דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק ט״ז

A geopolitical power struggle between massive empires reaches a breaking point, ultimately directing devastating military force toward the Land of Israel. The King of the North launches a massive assault against the King of the South, the ruler of Egypt. Sweeping through vast territories, he conquers regions such as the Syrian provinces that were previously under Egyptian control [מלבי״ם]. He operates with total freedom and faces absolutely no resistance. This complete victory is achieved because his military power is so overwhelming that no one can stand against it [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, the lack of opposition stems from the fact that the Egyptian king and his people simply surrender, handing themselves over willingly [יוסף אבן יחיא].

Having humbled Egypt, the King of the North—identified as Antiochus, the Greek king [מצודת דוד]—shifts his focus to his next target: the Land of Israel. He positions himself in the land, a move that represents his overall military dominance [ביאור שטיינזלץ], a strategic preparation for further war [מצודת דוד], or the physical encamping of his vast armies on the ground [מלבי״ם]. His specific motivation for attacking the Land of Israel is political; at that time, the Israelites were considered allies of Egypt [יוסף אבן יחיא].

The outcome of this invasion is understood in two distinct ways. The primary approach among commentators is that the campaign results in utter devastation. The King of the North corrupts the land and wipes out many of its inhabitants using his massive military force [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A different perspective suggests that the outcome is one of total completion rather than purely destruction. According to this view, the king successfully finishes his campaign of conquest, leaving the entire land completely in his hands and under his absolute rule [מלבי״ם].