THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The ruler from the north will advance, erect a stronghold, and seize fortified cities. The forces from the south will be unable to resist; even those he has chosen to stand against him will find themselves powerless. Whoever comes against him will act according to his own desires, and no one will withstand him. He will establish himself in the esteemed land, which will be devastated by his hand. Antiochus, determined to reclaim Judea and various cities in Syria, engaged in battle with Scopas, the commander under Ptolemy, near the springs of the Jordan where Paneas now stands. He successfully routed Scopas and, leading ten thousand troops, besieged him in Sidon. In an effort to aid Scopas, Ptolemy dispatched the esteemed leaders Eropus, Menocles, and Damoxenus.
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However, they could not lift the siege until Scopas, driven by starvation, surrendered his forces and was released along with his allies. The phrase "will arrange the ramparts" indicates that it was after much time that he gained control of Scopas's stronghold in the fortress of Jerusalem, with Jewish support, and took other cities that had previously been under Ptolemaic rule in regions such as Syria, Cilicia, and Lycia. During this period, locations including Aphrodisias, Soloea, Zephyrion, Mullus, Anemurius, Selene, Korakesius, Coricus, Hadesiaca, Limira, Patara, Xanthus, and ultimately Ephesus were captured. Both Greek and Roman histories recount these events. The statement "And he shall stand in the glorious land, and it shall be exhausted by his hand" refers to the esteemed land, or as rendered by the LXX, the land of God’s will, meaning Judea and Jerusalem, where he persecuted the followers of Scopas, who were esteemed. Aquila, whom we have followed here, translated this as the glorious land, while Theodotion opted for the Hebrew term Ζαβὶν, and Simmachus referred to it as the land of power.