דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק ל׳

A humiliating military defeat for an empire's ruler becomes a tragic turning point for the Jewish people. After being struck down by a rising power, a retreating king redirects his frustration and anger toward the Jewish nation instead of confronting his external enemies. The conflict begins with the arrival of a massive force. The primary approach among commentators identifies this force as the Romans, who arrive in large merchant ships or naval vessels to the regions of the Negev and Egypt to battle the King of the North [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others suggest these forces are Arameans [אבן עזרא], or interpret the arrival not as ships, but as various factions and groups of people [רש״י]. A unique perspective suggests that the Roman fleet actually arrives to assist the King of the South, which leads to the downfall of the King of the North [יוסף אבן יחיא]. Regardless of the exact military alignment, the outcome is clear. The king is broken, struck down, and forced to retreat to his homeland in bitter failure and shame [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Following this crushing defeat, the king's fury is redirected toward the Jewish people and their Torah. Seeking an outlet for his wrath, he attempts to force them to abandon their religion and break the covenant he had previously established with them [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. To achieve this, he gathers a massive army to oppress and wage war against the nation [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Commentators debate the specific historical event and the identity of this king. Some identify him as the wicked Antiochus, who repeatedly sought to wipe out those who observed the Torah [מלבי״ם], while others attribute these events to King Agrippa [אבן עזרא]. Another interpretation describes a cunning political maneuver in which the King of the South and the King of the North, despite their deep mutual hatred, hypocritically join forces to break their pact with Israel and destroy them [יוסף אבן יחיא].

The final stage of the king's plot relies on exploiting a critical vulnerability within the Jewish nation by taking advantage of their internal division. The king observes the deep fractures within the people, specifically noting those who have abandoned the Torah and the holy covenant. Witnessing the bloodshed, baseless hatred, and intense disputes that characterized the Second Temple period gives him the confidence to launch his campaign, knowing these internal tears will guarantee his success [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. He does not merely watch from the sidelines. He actively builds alliances with these assimilated Jews, using their betrayal to advance his own destructive goals [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, a different view identifies those who abandoned the covenant not as assimilated Jews, but as the people of Jerusalem who rebelled against the king, killed his men, and defiled the Temple, which had been the true source of their strength [אבן עזרא].