The Aramaic word edayin is a temporal marker meaning "then" or "at that time," used extensively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra. It introduces the next step in a narrative sequence and often marks a pivotal turning point.
The frequent use of edayin in Daniel underscores the dramatic, sequential unfolding of God's sovereign plan. Each "then" marks a moment when God acts — filling Nebuchadnezzar with rage, preserving Daniel's companions in the furnace, or revealing mysteries to Daniel. History has a divine logic; each "then" is preceded by God's eternal "because."