23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.
23 And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people.
23 After negotiating a cease-fire, he'll betray its terms. With a few henchmen, he'll take total control.
23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.
23 With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 11:23
Commentary on Daniel 11:1-30
(Read Daniel 11:1-30)
The angel shows Daniel the succession of the Persian and Grecian empires. The kings of Egypt and Syria are noticed: Judea was between their dominions, and affected by their contests. From verse 21, to relate to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a cruel and violent persecutor of the Jews. See what decaying, perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the power by which they are gotten. God, in his providence, sets up one, and pulls down another, as he pleases. This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men's lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict.