Satraps … prefects … governors …: see verse 2.

Counselors: see verse 24.

Gathered together: the verb used here should not give the impression of an official or formal gathering. It was rather a very informal coming together as a result of general curiosity. Good News Translation makes clear the purpose of their gathering: “to look at the three men.”

That the fire had not had any power over the bodies …: that is, “that their bodies were not harmed by the fire.” This is spelled out in greater detail in the remainder of the verse, with particular reference to their hair and their clothing, since these would be the first things the fire would be expected to consume.

No smell of fire: this combination may sound absurd in some languages. It is much more natural in English to say “no smell of smoke” as in Good News Translation. In some cases it may be more natural to say “not even the smell of fire (or smoke)” or “none of them smelled like smoke (or fire).” Possibly what is meant is that there was no smell of human flesh being burned.

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 .