Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 11:18

"After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him." — Daniel 11:18 (ASV)

After this shall he turn his face to the isles - This refers to the islands of the Mediterranean, particularly those in the neighborhood of and constituting a part of Greece.

Antiochus did this in his wars with the Romans, for the Roman power then comprehended that part of the world. As already remarked, it was his design to extend the limits of his empire as far as it was at the time of Seleucus Nicator.

This occurred after the defeat of Scopas. Having given his daughter in marriage to Ptolemy, Antiochus supposed he had guarded himself from any interference from the Egyptians in his wars with the Romans. He then sent two of his sons with an army by land to Sardis, while he himself, with a great fleet, sailed at the same time into the Aegean Sea and took many of the islands there.

The war waged between Antiochus and the Romans lasted for three years. It ended in the defeat of Antiochus and the subjugation of the Syrian kingdom to Roman power, though, when it became a Roman province, it continued to be governed by its own kings.

In this war, Hannibal, general of the Carthaginians, desired Antiochus to unite with him in carrying his arms into Italy, hoping that together they would be able to overcome the Romans. However, Antiochus preferred to confine his operations to Asia Minor and the maritime parts of Greece. The consequence of this, and of the luxury and indolence into which he sank, was his ultimate overthrow. (Compare to Jahn’s “Hebrew Commonwealth,” pp. 246-249).

And shall take many - This means many of those islands and many portions of the maritime country of Asia Minor and Greece.

As a matter of fact, during this war he waged, he took possession of Ephesus, Aetolia, and the island of Euboea. There, in the year 191 B.C., he married Eubia, a young lady of great beauty, and gave himself up for a long time to festivity and amusements. He then entrenched himself strongly at the pass of Thermopylae.

Afterward, when driven from that stronghold, he sailed to the Thracian Chersonesus and fortified Sestos, Abydos, and other places. In fact, during these military expeditions, he obtained mastery of no inconsiderable part of the maritime portions of Greece. The prophecy was strictly fulfilled, that he should “take many” of those places.

But a prince for his own behalf - This refers to a Roman prince, or a leader of the Roman armies. The reference is to Lucius Cornelius Scipio, called Scipio Asiaticus, in contrast to Publius Cornelius Scipio, called “Africanus” from his conquest over Hannibal and the Carthaginians.

The Scipio referred to here received the name “Asiaticus” on account of his victories in the East, particularly in this war with Antiochus. He was a brother of Scipio Africanus and had accompanied him in his expedition into Spain and Africa. After his return, he was rewarded with the consulship for his services to the state and was empowered to attack Antiochus, who had declared war against the Romans.

In this war, he was prosperous and succeeded in retrieving the honor of the Roman name, wiping off the reproach the Roman armies had suffered from the conquests of Antiochus. When it is said that he would do this “for his own, behalf,” the meaning is, doubtless, that he would engage in the enterprise for his own glory, or to secure fame for himself.

It was not the love of justice or the love of country, but it was to secure for himself a public triumph. He was perhaps hoping, by subduing Antiochus, to obtain one equal to what his brother had received after his wars with Hannibal.

The motive ascribed here to this “prince” was so common among the leaders of the Roman armies, and has been so generally prevalent among mankind, that there can be no hesitation in supposing it was accurately ascribed to this conqueror, Scipio. The enterprise in which he embarked in opposing Antiochus was primarily “on his own behalf.”

Shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease - This means the reproach Antiochus offered to the Roman power. The margin is, “his reproach.” The reference is to the disgrace brought on the Roman armies by the conquests of Antiochus.

Antiochus had seemed to mock that power. He had engaged in war with the conquerors of nations, gained victories, and thus appeared to insult the majesty of the Roman name. All this was turned back again, or caused to cease, by the victories of Scipio.

Without his own reproach - This means without any reproach to himself—any discomfiture, any imputation of want of skill or valor. That is, he would conduct the war so as to secure an untarnished reputation. This was in all respects true of Scipio.

He shall cause it to turn upon him - The reproach or shame which Antiochus seemed to cast upon the Romans would return upon himself. This occurred in the successive defeats of Antiochus in several engagements by water and by land, and in his final and complete overthrow by Scipio at the battle of Magnesia (190 B.C.).

After being overcome by the Romans several times and vainly suing for peace, “Antiochus lost all presence of mind, and withdrew his garrisons from all the cities on the Hellespont, and, in his precipitate flight, left all his military stores behind him. He renewed his attempts to enter into negotiations for peace, but when he was required to relinquish all his possessions west of the Taurus, and defray the expenses of the war, he resolved to try his fortune once more in a battle by land.”

“Antiochus brought into the field seventy thousand infantry, twelve thousand cavalry, and a great number of camels, elephants, and chariots armed with scythes. To these the Romans could oppose but thirty thousand men, and yet they gained a decisive victory.

“The Romans lost only three hundred and twenty-five men; while of the forces of Antiochus, fifty thousand infantry, four thousand cavalry, and fifteen elephants were left dead on the field, fifteen hundred men were made prisoners, and the king himself with great difficulty made his escape to Sardis. He now humbly sued for peace, and it was granted on the terms with which he had formerly refused compliance—that he should surrender all his possessions west of the Taurus and defray the expenses of the war.”

“He further obligated himself to keep no elephants and not more than twelve ships. To secure the performance of these conditions, the Romans required him to deliver up twelve hostages of their own selection, among whom was his son Antiochus, afterward surnamed Epiphanes.” - Jahn’s “Hebrew Commonwealth,” pp. 248, 249.