At the time of the end: this may be taken to refer either to the end of the world or to the end of the tyrannical rule of the king of the north. Good News Translation follows the latter, and this also seems to be behind the rendering of New American Bible, “at the appointed time.” But most versions leave the time reference ambiguous. Compare verse 35 and 8.17.

Shall attack him: the verb used here actually means “push, thrust, gore” and is often used of a butting animal. The writer again takes up the metaphor of the verb used in 8.4, “I saw the ram charging.” Some English versions attempt to capture something of the figure of speech by translating “shall lock horns with him” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “shall butt at him” (Moffatt). This may be done in other languages by saying something like “thrust at him like a goat.” The pronoun him stands for the “king of the North,” Antiochus IV of Syria. In many languages it will be better to use the full noun phrase here, and the pronoun in the sentence that follows.

Rush upon him like a whirlwind: literally “he shall whirl away.” The counterattack of the Syrian king is described with a different figure of speech. In this case the quickness and devastation of a sudden storm is envisaged. The metaphorical use of the verb is changed into a simile by Revised Standard Version and several other English versions.

With chariots and horsemen: the word for “chariot” is singular here but undoubtedly has a collective meaning and should therefore be translated as a plural in most languages. It will be noted that, instead of horsemen, Good News Translation has “horses.” The Hebrew can be understood either way, but in view of the context of military equipment, it seems more likely that the meaning “horses” is intended.

Come … overflow and pass through: see verse 10. This is in keeping with the image of the storm or whirlwind presented earlier in this verse.

Historical sources provide no evidence for an attack on Egypt by Antiochus IV at such a late date in his reign.

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 .