If integrated into the book of Daniel: 14.14.

The king set forth the food for Bel: Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have the same rendering for this clause. Contemporary English Version, however, has “the king arranged Bel’s food on the table.” But as noted in the comments on verse 11, there was simply too much food to put it all on one table, if one includes all the sheep carcasses. So translators may avoid this problem by following Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The table does have food on it, however, because in verse 18 the king is astounded to find it empty in the morning.

Daniel ordered his servants to bring ashes and they sifted them …: There is a textual problem here with the Greek word rendered sifted. The Greek manuscripts present three different verbs: one meaning “sift through a sieve,” (so Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, and the reading in both the Rahlfs and Göttingen editions), one meaning “shake,” and one meaning “scatter.” The text with the verb meaning “scatter” is to be preferred, along with Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Revised Standard Version, and most others.

Throughout the whole temple: Since Daniel wants to get the ashes where the priests will step in them during the night, they are scattered on the temple floor. Good News Translation simply makes this explicit with “all over the floor of the temple” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The reference is to the enclosed sanctuary only, not to any adjoining structures or open areas.

In the presence of the king alone: For the sake of clarity, Good News Translation expands this phrase into a sentence, saying “No one except the king saw them do this.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “The king was the only other person who saw them do this.” The point is that the king sees the ashes being scattered. For the priests’ scheme to work, the king has to seal the door shut from the outside. For Daniel’s plan to work, the king must be aware that the floor is covered with ashes before the door is sealed shut.

Shut the door and sealed it with the king’s signet: See the comments on verse 11.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.