Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 11:30

"For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do [his pleasure]: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant." — Daniel 11:30 (ASV)

Ships of Chittim.— On Chittim, see Genesis 10:4; compare Numbers 24:24. The Septuagint explains this as referring to the Romans, alluding to the story in Livy, xlv. 11.

He shall be grieved.— Literally, he shall lose heart. Compare the words of Livy, which describe the feelings of Antiochus at the peremptory demands of Popilius: “Obstupefactus tam violento imperio.” Theodotion apparently imagined that the Cyprians came as allies to the aid of Antiochus.

Return.— That is, to Palestine, where he will indulge his anger.

Have intelligence— i.e., pay attention to them. These persons are such as those who are mentioned in 1 Maccabees 1:11-16, who were anxious to Hellenise all their institutions, not only forsaking the outward sign of the covenant, but actually taking Greek names.

On the manner in which Antiochus treated the apostates, see 2 Maccabees 4:14 and following, and compare Daniel 11:39.