40v.42Waiting for response for Daniel 11:42 and “enter into the countries”.v.40Waiting for response for Daniel 11:40 He will enter “the glorious land” v.41,Waiting for response for Daniel 11:41 but the nations east of the River Jordan will escape.v.41Waiting for response for Daniel 11:41 With the help of other nations, notably Libya and Ethiopia,v.43Waiting for response for Daniel 11:43 the autocrat of Russia will appear to be totally victorious and will establish his headquarters “in the glorious holy mountain”.v.45Waiting for response for Daniel 11:45 Nevertheless, God has decreed “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him”.v.45Waiting for response for Daniel 11:45
Timeline of Daniel Chapter 11