Daniel 11:24

24. He shall enter peaceably, etc. This sentence may be translated either, “In time of your security shall become even upon the fattest places of the province” (R.V.), or “In time of security and with the fat (rich) ones of the province shall he come” (Terry), or “And by stealth he shall assail the mightiest men of (each) province.” Each rendering may be grammatically and historically defended. Antiochus did have the art of selecting the best places in which to plunder; he did succeed in allying to himself as strong supporters some of the chief men of Syria and other provinces, and he had no scruples about striking down any influential friends when it seemed to his advantage to do so.

He shall do that which his fathers have not done This has been quite generally supposed to refer to the characteristic of Antiochus just noted in the preceding phrase; but certainly his predecessors had not been remarkable for their failure to acquire territory, etc., even by robbery, or for their antipathy to influential alliances, or for their noncombativeness. (See Daniel 11:13-17; Daniel 11:20.) It therefore seems best to translate, “He shall do what his fathers have not done: he shall scatter among them,” etc.; considering this to be a reference to the prodigal hand with which Antiochus Epiphanes was accustomed to lavish gifts upon those who helped him or with whom he was specially pleased. He scattered his gold pieces as his predecessors had never done ( 1Ma 3:28-30 ; Livy, 41:20; Polybius, 28:17). He shall forecast his devices, etc. Rather, he shall devise devices against strongholds; that is, he was always plotting against his neighbors and depended as much upon his wily strategy as upon the force of his arms. (See Daniel 8:23.)

Even for a time Or, but [ only ] for a time. The end of his successfully wicked career is coming.