2 So now let me reveal the truth to you. There are still three kings to come to power in Persia, and then a fourth who will be far richer than all the others. When he becomes strong through his wealth, he will rally the whole kingdom against Greece.11:2. "Rally the whole kingdom against Greece." Alternatively, this could be read as "rally all the kingdoms of Greece," though this is a minority opinion.
3 Then a mighty king will come to power. He will rule with great authority and do whatever he wants.11:3. "Do whatever he wants": see 8:4 and 11:16 and 11:36. 4 But as he extends his power his kingdom will be broken up, divided towards the four winds of heaven.11:4. "Towards the four winds of heaven": in other words, "into four parts." It will not go to his descendants, and it will not be ruled as he ruled. It will be pulled up and given to others. 5 The king of the south will grow strong, but one of his officers will grow even stronger and will rule his kingdom with great authority.
6 Some years later they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south will be married to the king of the north to guarantee the peace treaty. However, she will not be able to keep her hold on power, nor will his power11:6. Or "offspring." continue. She and her attendants will be betrayed, along with her child and husband.11:6. "Husband": literally, "the one supporting her," generally understood to mean her husband. Later on, however, 7 a new king of the south from her family will take over. He will come to attack the army of the king of the north and enter his fortress. He will fight against them and will win. 8 In addition he will take back with him to Egypt the idols of their gods, along with their expensive vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will leave the king of the north alone.
9 Then the king of the north will march into the kingdom of the king of the south but will have to retreat to his own land. 10 However, his sons will prepare for war, assembling a huge number of troops. One of them will lead an advance that rushes forward like a river bursting its banks, crossing over and pressing forward to attack the enemy fortress.
11 This will infuriate the king of the south, who will go out into battle against the large army assembled by the king of the north and will defeat it. 12 After capturing such a large army, he will become very proud, and will kill thousands. But this triumph will not last long.
13 Years later the king of the north will once again raise an army, even larger than before, and will invade with this huge army, accompanied by plenty of supplies. 14 At the same time many will rebel against the king of the south. Violent men from your own people will rebel in order to fulfill this vision,11:14. "This vision": referring back to the vision beginning in 8:13. but they shall fail.
15 Then the king of the north will come and build siege ramps and he will capture a city with strong defenses. The forces of the south will not be able to prevent it—even his best troops won’t be able to resist the attack. 16 The invader will do whatever he wants;11:16. "Do whatever he wants": see 8:4 and 11:3 and 11:36 no one will be able to oppose him. He will stand in the Beautiful Land11:16. Israel. with the power to destroy it. 17 He will be determined to come with all the power of his kingdom and will make a peace treaty with the king of the south. To secure this he will give him a daughter of women to marry in order to destroy the kingdom. But she will not be successful and will not support him. 18 Then he will turn to attack the coastlands and will conquer many, but a commander will put a stop to his arrogant behavior, paying him back for it. 19 He will return to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, and will be gone. 20 His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain royal wealth. However, in a short time he will die, but not violently or in battle.