Prelude to the book of Daniel
The book of Daniel
Daniel's life and ministry bridge the entire seventy-year period of Babylonian captivity. Deported to Babylon at the
age of sixteen, and handpicked for government service, Daniel becomes God's prophetic mouthpiece to the Gentile
and Jewish world declaring God's present and eternal purpose. Nine of the twelve chapters in his book revolve
around dreams, including God-given visions involving trees, animals, beasts, and images. In both his personal
adventures and prophetic visions, Daniel shows God's guidance, intervention, and power in the affairs of men.
The name Daniye'l or Dani'el means "God is My Judge," and the book is, of course, named after the author and
principal character. The Greek form Daniel in the Septuagint is the basis for the Latin and English titles.
The Author of Daniel
Daniel and his three friends were evidently born into noble Judean families and were "Children in whom was no
blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science" (1:4). He
was given three years of training in the best of Babylon's schools (1:5). As part of the re identifications process, he
was given a new name that honored on of the Babylonian deities: Belteshazzar meant "Bel Protect His Life"
(see 1:7; 4:8; Jer. 51:44). Daniel's wisdom and divinely given interpretive abilities brought him into a position of
prominence, especially in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. He is one of the few well-known Bible characters
about whom nothing negative is ever written. His life was characterized by faith, prayer, courage, consistency, and
lack of compromise. This "greatly beloved" man (9:23; 10:11, 19) was mentioned three times by his sixth-century B.C.
contemporary Ezekiel as an example of righteousness.
Daniel claimed to write this book (12:4), and he used the autobiographical first person from 7:2 onward. The Jewish
Talmud agrees with this testimony, and Christ attributed a quote from 9:27 to "Daniel the prophet" (Matt. 24:15).
The Time of Daniel
Babylon rebelled against he Assyrian Empire in 626 B.C. and overthrew the Assyrian capital of Nineveh 612 B.C.
Babylon became the master of the Middle East when it defeated the Egyptian armies in 605 B.C. Daniel was among
those taken captive to Babylon that year when Nebuchadnezzar subdued Jerusalem. He ministered for the full
duration of the Babylonian captivity as a prophet and a government official and continued on after Babylon was
overcome by the Medes and Persians in 539 B.C. His prophetic ministry was directed tot he gentile courts of Babylon
(Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar) and Persia (Darius and Cyrus), as well as to his Jewish countrymen. Zerubbabel
led a return of the Jews to Jerusalem in the first year of Cyrus, and Daniel lived and ministered at least until the third
year of Cyrus (536 B.C.;10:1). Daniel's book was no doubt written by Cyrus's ninth year (c. 530B.C.).
As he predicted, the Persian Empire continued until Alexander the Great (11:2,3) who extended the boundaries of
the Greek Empire as far east as India. The Romans later displaced the Greeks as rulers of the Middle East.
For various reasons, many critics have argued that Daniel is a fraudulent book that was written in the time of the
Maccabees in the second century B.C, not the six century B.C as it claims. But their arguments are not compelling.
The prophetic argument holds that Daniel could not have made such accurate predictions; it alone contains over one
hundred specific prophecies of historical events that literally came true. The author, the critics say, must have lived at
the time of Antiochus Epiphanes (175-163 B.C) and probably wrote this to strengthen the faith of the Jews. But this
argument was developed out of a theological bias that assumes true prophecy cannot take place. It also implies that
the work was intentionally deceptive.
The linguistic argument claims that the book uses a late Aramaic in 2-7 and that the Persian and Greek words also
point to a late date. But recent discoveries show that Daniel's Aramaic. Daniel's use of the some Persian words is no
argument for a late date since he continued living in the Persian period under Cyrus. The only Greek words are
names of musical instruments in chapter 3, and this comes as no surprise since there were Greek mercenaries in
the Assyrian and Babylonian Armies. Far more Greek words would be expected if the book were written in the second
century B.C.
The historical argument asserts that Daniel's historical blunders argue for a late date. But recent evidence has
demonstrated the historical accuracy of Daniel. Inscriptions found at Haran show that Belshazzar reigned in Babylon
while his father Nabonidus was fighting the invading Persians. And Darius the Mede (5:31; 6:1) has been identified as
Gubaru, a governor appointed by Cyrus.
The Christ of Daniel
Christ is the Great Stone who will crush the kingdoms of this world (2:34, 35, 44), the Son of Man who is given
dominion by the Ancient of Days (7:13, 14), and the coming Messiah who will be cut off (9:25,26). It is likely that
Daniel's vision in 10:5-9 was an appearance of Christ (Revelation 1:12-16).
The vision of the sixty-nine weeks in 9:25, 26 pinpoints the coming of the Messiah. The decree of 9:25 took place on
March 4, 444 B.C (Nehemiah 2:1-8). The sixty-nine weeks of seven years equals 483 years, or 173,880 days (using
360-day prophetic years). This leads to March 29, A.D 33, by noting that 444 B.C to A.D 33 is 476 years, and 476
times 365.24219 days per year equals 173,855 days. Adding twenty-five for the difference between March 4 and
March 29 gives 173,880 days.
Keys To Daniel
Daniel was written to encourage the exiled Jews by revealing God's sovereign program for Israel during and after the
period of gentile domination. The "Times of the Gentiles" began with the Babylonian captivity, and Israel would suffer
under gentile powers for many years. But this period is not permanent, and a time will come when God will establish
the messianic kingdom which will last forever. Daniel repeatedly emphasizes the sovereignty and power of God over
human affairs. "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (4:25). The God
who directs the forces of history has not deserted His people. They must continue to trust in Him, because His
promises of preservation and ultimate restoration are as sure as the coming of the Messiah.
Key Verses: Daniel 2:20-22 and Daniel 2:44-
"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he
changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and
knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the
darkness, and the light dwelleth with him" (2:20-22).
"And in the days of these kings shall be the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and
the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall
stand for ever" (2:44).
Key Chapter: Daniel 9
Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks (9:24-27) provides the chronological frame for messianic prediction from the
time of Daniel to the establishment of the kingdom on earth. It is clear that the first sixty-nine weeks were fulfilled at
Christ's first coming. Some scholars affirm that the last week has not yet been fulfilled because Christ relates it's main
events to His second coming (Matthew 24:6,15). Others perceive these words of Christ as applying to the Roman
desecration of the temple in A.D 70.
The book of Daniel chapter 1
1:1,2 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim seems to conflict with Jeremiah's statement that Nebuchadnezzar
besieged the city in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jer. 25:1). The most likely solution is that Jeremiah used the Jewish
system of counting regnal years; that is, any portion of a king's reign before the first New Year, however short, was
counted as Year One. Daniel, on the other hand, evidently used the Babylonian system in in which the first year (or
portion of a year) was counted as the accession year and the next year as the first year. Nebuchadnezzar (also
spelled Nebuchadrezzar) means "O Nabu (a Babylonian god], protect my boundary (stone)," The invasion of
Jerusalem, occurring in 605 B.C., begins the period when Gentiles occupy the land of Israel. It is called by Jesus "the
time of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24). Land of Shinar is an ancient name for Babylonia.
1.3 Of the king's seed: Daniel and his friends were of royal blood.
1.5 These young men, after their training, would easily serve a liaisons between Babylon and Judah, or even as
hostages to keep Judah's kings submissive.
1.7 The name changes are a good example of attempted "brainwashing." All four young men had good Hebrew
names that reflected their godly heritage. They were given, instead, Babylonian names that denoted praise of
Babylonian gods. Daniel ("God Is My Judge:) was changed to Belteshazzar ("Bel Will Protect"), Hananiah ("God Is
Gracious") to Shadrach ("Inspiration of the Sun"), Mishael ("God Is Without Equal") to Meshach ("Belonging to Aku"),
and Azariah (The Lord Is My Helper") to Abednego ("Servant of Nego"). Their new names were intended to give them
a Babylonian, rather than a Hebrew, identification. The rest of the book shows that, although the Babylonians could
change the young men's names, they could not change their character.
1:1 Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylonia from 605 to 562 B.C. He was the son of Nabopolassar, founder of the Chaldean
dynasty. Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful and longest-reigning king of the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539
B.C.). Nebuchadnezzar was an able but cruel ruler (cf. 2 Kin. 25:7), stopping at nothing to subdue peoples who
blocked his path of conquest. he subjugated Jerusalem, burned Solomon's temple, and exiled the Israelites to
Babylonia (597-581 B.C.). Daniel 1-5 is an account of Jews in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, including apocalyptic
visions. Jeremiah counseled submission to Nebuchadnezzar, whom he viewed as the tool of God's wrath (Jer. 27:6).
Nebuchadnezzar's famous "hanging gardens" in Babylon were among the seven wonders of the ancient world. He
was the "head of gold" in Daniel's famous vision of chapter 2. (First Reference Dan. 1:1; Primary References, Dan.
1-5.)
1:1 Babylon was an ancient walled city between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the capital of the
Neo-Babylonian Empire. Daniel and his three friends were among the leading citizens of the nation of Judah who
were carried to Babylon as captives during the years 605-562 B.C.), the greatest paganism and idolatry (4:30; Jer.
51:44). Nebuchadnezzar II (ruled 605-562 B.C.), the greatest king of Babylon, enlarge the capital city to an area of
six square miles and beautified it with magnificent buildings. This period of the city's development has been the focal
point of all archaeological research done in Babylon. The city had a massive double wall spanning both sides of the
Euphrates River. There were eight major gates set into these walls. The city contained a place complex with the
famous terraced "hanging gardens" on the northwest side of the palace. Nebuchadnezzar build these gardens for
one of his foreign wives to remind her of the scenery of her homeland. The city surrendered to the Persians in 539
B.C., and the Persians willingly submitted to Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted the
downfall of the city of Babylon (Is. 14:22;21:9; 43:14; Jer. 50:9; 51:37).
1.6. Daniel was a great prophet during the period of the captivity of God's covenant people in Babylon and Persia.
Daniel was a teenager when he was taken from Jerusalem into captivity in 605 B.C. He was in his eighties when he
received the vision of the prophecy of the 70 weeks (ch.9). In more than 60 years of his life in Babylon, Daniel faced
many challenges. But in all those years, he grew stronger in his commitment to God. Daniel was a prophet, but he
also served as an adviser in the courts of foreign kings. he remained in governmental service throughout the reigns
of the Babylonian kings and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian, after Persia became the dominant world power (v.
21; 10:1). From his youth, Daniel was determined to live by God's law in a foreign land (vv. 8-16). In moments of
crisis, he turned first to God in prayer (2:14-23); his enemies even used his regular prayer time to trap him (6:10-11).
The book paints a beautiful picture of a man of God who lived out his commitment in very troubled times. Daniel's
prophecies are noted for their many eschatological features. (First Reference, Dan. 1:6; Primary References, the
Book of Daniel.)
1:8 The king¡¯s meat no doubt included food prohibited to the Jews. It may have been offered to idols as well.
1:15 The success of Daniel¡¯s plan was due more to the sovereignty of God in blessing his spiritual commitment than
it was to the diet. Certain kinds of meat were not prohibited to the Jews, but a vegetarian diet in this case may have
been inherently superior to the king¡¯s table.
1:21 Unto the first year of king Cyrus does not contradict 10:1, where a revelation was given to Daniel in the third
year of Cyrus. The purpose of 1:21 is to give a chronological overview of Daniel¡¯s ministry: he served from the time
of Nebuchadnezzar to the time of Cyrus.
Daniel chapter 2
2:4 Syriac (better ¡°Aramaic¡±): The text of 2:46-7:28 is written in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the Gentiles, because
these chapters deal with God¡¯s program for the Gentiles. The rest of the book is in Hebrew.
2:16 Daniel was obviously held in high esteem, as his ready access to the king demonstrates.
2:17,18 Even though Daniel had special, God-given abilities, he and his friends still had to pray.
2:29 What shall come to pass: Nebuchadnezzar¡¯s dream was a divinely intended prophetic view of the future.
2:32-45. The sections of the image are said to represent kingdoms. The head of gold is specifically stated to picture
Nebuchadnezzar, or his kingdom, Babylon . The arms of silver represent the kingdoms of Media and Persia . The
belly and thighs of brass (better ¡°bronze¡±) represent Greece . The legs of iron foreshadow the Roman Empire .
The latter weakness of the Roman Empire is well represented by the dubious mixture of iron and clay. The stone cut
with hands that destroyed the last kingdom represents Jesus Christ who, at His return, will destroy Gentile world
power and set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. After comparing the 10 toes of the image with the 10
horns of the beast in 7:24 , it seems clear that the 10 toes stand for 10 kingdoms, or kings which will emanate form
the Roman Empire and be in existence at the time of Christ¡¯s return. Critical scholars, in an attempt to eliminate any
supernatural prophecy at this point, date the Book of Daniel in the second century B.C., after the kingdoms of
Babylon , Medo-Persia, and Greece had ended. At the same time they eliminate the Roman Empire from the picture
(even though it would still have been future even in the second century B.C.) by separating Media and Persia into
two separate kingdoms-the second and third respectively-leaving Greece to be the final kingdom pictured in the
image, However, it is plain from both history and from Daniel¡¯s usage that Media and Persia were regarded as a
single unit. Note, for example, the references to the ¡°law of the Meds and Persians¡±(6:8).
Daniel Page 2