After some years: literally “at the end of years,” meaning an indefinite period of time extending beyond two or three years.

They shall make an alliance: the pronoun here seems to refer forward to the two kings mentioned later in the verse. It may be wise to clearly identify them early in the verse, as in Good News Translation. The idea of a covenant, compact, or alliance may be depicted by a variety of idioms, depending on the language. In some languages translators may say “cut an agreement” or “eat an agreement.”

The daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make peace: a literal rendering to this part of the text will almost certainly be misunderstood. The king’s daughter is not so much the negotiator of the peace as a kind of guarantee that the peace should last, because the two kingdoms will be united by marriage. The Hebrew expression come to suggests marriage in this context. This sense should be made clear if a literal rendering would be meaningless or misunderstood. Revised English Bible rightly translates “to seal the agreement the daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north.” Although this guarantee did not actually work, it was the intention of the arrangement.

The king of the north: that is, “Syria.” See comments on the king of the south in the previous verse.

To make peace: literally “to make straight things.” Intermarriage between members of royalty in different kingdoms often led to the conclusion of peace treaties. Since this has essentially the same meaning as make an alliance, it is possible to translate the two expressions by a single phrase in the receptor language.

The strength of her arm: the word arm is often used to convey the idea of physical might or power, and it is so translated in New International Version. But in Good News Translation it is taken to mean that the alliance between Egypt and Syria will not be permanent. That is, her power to hold things together will prove inadequate.

The two phrases she shall not retain the strength of her arm and he and his offspring shall not endure have been rendered in Good News Translation by a single statement, “but the alliance will not last.” This may be a valid model for several other languages. Translators may also consider “but the plan will fail” or “but the scheme will not succeed.” But Revised English Bible provides a more complete model: “but she will not maintain her influence and their line will not last.”

He and his offspring: the traditional Hebrew text literally reads “he and his arm (meaning power).” But by changing the vowels it can mean he and his offspring as in Revised Standard Version. This is the meaning found in the Greek Septuagint and in other ancient versions. And it is also adopted by most modern translations.

She shall be given up: many interpreters take this to mean “surrendered” or “handed over.” If it means “be killed,” this is an unusual usage of the verb involved. Revised English Bible translates more generally “will … be victims of foul play.” But ultimately it is death that seems to be suggested.

Her child: the traditional text literally has “the one who begot her” (New Jerusalem Bible), presumably meaning “her father.” But a slight change in the vowels of the Hebrew gives the meaning “the one she begot” or her child, and this is followed by the Latin Vulgate and the Syriac. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project/Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament advises against following this change in the text, but it is adopted by the majority of modern versions (New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New American Bible, Bible en français courant, An American Translation, Moffatt). It is therefore permissible to follow this option, if translators wish to do so.

He who got possession of her: in addition to the pronoun she (that is, the daughter of the king) and her child, the text also mention another person who would be a victim; literally “the one supporting her.” This is generally seen to mean “her husband.”

This verse is a veiled reference to the marriage of Bernice, the daughter of the Egyptian King Ptolemy II, to Antiochus II of Syria (grandson of Seleucus) around 250 B.C. Bernice, her husband, and her son died by poisoning.

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 .