דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק ט״ו

A decisive military campaign culminates in the total collapse of a southern empire's defenses. Despite deploying their most elite forces, the southern army is completely overrun by an unstoppable northern invasion.

The King of the North, identified as Antiochus [יוסף אבן יחיא], gains the upper hand in a fierce war [מלבי״ם]. To breach the enemy's defenses, his forces construct siege mounds, piling up earth against the city walls to scale them and press the attack [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This siege is directed squarely at the strongholds of the King of the South, understood to be the King of Egypt [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא]. The northern conquest is highly successful, resulting in the capture of heavily fortified cities [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While some suggest the primary target is the royal capital itself [יוסף אבן יחיא], others believe it refers to key regional cities, such as Sidon and Gath, which were previously under Egyptian control [מלבי״ם].

Faced with this overwhelming assault, the southern defense network entirely crumbles. The military strength, armies, and allies of the Egyptian king simply cannot hold their ground in battle [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide and save the besieged cities, the southern king deploys his most elite soldiers and greatest heroes [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, even the intervention of these top-tier fighters cannot change the outcome, and they suffer a crushing defeat [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, the southern forces are left with absolutely no strength to resist, as no military power can withstand the sheer might of the northern king [רש״י, מצודת דוד].