דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״ב

A dramatic shift in power and the rise of a ruthless leader define this period of upheaval, resulting in the total defeat of massive military forces and even trusted allies. The primary approach among commentators is that the powerful forces being swept away represent fierce warriors and soldiers who once dominated and subdued other nations with their immense strength. Specifically, these are the mighty men of the Greek empire, whose dominance is ultimately broken and washed away by the rising power of the Roman Empire. Offering a different perspective, [אבן עזרא] suggests that these defeated forces actually refer to a fleet of warships. Whether they are soldiers or ships, these once-mighty powers are utterly crushed and humiliated before the new ruler. After consolidating his grip on the kingdom, this new leader will reveal his true nature and act with severe cruelty [יוסף אבן יחיא].

The destruction brought by this ruler extends beyond his enemies, ultimately consuming a leader who was bound to him by a treaty. The primary approach among commentators is that this fallen ally is a king in Israel who had previously secured a peace agreement with the Romans. Despite this formal pact and a period of historical loyalty, the Romans will eventually violate the treaty, sweeping away the Jewish king and enslaving Israel. Opinions differ on the exact identity of this betrayed leader. He is identified specifically as Judah the Maccabee, the head of Israel [יוסף אבן יחיא], while [אבן עזרא] views him as one of the sons of Herod. In contrast, [מלבי״ם] argues that the betrayed ally is not a Jewish leader at all, but rather a foreign monarch—the king of Egypt—who had formed an alliance with the new ruler only to suffer the same devastating fate.