And both these kings' hearts shall be to do
mischief
Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, and Ptolemy Philometor, king
of Egypt, the latter being now in the hands of the former;
whether he was taken by him, or voluntarily came to him, is not
certain; but though they seemed to carry it very friendly to one
another, yet at the same time they were contriving in their minds
to do as much mischief to each other as they could: and
they shall speak lies at one table:
at an entertainment at Memphis, where they met to eat food
together, which shows great familiarity; or at the council table,
where they pretended to consult each other's good, and to secure
the peace of both kingdoms, but imposed on each other with lies.
Antiochus pretended a great respect for Ptolemy, and that he had
nothing more at heart than to take care of his affairs, and
defend him against his brother Euergetes, whom the Alexandrians
had set up for king; when his design was no other than to seize
the kingdom of Egypt for himself: on the other hand, Ptolemy
seemed greatly satisfied with his uncle's protection, and to
place great confidence in him; when his view was to disappoint
his scheme, and come to an agreement with his brother; neither of
them meant what they said: but it shall not
prosper;
the consultations they held, the schemes they laid, succeeded
not; the peace made between them did not last: for yet the
end shall be at the time appointed;
by the Lord, by whom all events are predetermined; whose counsel
shall stand, notwithstanding all the devices in the hearts of
men, and of kings themselves: the end of this peace between these
two kings, and the end of the wars between them, yea, the end of
the two kingdoms, when they should cease, and come into other
hands; all was fixed to a time appointed of God, and should
surely come to pass, as he had decreed.