| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The adverb bedayin {בֵּאדַ֣יִן | bē-ʾa-dayin} ‘then’ functions as a narrative transition. The verb hativ {הֲתִיב֙ | ha-tiv} ‘answered’ in the Haphel perfect establishes Daniel {דָּנִיֵּ֗אל | dā-ni-yēl} as the responder. The direct objects eta {עֵטָ֣א | ʿē-ṭā} ‘counsel’ and utem {וּטְעֵ֔ם | u-ṭe-ʿem} ‘discretion’ are conjoined to detail the nature of his reply. The prepositional phrase learyokh {לְאַרְי֕וֹךְ | lə-ʾār-yōkh} indicates the addressee, further defined by the construct rav-tabbachayya {רַב־טַבָּחַיָּ֖א | rav-tab-ba-ḥay-yā} in apposition to specify his official role. The relative particle di {דִּ֚י | di} introduces a subordinate clause linking first to malka {מַלְכָּ֑א | mal-kāʾ} ‘king’ and then to nefaq {נְפַ֣ק | nə-pāq} ‘had gone out’ to signal recent action. The infinitive leqattala {לְקַטָּלָ֔ה | lə-qat-ta-lā} expresses purpose, and lehakkimei Bavel {לְחַכִּימֵ֖י בָּבֶֽל | lə-ħak-kī-meī Bā-vel} specifies the intended targets. English reordering preserves the clarity of agency and authority. |