Then: again the Hebrew text has the very common conjunction that may be translated in a variety of ways according to the context. While most versions give the idea of a sequence of events by using Then as in Revised Standard Version, it is translated “But” in Anchor Bible and Moffatt. Good News Translation has “So,” and New Jerusalem Bible leaves it out altogether. It is probably best to translate “Then,” giving the idea that what follows is next in a sequence of events. Having failed to get Ashpenaz to agree to his proposal, Daniel goes to a lesser official.

Steward: the word used here is somewhat doubtful, but it is probably related to an Akkadian word that means “overseer.” Most modern English versions translate it “guard” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Revised Standard Version). Revised English Bible has “the attendant.” But it will be possible in some languages to say simply “the person in charge of the young men.” King James Version has what looks like a proper name here, “Melzar,” but this is an erroneous translation, since the word has the definite article before it both here and in verse 16. It is important that the translation make it clear that this is not the same person as the chief official named Ashpenaz.

The chief of the eunuchs: see verses 3, 7, and 8 above. Here the proper name Ashpenaz is used by Good News Translation in place of the descriptive title.

Over Daniel …: the second mention of Daniel in this verse may be considered unnatural in some languages. Instead of mentioning all four names again in this verse, it may be better to follow the Good News Translation model and say something like “over him and his three friends” or “over the four young men.”

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 .