33:7 Look, ambassadors 1 cry out in the streets;
messengers sent to make peace 2 weep bitterly.
36:22 Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn in grief 3 and reported to him what the chief adviser had said.
3:11 Too bad for the wicked sinners!
For they will get exactly what they deserve. 9
3:2 the mighty men and warriors,
judges and prophets,
omen readers and leaders, 10
21:12 The watchman replies,
“Morning is coming, but then night. 11
If you want to ask, ask;
come back again.” 12
7:28 “This is the conclusion of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and the color drained from my face. 17 But I kept the matter to myself.” 18
8:27 I, Daniel, was exhausted 19 and sick for days. Then I got up and again carried out the king’s business. But I was astonished at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.
3:16 I listened and my stomach churned; 20
the sound made my lips quiver.
My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, 21
and I shook as I tried to walk. 22
I long 23 for the day of distress
to come upon 24 the people who attack us.
21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, 25 and on the earth nations will be in distress, 26 anxious 27 over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 21:26 People will be fainting from fear 28 and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 29
1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word is unknown. Proposals include “heroes” (cf. KJV, ASV “valiant ones”; NASB, NIV “brave men”); “priests,” “residents [of Jerusalem].” The present translation assumes that the term is synonymous with “messengers of peace,” with which it corresponds in the parallel structure of the verse.
2 tn Heb “messengers of peace,” apparently those responsible for negotiating the agreements that have been broken (see v. 8).
3 tn Heb “with their clothes torn”; the words “in grief” have been supplied in the translation to indicate that this was done as a sign of grief and mourning.
4 tn In the Hebrew text this verse begins with “they said to him” (cf. NRSV).
5 tn Or “rebuke” (KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “correction.”
6 tn Or “contempt”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “disgrace.”
7 tn Heb “when sons come to the cervical opening and there is no strength to give birth.”
8 tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
9 tn Heb “for the work of his hands will be done to him.”
10 tn Heb “elder” (so ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); NCV “older leaders.”
11 sn Dumah will experience some relief, but it will be short-lived as night returns.
12 sn The point of the watchman’s final instructions (“if you want to ask, ask; come again”) is unclear. Perhaps they are included to add realism to the dramatic portrayal. The watchman sends the questioner away with the words, “Feel free to come back and ask again.”
13 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
14 tn Heb “Yahweh of armies, the God of Israel.”
15 sn Careful comparison of the use of this term throughout this passage and comparison with 7:31-33 which is parallel to several verses in this passage will show that the reference is to the Valley of Ben Hinnom which will become a Valley of Slaughter (see v. 6 and 7:32).
16 tn Heb “which everyone who hears it [or about it] his ears will ring.” This is proverbial for a tremendous disaster. See 1 Sam 3:11; 2 Kgs 21:12 for similar prophecies.
17 tn Aram “my brightness was changing on me.”
18 tn Aram “in my heart.”
19 tn The Hebrew word here is נִהְיֵיתִי (nihyetiy). Its meaning is not entirely clear. Hebrew הָיָה (hayah) normally has meanings such as “to be” or “become.” Here, however, it describes Daniel’s emotional and physical response to the enigmatic vision that he has seen. It is parallel to the following verb, which refers to illness, and seems to refer to a state of utter exhaustion due to the amazing things that Daniel has just seen. The LXX lacks the word. On the meaning of the word see further, BDB 227-28 s.v. הָיָה Niph.2; DCH 2:540 s.v. היה I Ni.3.
20 tn Heb “my insides trembled.”
21 tn Heb “decay entered my bones.”
22 tc Heb “beneath me I shook, which….” The Hebrew term אֲשֶׁר (’asher) appears to be a relative pronoun, but a relative pronoun does not fit here. The translation assumes a reading אֲשֻׁרָי (’ashuray, “my steps”) as well as an emendation of the preceding verb to a third plural form.
23 tn The translation assumes that אָנוּחַ (’anuakh) is from the otherwise unattested verb נָוָח (navakh, “sigh”; see HALOT 680 s.v. II נוח; so also NEB). Most take this verb as נוּחַ (nuakh, “to rest”) and translate, “I wait patiently” (cf. NIV).
24 tn Heb “to come up toward.”
25 sn Signs in the sun and moon and stars are cosmic signs that turn our attention to the end and the Son of Man’s return for the righteous. OT imagery is present: See Isa 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezek 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15.
26 tn Grk “distress of nations.”
27 tn Or “in consternation” (L&N 32.9).
28 tn According to L&N 23.184 this could be mainly a psychological experience rather than actual loss of consciousness. It could also refer to complete discouragement because of fear, leading people to give up hope (L&N 25.293).
29 sn An allusion to Isa 34:4. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.