I spent some time making my interlinear for Dan 11:29-45 (personal project). Absolutely fascinating. Of course the Hebrew and Aramaic are extremely close - but they aren't exactly the same. For example, the Aramaic specifically calls out "Israel" where the Hebrew says "beautiful land". This section is notoriously problematic and the English translations really have no clue in places. But it's very interesting that in those trouble spots the Aramaic uses words that have additional meanings that the Hebrew doesn't. When those alternates are used, the text makes a lot of sense. It's makes me wonder if this is a similar case where we're dealing with chicken and egg translations again - which came first? It's well known that Daniel has Aramaic in it. But could it have completely been written that way?
v38
He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. (ESV)
ܘܠܐܠܗܐ
and for his god
ܥܫܝܢܐ
strong/fortified
ܥܠ
because of/due to
ܡܬܩܢܗ
situation/state
ܢܝܩܪ܂
honor/consider precious
The previous verses describe how successful this ruler is and how he captures Israel and how he doesn't follow the gods of his ancestors. The ESV translates here "instead of these" for the Hebrew word "place" or "pillar/base". But the Aramaic has an additional definition describing "situation or state of being". Also people are wondering who this "god of fortresses" is. But Aramaic seems to be using it as an adjective describing that this god is showing himself to be powerful in helping this final ruler out. And because the ruler is having great success and loves the situation he finds himself in, he gives his god honor.
v38b
he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. (ESV)
The final word in Hebrew is "pleasant things". But what is used in the Aramaic is ܘܒܪܓܬܐ which can be translated "with lustful desire". It gives more insight into his state of mind.
v39
He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (ESV)
Now this verse is very problematic and the Hebrew is not clear at all. But take a look at what the Aramaic says:
ܘܢܥܒܪ
and overcome/overwhelm
ܠܟܪ̈ܟܐ
toward walled cities/fortifications
ܥܫܝܢ̈ܐ
strong/hard
ܥܠ
due to
ܐܠܗ̈ܐ
god
ܢܘܟܪ̈ܝܐ܂
foreign/strange/unusual
ܕܢܚܙܐ/ܘܢܚܙܐ
who makes himself visible/appears
ܘܢܫܠܛ
and dominates/takes possession
ܒܣܓܝܐ̈ܐ܂
with many/numerous
ܘܐܪ
and the land/country
ܥܐ
divided/allotted
ܢܦܿܠܓ
for/in exchange
ܒܕܡ̈ܝܐ
price
That phrase of a "god which is strange/unusual who makes himself visible/appear" isn't found in the Hebrew. This is quite a different spin on the passage than I've ever come across before.
Those are the main things that struck me.
v38
He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. (ESV)
ܘܠܐܠܗܐ
and for his god
ܥܫܝܢܐ
strong/fortified
ܥܠ
because of/due to
ܡܬܩܢܗ
situation/state
ܢܝܩܪ܂
honor/consider precious
The previous verses describe how successful this ruler is and how he captures Israel and how he doesn't follow the gods of his ancestors. The ESV translates here "instead of these" for the Hebrew word "place" or "pillar/base". But the Aramaic has an additional definition describing "situation or state of being". Also people are wondering who this "god of fortresses" is. But Aramaic seems to be using it as an adjective describing that this god is showing himself to be powerful in helping this final ruler out. And because the ruler is having great success and loves the situation he finds himself in, he gives his god honor.
v38b
he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. (ESV)
The final word in Hebrew is "pleasant things". But what is used in the Aramaic is ܘܒܪܓܬܐ which can be translated "with lustful desire". It gives more insight into his state of mind.
v39
He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (ESV)
Now this verse is very problematic and the Hebrew is not clear at all. But take a look at what the Aramaic says:
ܘܢܥܒܪ
and overcome/overwhelm
ܠܟܪ̈ܟܐ
toward walled cities/fortifications
ܥܫܝܢ̈ܐ
strong/hard
ܥܠ
due to
ܐܠܗ̈ܐ
god
ܢܘܟܪ̈ܝܐ܂
foreign/strange/unusual
ܕܢܚܙܐ/ܘܢܚܙܐ
who makes himself visible/appears
ܘܢܫܠܛ
and dominates/takes possession
ܒܣܓܝܐ̈ܐ܂
with many/numerous
ܘܐܪ
and the land/country
ܥܐ
divided/allotted
ܢܦܿܠܓ
for/in exchange
ܒܕܡ̈ܝܐ
price
That phrase of a "god which is strange/unusual who makes himself visible/appear" isn't found in the Hebrew. This is quite a different spin on the passage than I've ever come across before.
Those are the main things that struck me.