Ptolemy IV Philopator (ca. 240–204 bc). Fourth king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt; oldest son and successor of Ptolemy III and Berenice II. His reign is considered the beginning of the decline of the Ptolemaic Empire.

Ptolemy IV faced aggression from the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III the Great, who launched the Fourth Syrian War (222–217 bc) in order to regain Seleucid territories that had been lost to the Ptolemies in early wars. Ptolemy defeated him at Raphia in Gaza with the assistance of 20,000 Egyptian troops (see Dan 11:11–12). Following the Fourth Syrian War, Egypt entered a period of national unrest under Ptolemy IV. Upper Egypt eventually seceded and was ruled by Nubian kings for 30 years (207–187 bc).

Third Maccabees tells unflattering stories about Ptolemy IV’s failed attempt to enter the Jerusalem temple and his subsequent vengeful attack on the Jews of Alexandria (3 Macc 1–7). While these stories are likely exaggerated, they suggest that Ptolemy IV may have restricted some Jewish practices during his reign.