דניאל, פרק י״א, פסוק ל״ט

A cunning ruler cements his authority by weaving together military dominance, religious devotion, and political bribery. He constructs exceptionally tall and powerful fortresses [מלבי״ם], dedicating these massive structures to the honor of a foreign god [רש״י]. Some understand this to mean that he places idols directly inside the strongholds [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others suggest that the ruler honors the fortress guards alongside his idol worship, using calculated flattery to win their loyalty [מצודת דוד]. A historical and religious perspective views this strategy as the establishment of grand Catholic houses of prayer in every fortified city, dedicated to a new faith [יוסף אבן יחיא].

To further secure his reign, the ruler carefully selects his inner circle, showering them with immense honor, wealth, silver, and gold [מלבי״ם]. He targets officials he wishes to elevate and flatter [רש״י], specifically choosing individuals who are easily swayed by such praise [מצודת דוד], or those who actively acknowledge and revere his foreign deities [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Once their loyalty is bought, he appoints these chosen few to rule over the general population. This authority often involves collecting public taxes to fund the fortresses [מלבי״ם], or it grants religious figures leadership over the rest of the citizens [יוסף אבן יחיא]. Finally, the ruler distributes parcels of land to his loyalists. He sells these properties at an incredibly low monetary cost [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. However, the true price of the land is often not financial but political. By handing out these territories, the ruler effectively purchases the personal support and unwavering loyalty of his followers [מצודת דוד], or compensates them for their religious services with the land and its ongoing income [יוסף אבן יחיא].