13 "For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former , and after an interval e of some years he will press on with a great army and much equipment . 14 "Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South ; the violent ones e among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision , but they will fall down . 15 "Then the king of the North will come , cast up a siege ramp and capture a well-fortified city ; and the forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even their choicest troops , for there will be no strength to make a stand . 16 "But he who comes against him will do as he pleases , and no one will be able to withstand e him; he will also stay for a time in the Beautiful Land , with destruction in his hand . 17 "He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom , bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect ; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his side. 18 "Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many . But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover , he will repay him for his scorn . 19 "So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land , but he will stumble and fall and be found no more.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 11:13-19
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.