When he was strong,.... Became great and powerful, through his victories, the enlargement of his dominions, and having a numerous army, and these well accoutred, and many fortified cities and towers: his heart was lifted up to his destruction; he grew vain and proud, elated with his flourishing circumstances, which issued in his ruin: for he transgressed against the Lord his God; who had helped him, and made him so great, and had bestowed so many favours upon him; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord his God;''what his transgression was, follows: and went into the temple of the Lord; the holy place, into which none but the priests might enter: to burn incense upon the altar of incense; which stood there.