This is about a king from the Seleucid Empire. We now focus in on Antiochus IV Epiphanes. At the time that he rules he manages to extend his rule more and more. His power grows and he even conquers Egypt to the south and Babylon to the east, see Daniel 8:9. He also rules over the glorious land
, God’s ornament. It is the land where the apple of God’s eye lives, the land that the Lord destined for his obedient people to be a land overflowing with milk and honey, see Jeremiah 3:19; Daniel 11:16, Daniel 11:41. Israel will have to deal directly with this king, who will interfere with their freedom and their worship. He will make the lives of God’s people extremely difficult.
24 His power shall be great but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.