Why did they come to him?
Rashi: To fight him.
What are "Tziyim Kitim"?
Rashi: They are groups 1 of Romiyim – troops from Romi that will rebel against him.
Ibn Ezra: They are boats of people of Aram.
Malbim: Boats of Romans.
Rashi (Bamidbar 24:24) proved that "v'Tzim [mi'Yad Kitim]" are big boats. Why did he explain differently here? (PF)
What is the meaning of "v'Nich'ah"?
Rashi: He (Ibn Ezra – Melech ha'Tzafon) was slightly broken.
Why does it say "v'Shav v'Za'am Al Bris Kodesh"?
Rashi: He returned to his land to annul the Bris that he made with Yisrael.
Ibn Ezra: He returned to his land in shame, and was angry at Agripas.
Malbim: Because Romi attacked Yavan, he needed to return from Egypt. He wanted to vent his anger against Yisrael, and make them transgress their Torah (Bris Kodesh).
What do we learn from "v'Asah v'Shav v'Yaven Al Ozevei Bris Kodesh"?
Rashi: He contemplated that Yisrael abandoned Bris Kodesh, and Sin'as Chinam and arguments increased in Bayis Sheni, like it says in Sefer Yosifun that they spilled innocent blood. Based on this, he trusted that he will succeed. He annulled his Bris with them and fought them.
Ibn Ezra: He made a great army and returned to the south. He understood that Anshei Yerushalayim conspired against their king, killed his officers and profaned the Mikdash.
Malbim: It repeats "v'Shav", for he came against them many times to make them transgress their creed. He killed anyone who guarded Torah law. People who abandoned Torah accepted his creed, and he benefited them. The Sefer ceases discussing Antiyochus ha'Rasha (how the Chashmona'im defeated him), for Daniel's second vision foretells this – "va'Tapel Artzah Min ha'Tzava" (8:10). 1
Malbim: This was until Matisyahu and his sons restored Avodas ha'Mikdash. Here it tells only the afflictions that will come on Yisrael, but not their salvation, especially since it was only a short time until the Romans came.
