The image of a wicked and tyrannical king emerges, a leader who secures his power not through military might or physical bravery, but through cunning, betrayal, and boundless pride. Rather than relying on strength or divine inspiration, he depends entirely on his sharp intellect and trickery [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because of his great wisdom, his acts of deceit are incredibly successful [רש״י, מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא]. This allows him to easily outsmart those he cannot defeat through sheer force [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Consequently, his continued success feeds his ego, causing him to become extremely arrogant and filled with a sense of absolute mastery over others [מלבי״ם, יוסף אבן יחיא].
His methods are particularly cruel and treacherous, as he exploits periods of calm to strike. The primary approach among commentators is that he uses smooth talk to destroy innocent people who have made treaties with him and live securely by his side [רש״י, מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This destruction is often carried out without any actual warfare, achieved merely through the power of his words against his opponents [מלבי״ם].
His arrogance reaches its peak when he positions himself against the highest authority. Most commentators understand this as a direct rebellion against God. In his immense pride, the wicked king hurls insults at Heaven, curses the people of Israel, and abolishes fundamental commandments such as the daily sacrifice, circumcision, and the Sabbath [רש״י, מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this elevation is viewed on a strictly earthly level, meaning the king simply manages to rise above all other human rulers and maintain his dominance for a long time [מלבי״ם].
Ultimately, his downfall is sudden, absolute, and occurs entirely without human intervention [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There are several traditions regarding exactly how this plays out. According to ancient tradition, he suffers a humiliating death caused by a tiny, weak mosquito that enters his nose [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Other accounts link his end to the historical events surrounding Antiochus, noting that he died after falling from a roof [אבן עזרא]. Another historical perspective suggests he fell ill, and upon being startled by the cry of an elephant, his chariot overturned, causing him to fall and break his bones [יוסף אבן יחיא]. Conversely, some explain his demise more simply: when his time finally comes, his strength will fade, and he will fall naturally on his own [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].