18. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.
19. After this, he will turn back towards the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
20. ‘His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendour. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
21. ‘He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honour of royalty. 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 before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.
23. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, 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. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses – but only for a time.