ash.shaph denotes a class of court specialists named among those consulted about royal mysteries and writings.

The term designates a group of specialists named alongside magicians, wise men, Chaldeans, diviners, or soothsayers in royal settings. They are portrayed as people whom kings may summon for disclosure or interpretation, though Daniel 2:27 and Daniel 5:15 place limits on their ability to make a mystery or writing known.

1. Court specialists consulted for disclosure · dominant

   In Daniel 2:10 and Daniel 2:27, the singular and plural forms occur in lists of specialists in connection with a king's demanded matter or mystery; the APB renders the lists with “enchanter” or “enchanters.” In Daniel 5:7 and Daniel 5:15, the determined plural is among those brought before the king concerning a writing and its interpretation, while Daniel 5:11 names the plural within the offices over which Daniel was appointed chief. Daniel 4:4 contains the determined plural form, although the supplied APB verse does not visibly reflect its clause.

   Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:27Daniel 4:4Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:11Daniel 5:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: Where the supplied APB visibly reflects the listed group, it uses “enchanter” in Daniel 2:10 and “enchanters” in Daniel 2:27, Daniel 5:11, and Daniel 5:15. And Daniel 4:4 does not visibly include the group in its English wording, its treatment cannot establish a distinct rendering for every occurrence.