He: the pronoun refers to the ruler or leader mentioned in the previous verses. In view of the confusion in verse 26, it may be a good idea to make this clear in the translation, as in Good News Translation.

A strong covenant: the meaning is very likely that the leader will make a binding agreement with other groups of people in order to strengthen his position. Some other renderings are “make a firm league” (New English Bible) and “strike a firm alliance” (New Jerusalem Bible). An American Translation, however, understands this to mean that “the covenant will be abandoned by many.” This interpretation is not recommended.

With many: other versions understand this to mean “with the mighty” (New English Bible). But it is generally agreed that it means “many peoples.”

One week … half of the week: once again the meaning of the word for week is a period of seven years. Some prefer to translate the second time reference as “in the middle of the ‘seven’ (years)” (New International Version). Compare New English Bible “the week half spent.” The problem of “weeks” in this case may be avoided by saying more generally “half of the time” or “in the middle of the period.” But in the first occurrence of week it is unavoidable and should probably be rendered “seven years.”

Cause sacrifice and offering to cease: both nouns are singular in form but have a collective meaning and should be translated by a plural in many languages. The term translated sacrifice involves the killing of animals in the worship of God, while the word for offering relates to giving of such things as grain, wine, and oil. In 167 B.C. the Jews were forbidden to practice their religion, and the sacrificing of animals was especially prohibited (compare 8.11 and comments).

The end of this verse is very obscure, and a variety of corrections of the text have been proposed. A literal rendering of the Hebrew text yields something like “on the wing abominations desolations until the end and what was decreed is poured on the desolator.” Obviously it requires some ingenuity to make sense of this text without relying on textual changes.

Upon the wing of abominations: the words are badly connected in Revised Standard Version and the meaning is unclear. The word translated wing is understood in Good News Translation as referring to the pinnacle, or highest point, of the Temple. New American Bible, New International Version, and New Jerusalem Bible adopt a similar solution (compare Matt 4.5). Others understand it to mean “at the corner of the altar” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “in the train of these abominations” (New English Bible). The idea of the “wing” or “pinnacle” of the Temple is probably best here.

In Hebrew the two words meaning abominations and desolations are placed side by side. This proximity has given birth to the expression “the abomination that makes desolate” found in 11.31, and the nearly identical Hebrew expression in 12.11. Compare these two passages. Compare also Matt 24.15.

Until the decreed end is poured out: on the image of “pouring out” anger or punishment, see comments on verse 11. The decreed end is the end decided by God. This may have to be stated directly, as in Good News Translation.

In view of all the problems listed above, the following wording may be suggested:

• For one seven-year period that leader will make a steadfast agreement with many peoples. For half of that time he will abolish all sacrifice and offering. And he will put something very terrible on the high point of the Temple, and it will remain there until God does away with him (who placed it there), just as he has planned.

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 .