Daniel 2:15

2:15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” ¹  Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

Daniel 5:6

5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face ²  and he became alarmed. ³  The joints of his hips gave way, ⁴  and his knees began knocking together.

Daniel 5:8

5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its ⁵  interpretation to the king.

Daniel 6:5-6

6:5 So these men concluded, ⁶  “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is ⁷  in connection with the law of his God.”

6:6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion ⁸  to the king and said ⁹  to him, “O King Darius, live forever!

Daniel 6:18

6:18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions ¹⁰  were brought to him. He was unable to sleep. ¹¹ 

¹ tn The Aramaic word מְהַחְצְפָה (mÿhakhtsÿfah) may refer to the severity of the king’s decree (i.e., “harsh”; so HALOT 1879 s.v. חצף; BDB 1093 s.v. חֲצַף), although it would seem that in a delicate situation such as this Daniel would avoid this kind of criticism of the king’s actions. The translation above understands the word to refer to the immediacy, not harshness, of the decree. See further, F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 50, §116; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 67.

² tn Aram “[the king’s] brightness changed for him.”

³ tn Aram “his thoughts were alarming him.”

⁴ tn Aram “his loins went slack.”

³ tc Read וּפִשְׁרֵהּ (ufishreh) with the Qere rather than וּפִשְׁרָא (ufishra’) of the Kethib.

⁴ tn Aram “were saying.”

⁵ tn Aram “unless we find [it] against him.”

⁵ tn The Aramaic verb רְגַשׁ (rÿgash) occurs three times in this chapter (vv. 7, 12, 16). Its meaning is widely disputed by commentators, and the versions vary considerably in how they render the word. The suggestion that it means “to come thronging” (BDB 1112 s.v.; cf. NAB) seems inappropriate, since it is unlikely that subordinates would enter a royal court in such a reckless fashion. The ancient versions struggled with the word and are not in agreement in their understanding of its meaning. In this chapter the word apparently means to act in agreement with other parties in the pursuit of a duplicitous goal, namely the entrapment of Daniel. Cf. NIV, NCV “went as a group”; NRSV “conspired and came to the king.”

⁶ tn Aram “thus they were saying.”

⁶ tn The meaning of Aramaic דַּחֲוָה (dakhavah) is a crux interpretum. Suggestions include “music,” “dancing girls,” “concubines,” “table,” “food” – all of which are uncertain. The translation employed here, suggested by earlier scholars, is deliberately vague. A number of recent English versions follow a similar approach with “entertainment” (e.g., NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT). On this word see further, HALOT 1849-50 s.v.; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 37.

⁷ tn Aram “his sleep fled from him.”