Daniel 8:25 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper His craft and cunning shall succeed. And he shall magnify himself in his heart Elated by his successes, he will always be aiming at more and more, and making further attempts; and by peace shall destroy many Without making war, and without being a declared enemy, or receiving injuries from them, he shall destroy many. Under pretence of peace and friendship, he invaded and spoiled both Egypt and Judea. The character which Grotius gives of Antiochus may serve to throw light on these clauses of the verse. “He had no regard to piety or integrity, to any true or false God, but measured all things by the rule of his own convenience. He certainly deceived many nations, and by his flatteries and frauds obtained, as well as enlarged his dominion; and under the colour of peace, or pretended tranquillity, he oppressed the unwary, and destroyed multitudes:” see 1Ma 1:30. He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes He shall exalt himself against the true God, the Lord of heaven and earth, abolishing his worship, and setting up idolatry in its stead. But he shall be broken without hand By an immediate judgment of God. God struck him with a noisome disease, attended with horrible torments both of body and mind: see 1Ma 6:8-13; 2Ma 9:5-29. It is observable, that Polybius and Josephus both confirm the account which the authors of the books of Maccabees give of his death, in a state of madness, from the apparitions and reproaches of spectres and evil spirits.