He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom - "set his face," purpose steadfastly. Antiochus' purpose was, however, turned from open assault to wile, by his war with the Romans in his endeavour to extend his kingdom to the limits which it had under Seleucus Nicator.
And upright ones - Jasher or Jeshurun (Deuteronomy 32:15; Isaiah 44:2, "O Jacob ... and thou Jesurun whom I have chosen"), the epithet applied by the Hebrews to their nation. It is here used not in praise; because in Daniel 11:14 (see note) they are called "robbers," or men of violence, factious: it is the general designation of Israel, as having God for their God. Probably it is used to rebuke them who ought to have been God's "upright ones" for confederating with godless pagan in acts of violence (the contrast to their designation, "robbers of thy people," in Daniel 11:14, favours this). So "Jeshurun" is used in Deuteronomy 32:15 to mark their high calling in respect to privileges, in sad contrast to their practice: "Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked."
Thus shall he do. Instead of at once invading Ptolemy's country with his "whole strength," he prepares his way for doing so by the following plan:
And he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her; but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him - he gives to Ptolemy Epiphanes his daughter Cleopatra in marriage, promising Coelo-Syria and Judea as a dowry, thus securing his neutrality in the war with Rome: he hoped through his daughter to obtain Syria, Cilicia, and Lycia, and even Egypt itself at last: but Cleopatra favoured her husband rather than her father, and so defeated his scheme (Jerome.) "She shall not stand on his side."