דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״ג

Political alliances often serve as a mask for malicious intentions and military expansion. A cunning ruler can manipulate peace agreements to amass immense power, relying on deception rather than a massive army. Through the forging of a political pact, this leader operates with profound trickery [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this represents a historical alliance between Rome and Israel, where the Romans acted deceitfully and concealed their harmful plans against the Jewish people [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Others suggest the partnership is a family and political alliance with the king of Egypt, initiated after a visit to Queen Cleopatra [מלבי״ם]. A broader view maintains that the alliance does not point to a specific nation; rather, it describes a scenario where many individuals align with the ruler, and he uses their advice to secretly plot future conquests [אבן עזרא]. In a completely different context, the deceit is understood as a calculated scheme to assassinate a political rival through cunning, avoiding a direct confrontation on the battlefield [יוסף אבן יחיא].

As a direct result of these connections, the ruler emerges from his domain, growing increasingly powerful and dominant [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This newfound strength is demonstrated by his military campaigns against the nations surrounding Jerusalem and Judea, such as Edom, Ammon, and Moab, ultimately subduing them [רש״י, מצודת דוד], or by his successful capture of other foreign states [אבן עזרא]. His rapid success stems from the element of surprise; the local populations fail to defend themselves, lulled into a false sense of security by the very treaties he previously signed with them [מלבי״ם].

Remarkably, these impressive military victories are achieved with only a small number of men at the ruler's side [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Most commentators explain that he does not need a massive army of his own because he deceitfully tricks the king of Judea into supplying Jewish soldiers to fight his wars [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective suggests that arriving with a minimal force is a deliberate tactic to maintain the appearance of an innocent, visiting ally, which allows him to seize control of the region without facing any resistance [מלבי״ם].

Conversely, a completely opposite approach argues that the small force does not refer to the attacker's army, but to the vulnerability of his target. In this view, the ruler seizes a strategic opportunity when Judah the Maccabee is left with limited troops, launching a massive assault to finally defeat him [יוסף אבן יחיא].