Heidegger's Bible Handbook: Daniel: Inscription

1. The Inscription of דָּנִיֵּאל/Daniel. בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר/Belteshazzar. Daniel, a man of desires, and רַב חַרְטֻמַיָּא, master of the magicians.

Not the hindmost among the Prophetic books, this one is named after its author, דָּנִיֵּאל/Daniel, which denotes the judgment of the Lord, or my God is judge.[1] For, that by Daniel, not by the men of the Great Synagogue, as the Talmudists trifle, or by some other, as the Anabaptists assert, was it written, it is evident out of Daniel 12:4, where, not the men of the Great Synagogue, but Daniel, is commanded to seal the book. With his name changed, the master of the Eunuchs called him בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר/Belteshazzar, which signifies one concealing the treasure of Bel, and so the bearer and keeper of the secrets of Bel, Daniel 1:7. By an Angel he is also called, Daniel 9:23, חֲמוּדוֹת[2] or אִישׁ־חֲמֻדוֹת,[3] ἀνὴρ ἐπιθυμιῶν, a man of desires, or a man greatly beloved, pure charity and delight: and by Nebuchadezzar, Daniel 4:9, רַ֣ב חַרְטֻמַיָּא֒, Master of Magicians/Philosophers.

[1]דָּן/Dan signifies judge; אֵל/El, God. [2] Daniel 9:23: “At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved (כִּ֥י חֲמוּד֖וֹת אָ֑תָּה; ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἐπιθυμιῶν σὺ εἶ, in Theodotion): therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” [3] Daniel 10:11a: “And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved (אִישׁ־חֲמֻדוֹת; ἀνὴρ ἐπιθυμιῶν, in Theodotion), understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright…”