4. But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken into pieces and divided in the directions of the four winds of heaven. The empire will not be given to his descendants. It will no longer be like his empire, since it will be uprooted and given to others.
5. “The southern king will be strong, but one of his officers will become stronger than he is and rule a vast empire.
6. After a few years the southern and northern kings will make an alliance. The southern king’s daughter will go to the northern king to make peace. She won’t hold on to her power, and the alliance won’t last. She, those who came with her, and the one who fathered and protected her will be given away.
7. “At that time a shoot will grow from her roots to replace her father. He will attack the northern army, enter the stronghold of the northern king, fight against them, and be victorious.
8. He will take the metal statues of their gods and their precious utensils of silver and gold back to Egypt. He will rule for more years than the northern king.
9. He will invade the southern kingdom and return to his own country.
10. “Then his sons will prepare for war. They will assemble a large number of forces so that they can overwhelm ⌊the enemy⌋ and pass through its land. They will return and wage war all the way to the stronghold.
11. The southern king will be outraged. He will go to fight the northern king, who will raise a large army that will fall into the southern king’s hands.
12. When that army is captured, the southern king will become conceited. Although he will dominate tens of thousands of people, he will not always be strong.
13. “The northern king will return and raise an army larger than the first one. After a few years he will invade with a large army and a lot of equipment.
14. In those times many people will rebel against the southern king, and violent men from your own people will rebel in keeping with this vision, but they will be defeated.
15. Then the northern king will come, build dirt attack ramps, and capture a fortified city. The southern forces will not be able to withstand him. Even their best troops will not be strong enough.
16. The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand his attack. He will rise to power in the beautiful land and it will be completely under his control.