Discovery BoxDaniel 5:5-6 
Context5:5 At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared 1 and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. 2 The king was watching the back 3 of the hand that was writing. 5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face 4 and he became alarmed. 5 The joints of his hips gave way, 6 and his knees began knocking together.
1 tn Aram “came forth.”
2 sn The mention of the lampstand in this context is of interest because it suggests that the writing was in clear view.
3 tn While Aramaic פַּס (pas) can mean the palm of the hand, here it seems to be the back of the hand that is intended.
4 tn Aram “[the king’s] brightness changed for him.”
5 tn Aram “his thoughts were alarming him.”
6 tn Aram “his loins went slack.”
