Shall again raise a multitude: once again the term multitude refers to a large military unit. The Hebrew actually uses two different verbs, literally “return and raise.” But the word sometimes translated “return” is the same word as used in verse 10, which may also be rendered “again.” Here, however, it may be better to translate it “return” or possibly “revive.” The second verb is the same as in verse 11. But in some languages it will be natural to add “more troops” or “new troops.”

After some years: literally “at the end of the times, of the years.” New Jerusalem Bible retains something of the form with “after a time, a matter of years.” But the idea is simply “after an indefinite and rather lengthy period of time.”

Come on: see comments on verse 10.

Abundant supplies: the noun in Hebrew usually refers to personal possessions that may be moved from one place to another (such as furniture, domestic animals, sheep, goats). Depending on the context, it may also mean “wealth” or “riches” in general. But this meaning is improbable in the present context, since people do not go off to war with “riches.” This context requires a meaning like “war material” or “equipment for fighting.” The expression “fully equipped” (New International Version) is a good English equivalent.

The probable historical reference of verse 13 is to the military campaign of Antiochus III against Egypt in 205 B.C. He took advantage of the death of Ptolemy IV, whose son and successor (Ptolemy V) was only four or five years old when he began to reign.

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 .