Daniel 11:17

17. Translate, with Bevan, “And he shall set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom; but he shall make an agreement with him.” After the conquests just mentioned Antiochus determined to subjugate Egypt, but because of Roman intervention he was restrained from doing this and therefore made an alliance by marriage with the reigning Ptolemy.

The daughter of women This was Cleopatra, the very young daughter of Antiochus, who was betrothed to Ptolemy at this time (198 B.C.) and married to him five years later, receiving the taxes of Coele-Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia as her dowry. Having failed to obtain Egypt by conquest this sly Syrian king hoped to obtain some advantage in this way.

Corrupting her Rather, to corrupt her. That is, he hoped by her influence or intrigues to control the Egyptian policy. The text may be read, “to her ruin,” or, “to its [Egypt’s] ruin,” but we prefer the former view. As we have before remarked, these apocalyptic descriptions were intentionally veiled in phrases which could bear several interpretations, and were plain only to the “wise.” But she shall not stand, etc. Or, it shall not stand nor shall he attain it ( his object). Instead of acting as a Syrian spy and for her father’s interests, Cleopatra at once threw herself with energy into all her husband’s plans, even joining him in the public rejoicing which followed her father’s defeat by the Romans in the critical battle of Magnesia (190 B.C.).