Then: the choice of a transition word here will depend somewhat on the way the rest of the verse is rendered. But the context seems to require something stronger than a simple time connection. The account is made more vivid in Good News Translation by the use of “Suddenly,” and this marks an abrupt change in the rhythm of the narrative.
Was astonished and rose up in haste: these two phrases joined by the conjunction and are very closely related and should perhaps be translated by a single phrase in some languages. It is because of the king’s astonishment that he got to his feet quickly. Some possible models are “was so amazed that he jumped up” or “sprang to his feet in amazement” (New Jerusalem Bible).
Counselors: the corresponding Aramaic term refers to important people in the royal court, highly placed government officials, or personal advisors to the king. It seems to carry the meaning of “companions (or friends) of the king.” It will be noted that royal advisors were sometimes referred to as “friends” of the king (see 2 Sam 16.16). Revised English Bible renders the term here as “courtiers.” The term is of Persian origin and does not correspond exactly to any of those listed in 3.2-3. It occurs only in the Book of Daniel (3.27; 4.36; and 6.7, as well as here). It is probably best to translate it “advisers” (New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version) or “companions” (New Jerusalem Bible).
Said: since this verb introduces a question, it may be better to render it “asked.”
Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?: neither the king nor his advisors personally took part in the binding and throwing of the three condemned men into the fire. In English and some other languages, the first person plural pronoun we can be used generally in a context like this; but if its use presents problems for the translator, this should be restructured in such a way as to avoid misunderstanding. If passive forms are possible, we may consider “How many men did we have tied up and thrown into the fire? Wasn’t it three?” Or it is possible to use the indefinite “they,” or something like “my servants” in the following: “How many men did my servants tie up and throw into the fire? Wasn’t it three?”
True, O king: some other ways of saying this are “That is correct, Your Majesty,” “It was indeed three men, sir,” or “Sir, what you say is absolutely right.”
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 .