Daniel 2:14-23

2:14 Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel ¹  to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 2:15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” ²  Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 2:16 So Daniel went in and ³  requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 2:17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. 2:18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he ⁴  and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 2:19 Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praised ⁵  the God of heaven, 2:20 saying, ⁶ 

“Let the name of God ⁷  be praised ⁸  forever and ever,

for wisdom and power belong to him.

2:21 He changes times and seasons,

deposing some kings

and establishing others. ⁹ 

He gives wisdom to the wise;

he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; ¹⁰ 

2:22 he reveals deep and hidden things.

He knows what is in the darkness,

and light resides with him.

2:23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,

for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me.

Now you have enabled me to understand what I ¹¹  requested from you.

For you have enabled me to understand the king’s dilemma.” ¹² 

[2:14]  ¹ tn Aram “returned prudence and counsel.” The expression is a hendiadys.

[2:15]  ² 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.

[2:16]  ³ tc Theodotion and the Syriac lack the words “went in and.”

[2:18]  ⁴ tn Aram “Daniel.” The proper name is redundant here in English, and has not been included in the translation.

[2:19]  ⁵ tn Or “blessed.”

[2:20]  ⁶ tn Aram “Daniel answered and said.”

[2:20]  ⁷ sn As is often the case in the Bible, here the name represents the person.

[2:20]  ⁸ tn Or “blessed.”

[2:21]  ⁹ tn Aram “kings.”

[2:21]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “the knowers of understanding.”

[2:23]  ¹¹ tn Aram “we.” Various explanations have been offered for the plural, but it is probably best understood as the editorial plural; so also with “me” later in this verse.

[2:23]  ¹² tn Aram “the word of the king.”