20 In his stead one shall arise who will send a collector of tribute through the glorious kingdom, but he shall soon be destroyed, though not in conflict or in battle.
21 “There shall arise in his place a despicable person, to whom the royal insignia shall not be given. He shall enter by stealth and seize the kingdom by fraud.
22 Armed forces shall be completely overwhelmed by him and crushed, even the prince of the covenant.
23 After making alliances, he shall treacherously rise to power with only a few supporters.
24 By stealth he shall enter prosperous provinces and do that which his fathers or grandfathers never did; he shall distribute spoil, plunder, and riches among them and devise plots against their strongholds.
25 He shall rouse his strength and courage to meet the king of the south with a great army; the king of the south shall go into battle with a very large and strong army, but he shall not stand because of the plots devised against him.
26 Even his table companions shall seek to destroy him, his army shall be overwhelmed, and many shall be struck down.