(11:14) By this time Ptolemy Philopator had died, and was succeeded by his four- or five-year-old son Ptolemy Epiphanes. Realizing a weakness in Egypt, many rose in rebellion against KS, including Antiochus the Great who had made a league with Philip of Macedon, some rebels within Egypt, and even some Jews who allied themselves with Antiochus against Egypt.
(11:15) As Antiochus the Great (KN) came
against Egypt, the Egyptian general Scopas was sent to prevent him. General Scopas and the Egyptians were finally
defeated when Antiochus captured the city of Sidon.
(11:16) Antiochus then turned his attention to
Palestine (“the glorious land”), and his approach was irresistible. However, Antiochus treated the Jews with
favor because they had aided him against the Egyptians
(11:17) Antiochus determined to completely
destroy his enemy Egypt (KS), so he contracted to an agreement whereby he gave
his daughter, Cleopatra, in marriage to Ptolemy Epiphanes. He hoped she would be more faithful to her
father than to her husband, but this was not the case. Thus the scheme of Antiochus did not work to
his advantage. The expression “daughter
of women” may indicate very essence of femineity (so Young and Montgomery).
(11:18) Antiochus then turned his attention to
the Mediterranean coastlands and islands and this brought him in conflict with
the Romans. He was defeated at Magnesia
in 190 BC by the Roman Lucius Scipio, and his boastings came back upon his own
head.
(11:19) Following his defeat Antiochus had to
abandon further conquests. He returned
home and was ultimately killed trying to plunder the temple of Belus in Elymais.
(11:20) He was succeeded by Seleucus
Philopator (187-176). Because he had to
pay to the Romans annually an enormous tribute of 1,000 talents, he sent his Prime
Minister Heliodorus to seize the funds of the temple treasury in Jerusalem (cf.
II Maccabees 7). Shortly afterward,
Seleucus was mysteriously removed probably through poisoning by Heliodorus.
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