THEOSISJerome of Stridon
He was unable to seize Egypt because Ptolemy Epiphanes and his advisors were cautious, aware of the schemes at play, and Cleopatra favored her husband over her father. Consequently, he turned his attention to Asia, initiating a naval conflict with several islands. He successfully acquired Rhodes, Samos, Colophon (or Colophonia and Bokloa), Phocaea, along with numerous other islands. However, he faced opposition from Lucius Scipio Nazica, alongside his brother, Publius Scipio Africanus, who had triumphed over Hannibal. Since Nazica, the brother of Africanus, lacked exceptional abilities, the senate hesitated to assign him the leadership of a war against such a formidable ruler. In light of the slight against his brother, Africanus willingly offered to serve as a legate under Nazica.
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As a result, Antiochus was defeated, restricted to reign within the Taurus Mountains but eventually fled to Apamea and Susa, reaching the farthest corners of his realm. During a campaign against the Elymaeans, he perished along with his entire army. This is echoed in Scripture, which states that although he initially held many islands, he was ultimately conquered by the Romans, losing his kingdom in Asia. His dishonor turned against him, and after fleeing from Asia, he returned to his homeland, where he stumbled and fell, and his whereabouts were lost.
And he shall direct his gaze to reclaim all his kingdom, acting skillfully with him, and shall offer him the daughters of his wives to bring about his destruction. This is to say, Ptolemy would be destroyed, as well as his dominion. Seeking not only to dominate Syria, Cilicia, Libya, and other regions that were loyal to Ptolemy but also to expand his influence to Egypt, Antiochus, through Eucla of Rhodes, arranged for his daughter Cleopatra to marry Ptolemy in the seventh year of the young king's reign, and in the thirteenth year, he presented her, providing Kelesiria and Judea as part of the dowry. The reference to the daughters of wives is expressed pleonastically, similar to renowned poetic phrases: "so uttered with her lips" and "and listened to the words with these ears."