MENE: although the first word was apparently written twice, it is explained only once. The cryptic word meaning “number,” “measure,” or “count” is explained in greater detail by Daniel. It is taken as a verb with God as the subject. What has been numbered, measured, or counted is the days from the beginning to the end of Belshazzar’s rule.

And brought it to an end: the use of the past tense here reflects the writer’s conviction that an unchangeable decision has already been made, even if it has not yet been fully accomplished. The grammar of some languages will make it impossible to use a past tense here, but a present progressive may convey the same idea.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .