The structure of this verse should probably be changed in many languages to a more logical order. As it stands the Revised Standard Version text of verses 14 and 15 has Daniel replied … at the beginning of verse 14, but the content of what he said occurs in verse 15 after certain other material that is not directly a part of the actual quotation. Furthermore, the use of the verb replied in Revised Standard Version is curious, since it is not clear what Daniel is replying to. Revised English Bible restructures the whole verse as follows: “As Arioch, captain of the royal bodyguard, set out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel made a discreet and tactful approach to him.”
With prudence and discretion: as in verses 6 and 12, the joining of two nouns of similar meaning may be a means of expressing what might otherwise be stated as an adjective plus a noun. New American Bible has “prudently took counsel….” Other versions, however, prefer to preserve two nouns in translation, giving the idea of “wisdom and tact.” New Jerusalem Bible has “with shrewd and cautious words.” Note that this element is shifted to the end of the verse in Good News Translation in order to introduce the quotation in the following verse.
Captain of the king’s guard: Arioch was apparently the chief of that group of soldiers who were given the responsibility of protecting the king from danger. This was a very high position in the royal court. This expression is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew term for “bodyguard” or “guard” found several times in 2 Kgs 25.8-20. Since this bit of information may require rather a lot of words, it may be a good idea in some languages to place it in parentheses. Translators may consider something like “Now, this man was the chief of the warriors chosen to protect the king.” In many countries today there is a well-known equivalent for this group in the form of special police or a presidential bodyguard. Note Anchor Bible “chief of the royal police.”
Who had gone out to slay …: the verb tense in Revised Standard Version may be misleading. What is important here is to indicate that Arioch “was on his way to kill the Babylonian sages” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “setting out to execute the wise men…” (New English Bible).
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 .