THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The ruler from the north will return and assemble a significantly larger force than before. As the culmination of times approaches, he will swiftly arrive with a vast army and abundant wealth. During this period, many will rise against the ruler from the south. This refers to Antiochus the Great, who, in contempt of Ptolemy Philopator's negligence—who had lost the singer Agathoclea and took in her brother Agathocles as his concubine, later appointing him governor of Egypt—compiled a considerable army in upper Babylonia. Following Philopator’s death, he broke the alliance and waged war against the young son, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was merely four years old at that time.
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Agathocles was so ineffective and arrogant that regions once under Egypt's control revolted, leading to riots and turmoil within Egypt itself. Furthermore, Philip of Macedon allied with Antiochus the Great to combat Agathocles and Epiphanes, agreeing that they would each claim the cities closest to their kingdoms from Ptolemy’s domain. It is precisely this situation where many would oppose the southern king, Ptolemy Epiphanes, in his youth. Additionally, the offspring of apostates among your people will elevate themselves to realize the vision, but they shall fall. Amid the conflict between Antiochus the Great and Ptolemy’s leaders, Judea found itself divided, as some sided with Antiochus while others aligned with Ptolemy. Therefore, Onias the priest, along with many Jews, fled to Egypt. Welcomed honorably by Ptolemy, he acquired a region called Heliopolis and, with the king's consent, constructed a temple there resembling the Jewish temple that existed prior to Vespasian’s reign, surviving for two hundred and fifty years. However, this city, named after Onias, was ultimately destroyed during the Jewish-Roman conflict, leaving no remnants of either the city or the temple. This mass exodus of Jews to Egypt was facilitated by the high priest Onias. The region was also populated by many Cyrenians during this time. Onias asserted he was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, who stated, ‘There shall be an altar to the Lord in Egypt, and the name of the Lord within it’ (Isaiah 19:19). Presently, the testimony concerns the sons of the apostates among your people, who forsaking the Lord's law, intended to offer sacrifices in a manner contrary to His command, shall rise in their arrogance and claim to fulfill the divine vision. Yet, they will ultimately fail, for both the temple and the city will face destruction. While Antiochus dominated Judea, Scopas Epholus, the leader of the Ptolemaic faction, was dispatched to confront Antiochus and successfully seized Judea following a notable battle, returning to Egypt with the most esteemed supporters of Ptolemy.