Therefore: literally “For all of this.” The transition required in other languages may possibly be translated “Soon afterwards,” or even “Taking advantage of this situation.” New Jerusalem Bible has “Seizing the occasion” (compare also Revised English Bible), but others begin the verse with an expression relating more to time, “At that point” (New American Bible) or “At this time” (New International Version).

Certain Chaldeans: see comments on 1.4 and 2.2. It has been suggested that the word Chaldeans may have its derived meaning of “fortune tellers” here (as in 2.2), and it is translated this way in New International Version and Moffatt. On the other hand many commentators feel that the term is used in its pure geographic sense in this context. In this case it is better translated “Babylonians” as in Good News Translation.

Came forward: in some languages it is possible to say simply “appeared,” but in other cases it may be necessary to state before whom these accusers appeared: “appeared before the king” (as clearly seen in the following verse).

Maliciously accused: literally “ate (or chewed up) the pieces of.” This idiomatic expression seems to carry the idea of spiteful slander as well as accusation, as the Revised Standard Version rendering shows.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .