South and north

⁵ “Then the southern king will gain power, but one of his princes will overpower him, ruling in his place. His empire will be vast. ⁶ After some years, they will make an agreement together. The southern king’s daughter will go to the northern king to finalize the agreement, but she won’t retain her great power. Neither will his power remain in place. In those times she will be handed over, along with her escort, the one who fathered her, and the one who strengthened her.^[a]

⁷ “A branch from her roots will rise up in his place. Attacking the army, he will enter the walled fortress of the northern king. He will fight with them, and he will conquer. ⁸ He will even carry off their gods to Egypt, along with their statues and their silver and gold equipment. For years he will avoid the northern king. ⁹ Then the northern king will attack the kingdom of the southern king, but will return to his own land. ¹⁰ His sons will get ready for war, gathering massive forces. Their attack will be like an overwhelming flood. And they will attack again, taking the battle as far as his walled fortress.

¹¹ “The southern king, in a bitter rage, will come out to battle the northern king. He will muster a huge army, but the army will be handed over to his enemy. ¹² When the army is carried off, he will become confident. He will kill tens of thousands, but he will not stand strong. ¹³ The northern king will then muster another army—this one bigger than the first. After some years have passed, he will attack with a large and well-equipped army. ¹⁴ In those times, many will oppose the southern king. Violent persons from among your people also will rise up to support the vision, but they will fail.

¹⁵ “When the northern king attacks, he will throw up a siege ramp and occupy a walled city. The southern forces will not be able to resist—not even its elite forces. No one will be strong enough to resist. ¹⁶ The one who comes to attack will do whatever he wants; no one will be able to oppose him. He will take his place in the beautiful country, and he will hand out destruction. ¹⁷ He will decide to occupy his entire kingdom by force. He will make an agreement with him and will give him a wife, intending to destroy him,^[b] but it won’t succeed and it won’t happen.^{[c] 18} He will turn his face to the coastlands, capturing many people. A commander will put an end to his disgrace,^[d] even though he won’t repay that disgrace. ¹⁹ Then he will turn his attention to the walled fortresses of his own country but will stumble, fall, and disappear.