Notes on the Aramaic Part of Daniel. 267 



4 : 5 j^nS 1V^^ This phrase has never been satisfactorily explained, 

 so far as I am aware. It means simplv " But at /ast:" The word 

 ]^"in>$) " afterwards," is an adverbial accusative plural, the absolute 

 state corresponding to the construct '»'ini($, which occurs in a few places, 

 namely Dan. 2 : 29, 45, 7 : 24, and once or twice in the Egyptian 

 papyri. The singular number, "^nx ilikewise originally adverbial accus.), 

 is also found as an adverb with the same meaning, " afterwards," in 

 the papyri (Sayce and Cowley, Egyptian Papyri, C 8, H 8, 15, K 10, 

 and in at least one Gentile Aramaic inscription (Lidzbarski, Ephemeris, 

 i, p. 67). Since we have thus attested both the occurrence of the plural 

 (in the constr.) and the adverbial use in the singular, there is no reason 

 for hesitation as to the nature of the form in our text. Cf. especially 

 the exactly corresponding rpHD in the Jewish Aramaic adverbs pia^pD, 

 " at first," pSSTpbip, " from the beginning," etc. The use of the word 

 (whether singular or plural), both as adverb and as preposition, was 

 rapidly disappearing at this time ; whence, doubtless, it came about that 

 in another textual tradition which was current the reading was 7*inx, 

 " another." By incorporating both, the massoretes have saved for us a 

 precious relic. 



The word ^^, expressing the idea of continuance up to certain point, 

 is used here precisely as it is occasionally used, in connection with 

 other adverbs of time, where it is best rendered by the word " yet " 

 (though in some cases it is better to leave it untranslated). Hius, 

 r^V^Tl^ 1i? " for a moment," Prov. 12 : 19 ; nnHD "IJ?, " speedily," 

 Ps. 147 : 15 ; and the common Syriac '^^.^iiXi ^1, " after ahttle, almost," etc. 



4:6. In view of Theodotion's axouaov there can be little doubt that 

 his Aramaic text contained the word I?)2ir ji-ist before ^lin. Such a 

 translator as he would not have inserted the word on his own authority. 

 There may be some doubt, indeed, as to the advisability of emending 

 accordingly, for the text which we have is not impossible. But because 

 of all the other instances of words accidentally omitted in Daniel through 

 the haste or the mental peculiarity of a certain copvist (see above), it 

 seems to me preferable to insert the 2?D^- So Marti in his Gramm., 

 but not in the Comm. I am unable to appreciate the difficulties which 

 some of our commentators find in the remaining .words of the verse. 



4 : 7. If I understand the notes in Kittel's Biblia Hchraica, it is 



purposes described in these two stories ?) (3) Mention is made of places 

 uninhabited by human beings, but the abode of beasts and birds, whither 

 the king may be brought, against his will. (^This is only a coincidence, 

 and unworthy of any special notice.] 



