Ships of Kittim: the word ships is used figuratively to represent the people who used them as a means of transport. And this should be made clear in many languages. The word Kittim originally referred to people from the island of Cyprus, but in Jer 2.10 it probably refers to Mediterranean peoples in general. These peoples were “westerners” to those living in Judea. Although this word may have served as a general term for people from the west in Daniel (compare New International Version “ships of the western coastlands” and New English Bible “ships from the west”), it is more likely that this was intended as a reference to the Romans. The Qumran writers used the term Kittim consistently to refer to the Romans. And the ancient Greek translation of Daniel renders it thus. This is followed by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, An American Translation, and Moffatt, as well as Good News Translation, and is also recommended to modern translators. Those versions that transliterate the Hebrew term are forced to add a footnote to help the reader understand the meaning.

Withdraw … turn back … turn back: the text pictures the Syrian king as retreating in fear when first attacked by the Romans. But what is meant by “turning back” and why does it occur twice in this verse? Evidently it does not mean that he turned back to attack the Romans after first retreating, but rather that he went back toward Jerusalem, where he expressed his anger against an easier enemy. In most languages it is unnecessary and probably unwise to translate both occurrences of the verb turn back.

Take action: as in verse 28 (and 39), Anchor Bible proposes “as he passes through.” But most other scholars retain the idea of taking action.

The holy covenant: see verse 28.

Give heed to those who forsake the holy covenant: the text speaks of giving attention to those who have abandoned the Jewish religion to follow the pagan practices of Antiochus IV. But what kind of attention is meant? It may indicate that he “will follow their advice” (Good News Translation) or that he will “favour” them (New Jerusalem Bible), that is, give them preferential treatment. The same verb is used with the negative in verse 37. Commentators give very little help on this question, and most translations leave it neutral, “pay attention to” or “have regard for.”

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 .