John Calvin Commentary Daniel 11:22

"And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant." — Daniel 11:22 (ASV)

We may naturally conjecture that the dominions of Antiochus were not immediately at peace, because a portion of his court favored the lawful heir. As it always happens in every change of government, there were many tumults in Syria before Antiochus could remove his adversaries out of his way. For although the kingdom of Egypt was then without a leader, as Ptolemy, called Philometor, was then only a boy, his counselors favored the son of Seleucus, and so by secret supplies provided their aid to the faction opposed to Antiochus.

He had much trouble not only with his own people but also with the neighboring nations. All pitied the plight of his ward, and the fact that he was entirely undeserving of it moved many to offer him every possible assistance. The boy was aided by the favor of Egypt and of other nations.

Thus Antiochus was subject to many severe upheavals, but the angel announces his final conquest. The arms, he says, shall be inundated. This is a metaphorical expression, for whatever aid the son of Seleucus acquired was not by his own efforts, as he could make none himself, but by that of his friends.

The arms, then, meaning all the supporting forces that would assist in the restoration of the son of Seleucus, should be overwhelmed by an inundation. This is another metaphor, signifying that they will be drowned as by a deluge; and by this figure, the angel hints not only at the victory of Antiochus but also at its great ease.

It was like a deluge, not by its own strength, but because God wished to use the hand of this tyrant in afflicting the Israelites, as we will later see, and also in harassing both Egypt and Syria. Antiochus was in truth God’s scourge and is thus compared to a deluge. Hence he says, out of his sight. He shows that the terror of Antiochus was so great that at his very appearance he would dishearten and overthrow his enemies, although he was without forces and was neither a bold nor a persistent warrior.

And they shall be broken, he says, and also the leader of the covenant; meaning that Ptolemy will take the side of his relative in vain. For the son of Seleucus was the cousin of Ptolemy Philometor, since, as we have said, Cleopatra had married Ptolemy Philopator, from whom this Philometor was descended, and Seleucus was the brother of Cleopatra. He, then, was the leader of the covenant.

Ptolemy, indeed, who was only a boy, could neither undertake nor accomplish anything by his own counsel, but such was his high position in the kingdom of Egypt that he was deservedly called leader of the covenant, since all others followed the power of that king. The outcome fully proved how unsuccessfully all who tried to remove Antiochus from his possessions fought against him.