THEOSISJerome of Stridon
At the appointed time, the king of the south will wage war against him, and the king of the north will approach him like a tempest, accompanied by chariots, horsemen, and a vast fleet, invading various territories, ravaging and traversing them. He will enter the land of splendor, resulting in many casualties. According to Simmachus' translation, many thousands will perish, while Theodotion states that many will be left powerless. Aquila interprets the term “many fallen” as referring to cities or regions. Porphyry also attributes this to Antiochus, who, during the eleventh year of his reign, once more engaged in battle against his sister's son, Ptolemy Philometor. Upon learning of Antiochus's advance, he mustered numerous troops.
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However, Antiochus, akin to a formidable storm, with chariots, horsemen, and a substantial fleet, swept through many lands, causing devastation, before arriving in the glorious land, which is Judea—Simmachus translated this as the land of power, while Theodotion used the Hebrew term Sabai. He fortified the stronghold by utilizing the ruins of the city's walls before advancing to Egypt.
In contrast, our interpretation, aligning this with the narrative of the Antichrist, suggests that he will first confront the king of the south, namely the Egyptian ruler, subsequently overcoming the Libyans and Ethiopians—who we previously noted as three diminished horns among ten. When he arrives in the land of Israel, many cities or regions will fall into his hands. Only Edom, Moab, and the territories of the sons of Ammon will escape his grasp. Historical accounts indicate that Antiochus, in his haste against the southern king, refrained from attacking the Idumeans, Moabites, and Ammonites, who were neighboring Judea, to prevent Ptolemy from gaining strength through another conflict. Similarly, the Antichrist will not strike Idumea, the Moabites, and the children of Ammon—that is, Arabia—because the saints will seek refuge in the desert regions there.