18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will silence the insults that the northern king makes and even insult him.
19 He will turn back toward the fortresses in his own country, but he will stumble, fall, and disappear.
20 “Another king will take his place. He will have a cruel official go out in royal splendor. But in a few days the king will be destroyed, although not in anger or war.
21 “A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises.
22 He will overwhelm large forces and defeat them, including the prince of the promise.
23 After an alliance has been made with him, he will act deceitfully and rise to power with only a few people.
24 When people feel secure, he will invade the richest parts of the provinces and do something that none of his predecessors ever did. He will distribute loot and wealth to his followers. He will invent new ways of attacking fortifications. But this will last only for a little while.