Daniel 5:6

countenance lit. brightness (i.e. healthy freshness and colour): cf. Daniel 4:36. So Daniel 5:9-10; Daniel 7:28. Cf. the Targum (Onk.) of Deuteronomy 34:7, -And the glorious brightnessof his face was not changed."

was changed i.e. grew pale through fear. If the text be correct, the word used can be rendered only -was changed for him" (hence R.V. in him); but the construction which this rendering presupposes, though found occasionally in Hebrew [256], is doubtful in Aramaic. Probably was changedis right, though two letters in the Aram. should be omitted.

[256] Ges.-Kautzsch, § 117. 4, Rem. 3.

his thoughts alarmed him Cf. Daniel 4:19. -Troubled" is altogether too weak.

the joints of his loins were loosed, &c. He trembled violently, and could not stand firm. Cf. Od. xviii. 341 λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης Ταρβοσύνῃ.