Charles Ellicott 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)

Shall he turn. He goes northward, this being the direction indicated by “the isles.” This has been explained as referring to the victories gained by Antiochus the Great in Asia Minor. He is stated to have subdued various towns and islands, and finally to have taken Ephesus. He was in this way brought into contact with the Romans, and was defeated by L. Scipio, who is identified with “the prince” mentioned in this verse. The Greek versions exhibit considerable variations.

A prince. It is doubtful whether this is to be taken as nominative or as accusative. The English Version treats it as nominative, St. Jerome and Theodotion as accusative. In accordance with the latter rendering, the meaning is, “The king of the north will make cease the princes who have been a reproach to him. But the princes shall return his reproach to him.” The word “prince” is used collectively to mean the rulers of the islands mentioned in the first part of the verse. It is stated that at first the northern king will be successful, but in the end the princes will repay him for the reproach he inflicted on them, as appears more fully in the next verse.