²⁰ “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.^(A) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

²¹ “He will be succeeded by a contemptible^(B) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.^(C) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. ²² Then an overwhelming army will be swept away^(D) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.^{(E) 23} After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,^(F) and with only a few people he will rise to power. ²⁴ When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.^(G) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

²⁵ “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. ²⁶ Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. ²⁷ The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,^(H) will sit at the same table and lie^(I) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.^{(J) 28} The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.