THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The ruler from the south will gain strength. This refers to Ptolemy, the son of Logobus, who was the inaugural monarch of Egypt, known for his wisdom, power, and wealth. He was so dominant that he reinstated Pyrrhus, the exiled king of Epirus, to his throne, seized Cyprus and Phoenicia, and after defeating Demetrius, son of Antigonus, returned to Seleucus the territory Antigonus had taken from him. He also ruled over Caria and numerous islands and cities, but it is not the moment to elaborate on these. Daniel focuses exclusively on the monarchs of Egypt and Syria, leaving aside other realms such as Macedonia and Asia, as Judea was caught between them, passing under the rule of various kings.
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The essence of the Holy Scriptures pertains not to foreign histories but to the narrative intertwined with the lineage of Israel.
And one of his leaders shall rise up against him and shall govern him, for his reign shall be vast. This leader is Ptolemy Philadelphus, the second sovereign of Egypt, the son of the earlier Ptolemy. Under his reign, it is said that seventy translators in Alexandria rendered the Holy Scriptures into Greek. He also sent numerous gifts to Eleazar, the high priest in Jerusalem, along with offerings to the temple treasury. His library was overseen by Demetrius of Phalerea, a distinguished Greek orator and philosopher. It is also chronicled that he was so formidable that he eclipsed his father, Ptolemy. Historical records claim he commanded a formidable army, including two hundred thousand infantry, twenty thousand cavalry, two thousand chariots, and four hundred elephants, the first of which he acquired from Ethiopia. Furthermore, he possessed one thousand five hundred long ships, known today as liburnes, along with another thousand vessels for troop provisions. His wealth was immense, with an annual income from Egypt amounting to fourteen thousand eight hundred talents of silver and five million artaba of wheat, where an artaba consists of three and a half modius.