Daniel 3:2

2. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges [ chief soothsayers, margin], the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs [ lawyers, margin], and all the rulers of the provinces” (R.V.). Noldeke and others have recognized most of these as Persian official titles. This would not of itself prove the late origin of the book, as in referring to ancient dignitaries it is natural, instead of retaining the ancient term, to substitute for it a modern title which corresponds as nearly as possible to the old one, as is vividly illustrated in every translation; for example, when Wyclif names these officials “magistratis, jugis, duykis,” and the “herald” of Daniel 3:4 “a bedel.” As Prince says, it is difficult to distinguish between these various officials; and it is hardly necessary to do so, as they are probably grouped together for the sake of the local coloring and need not be a complete list of all the provincial officers. The names as given in Daniel 3:3 are not in every case exactly the same or in the same order. The new discoveries have thrown some light upon the formerly unknown functions of certain of these officials, the “counselors,” for example, mentioned here appearing in a multitude of texts of the fifth century B.C. as well-known officers stationed all over the fertile plain between the lower Euphrates and the Tigris to gather the taxes and look after the interests of the government. These officials are called da-a-ta-ba-ra or da-ta-bar-ri, corresponding exactly to the term used in Daniel ( dettrabarim) the meaning of which has never before been understood (see Hilprecht, Babylonian Expedition, 1898, ix, pp. 8, 28).