THEOSISJerome of Stridon
He will disregard the God of his ancestors and will be swayed by the desires of his wives, paying no heed to any deity, as he will rebel against them all. Instead, he will bestow honor upon the god Maozim, and to a god unknown to his forebears, he will offer wealth in gold, silver, precious stones, and other valuable items. He will bolster the god Maozim with a foreign deity he acknowledges, enhancing its prestige and granting dominion over many, while freely distributing land. The LXX reveals a difference in translation: while we say he will heed the desires of his wives, the LXX states he will not heed them. The term Maozim, as interpreted, suggests a god of fortresses, or figuratively the god of strength.
Read more (274 words)
The original text implies ambiguity regarding the desires of wives; if interpreted as he will not regard the desires of his wives, it can be seen as indicative of the Antichrist, who will feign chastity to entice many. Conversely, if it suggests he will consider the desires of wives, this may aptly fit Antiochus, who indulged in debauchery to such an extent that he sullied his royal dignity with public acts of lewdness.
Porphyry interprets the god Maozim oddly, recounting how in the village of Modinus, where Mattathias and his sons originated, Antiochus's leaders set up a statue of Jupiter and coerced the Jewish people to offer sacrifices to this deity, reflecting local interests. The phrase regarding honoring a god unknown to his ancestors is more pertinent to the Antichrist than to Antiochus. Antiochus did honor Greek idols and compelled the Jews and Samaritans to venerate their deities.
The text continues to state that he will strengthen Maozim with a foreign god he recognizes and will increase its honor, bestowing dominion over many and distributing land freely. Theodotion’s translation suggests he will fortify strongholds for this foreign deity. Furthermore, Porphyry asserts that he will do this to enhance the security of Jerusalem's citadel and other cities, persuading the Jewish populace to worship this foreign deity, likely Jupiter. Once he has made himself known to them and gained their allegiance, he will confer honors and significant power upon those deceived, rewarding their apostasy with lands and gifts. The Antichrist will similarly offer ample gifts to the deceived, granting his followers territories; those he cannot conquer through fear, he will subdue by appealing to their greed.