translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: DAN

label: NET translator note

text: Aram “It was pleasing before Darius.”


text: This is a technical term for an official placed in charge of a region of the empire (cf. KJV, NLT “prince[s]”; NCV, TEV “governors”). These satraps were answerable to a supervisor, who in turn answered to Darius.


text: Aram “giving an account.”


text: Aram “looking to find.”


text: Aram “from the side of the kingdom.”


text: Aram “pretext and corruption.”


text: Aram “no negligence or corruption was found in him.” The Greek version of Theodotion lacks the phrase “and no negligence or corruption was found in him.”


text: Aram “were saying.”


text: Aram “unless we find [it] against him.”


text: 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.”


text: Aram “thus they were saying.”


text: Aram “prays a prayer.”


text: Aram “establish a written interdict and inscribe a written decree.”


text: Or “removed.”


text: Aram “knew.”


text: For the location of Jerusalem see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


label: NET textual note

text: Read with several medieval Hebrew MSS and printed editions הֲוָה ( havah ) rather than the MT הוּא ( hu ’).


text: Aram “kneeling on his knees” (so NASB). sn No specific posture for offering prayers is prescribed in the OT. Kneeling, as here, and standing were both practiced.


text: Aram “those men”; the referent (the administrative officials who had earlier approached the king about the edict) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The MT also has “about the edict of the king,” but this phrase is absent in the LXX and the Syriac. The present translation deletes the expression. tn Aram “before the king.”


text: Aram “the word is true.”


text: Aram “from the sons of the captivity [of].”


text: Aram “prays his prayer.”


text: Aram “the word.”


text: Aram “placed his mind on.”


text: Aram “the entrances of the sun.”


text: Theodotion lacks the words “came by collusion to the king and.”


text: Aram “the king.”


text: Aram “know”; NAB “Keep in mind”; NASB “Recognize”; NIV, NCV “Remember.”


text: Aram “said.” So also in vv. 24, 25 .


text: Aram “answered and said [to Daniel].”


text: Aram “mouth.”


text: Aram “the signet rings.”


text: 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.


text: Aram “his sleep fled from him.”


text: Aram “The king answered and said to Daniel.” This phrase has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons; it is redundant in English.


text: Aram “with.”


text: Aram “said.”


text: Aram “had eaten the pieces of.” The Aramaic expression is ironic, in that the accusers who had figuratively “eaten the pieces of Daniel” are themselves literally devoured by the lions.


text: The Aramaic active impersonal verb is often used as a substitute for the passive.


text: The LXX specifies only the two overseers, together with their families, as those who were cast into the lions’ den.


text: Aram “May your peace be increased!”


text: Aram “until the end.”


text: Aram “hand.”


text: Or perhaps “in the reign of Darius, even in the reign of Cyrus.” The identity of this Darius is disputed. Some take the name to be referring to Cyrus, understanding the following vav ( ו , “and”) in an epexegetical sense (“even”). Others identify Darius with a governor of Babylon known from extra-biblical records as Gubaru, or with Cambyses, son of Cyrus. Many scholars maintain that the reference is historically inaccurate.