24. peaceably--literally, "unexpectedly"; under the guise of friendship
he seized Ptolemy Philometer.
he shall do that which his fathers have not done--His predecessors,
kings of Syria, had always coveted Egypt, but in vain: he alone made
himself master of it.
scatter among them . . . prey--among his followers (1 Maccabees 1:19).
forecast his devices against . . . strongholds--He shall form a studied
scheme for making himself master of the Egyptian fortresses. He gained
them all except Alexandria, which successfully resisted him. Retaining
to himself Pelusium, he retired to Judea, where, in revenge for the joy
shown by the Jews at the report of his death, which led them to a
revolt, he subdued Jerusalem by storm or stratagem.
for a time--His rage shall not be for ever; it is but for a time
limited by God. CALVIN
makes "for a time" in antithesis to
"unexpectedly," in the beginning of the verse. He suddenly
mastered the weaker cities: he had to "forecast his plans" more
gradually ("for a time") as to how to gain the stronger
fortresses.
JFB.
Painting of Alexander the Great and his horse Bucephalus
Daniel Resources
The Divided Kingdom
The
Northern Kingdom of Israel
The
Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah