Daniel

Heterogeneous material – the first half is narrative, the second half is apocalyptic prophecy.

The Hebrew Bible groups Daniel in the ketuvim (writings) after Esther. Christian bibles have Daniel as the last of the major prophets.

Apocalypse (revelation of a mystery) is not the same as eschatology (the study of final things), though there may be an overlap. Apocalypse is actually a unifying theme – Daniel’s ability to interpret a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten is apocalyptic; so too is Daniel’s vision, and Gabriel’s exegesis in chapter 8.

Given that the second half refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his provocative attempts to hellenise Jerusalem, there is also a link between the first and second halves in terms of holding onto one's faith in the face of coercion from a powerful non-Jew. Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar as types of Antiochus?

1

Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem and king Jehoiakim. The best and the brightest of Jerusalem’s young men are chosen and taken to Babylon. In Babylon, the Hebrew youths Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are groomed for the civil service, and given Babylonian names. Daniel decides that he will not defile himself with the king’s delicacies and wine. Daniel negotiates with a steward, and is allowed to live on vegetables and water. After ten days they appear more healthy than those who have eaten the king’s delicacies, so they are allowed to keep to this diet. Daniel and his companions are promoted. Daniel has understanding in dreams and visions. (Compare with Joseph – another young man promoted in exile and possessing the ability to interpret dreams.)


2

Nebuchadnezzar is troubled with a dream, of which nothing remained in the morning but an uneasy impression. The Chaldean soothsayers, when brought in before the king, could give no interpretation, as they were not in possession of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar orders the slaughter of all the soothsayers, but God reveals to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel gives thanks to God for the knowledge granted him. Before Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel acknowledges that it was God who revealed the dream to him (compare with Joseph again). Daniel describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: an image appeared, having a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay. A stone, cut out without hands, struck the feet, so the rest of the image was crushed together, became as chaff, and was blown away. The stone became a great mountain and filled the earth. The interpretation is that Nebuchadnezzar is the golden head, and the other parts of the image’s body are subsequent kingdoms (Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman). When the fourth kingdom, represented by the feet, is destroyed, all other kingdoms will be destroyed along with it. The iron and clay of the feet indicates that the kingdom is partly strong, and partly weak. The fourth kingdom will be divided into ten smaller kingdoms, each represented by a toe. In this time, God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed (represented by the stone). Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel’s God, and promotes Daniel.


3

Nebuchadnezzar makes a golden image, sixty cubits high. All Babylon’s dignitaries are gathered for the dedication of the image. Nebuchadnezzar gives a command to worship the statue, or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Certain Chaldeans tell Nebuchadnezzar that Daniel’s companions (whose Babylonian names are Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego) do not worship the statue. They calmly refuse to worship the statue, and are thrown into a furnace which is heated to seven times it normal heat. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego are thrown bound into the furnace. On account of the high temperature, those throwing them into the fire were burned up. Nebuchadnezzar’s counselors say four men, unbound, are walking in the midst of the fiery furnace, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. The three men leave the furnace unharmed. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness of the Hebrew God who protected the three men. Nebuchadnezzar makes a proclamation that nothing evil should be said against the God of the Hebrews.


4

Nebuchadnezzar’s decree: how great are God’s signs, and how mighty His wonders! Nebucadnezzar recounts a dream of a mighty tree, which a watcher from heaven orders to be chopped down, and its stump bound with a band of iron and bronze. It is to be made wet with dew, and be with grazing beasts. Daniel interprets: Nebuchadnezzar will be humbled, and eat grass like oxen. Daniel’s interpretation if fulfilled that very hour: Nebuchadnezzar is driven from men and eats grass. His hair grows like eagle’s feathers, and his nails like bird’s claws. Nebuchadnezzar is finally restored to power, and praises God.


5

Belshazzar (who is now apparently king, though nothing is said of the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign) makes a great feast, with the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple at Jerusalem. They drink wine, and praise false gods. A hand writes a message on a wall. Belshazzar is troubled, and wishes to have the writing read and interpreted. The queen recommends Daniel. Daniel says that Belshazzar has not humbled his heart like Nebuchnezzar. The writing says mene mene tekel upharsin – God has numbered your kingdom, you have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting, and your kingdom is to be given to the Medes and the Persians. Belshazzar honours Daniel, but that night he is slain, and the kingdom falls to Darius the Mede.


6

Daniel is made one of three governors over the 120 satraps (regional rulers) in Darius’ administration. There is a plot hatched by the satraps, who persuade the king to sign a decree saying that anyone petitioning a god or man other than Darius will be thrown into a den of lions. Report reaches Darius that Daniel has prayed to his God. Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den; Darius tells Daniel that his God will protect him. The king fasts that night, and is not entertained by musicians. Daniel is found alive the following morning. Darius calls Daniel the servant of the living God. Those who accused Daniel are thrown to the lions, along with their familes, and killed. Darius decrees that all must honor the God of Daniel. Daniel prospers.


7

Daniel’s vision in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign: four beasts coming from the sea. The first (= Babylonian empire) was like a lion with eagle’s wings. Its wings were plucked off, it was lifted up and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. The second beast (= Medes empire) is a bear with three ribs between its teeth – it is commanded to devour much flesh. The third beast (= Greek empire) is a leopard with four heads and four bird’s wings on its back. It is given dominion. The fourth beast (= Greek empire) has iron teeth, and ten horns, which are then replaced by a single conspicuous horn. (The ten horns are the kings from Alexander on through the Seleucid empire; the single horn is Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who sought to hellenise the Jewish religion.) There are a man’s eyes in his horn, and a mouth speaking pompous words. This beast is then slain and burnt. One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven. He comes to the Ancient of Days, and is given everlasting dominion. The interpretation: the four beasts are four kings – they are conquered by God, and their kingdoms are given to the people of God. The ten horns of the fourth beast (which made war on the saints) represent ten kings, to be succeeded by another, who shall subdue three kings, before being defeated by the Most High.


8

Daniel’s vision in the third year of Belshazzar’s reign: by the river Ulai, there is a ram, with two horns, one larger than the other. It pushes in all directions, and cannot be withstood. A male goat with a large horn between its eyes challenges and conquers the ram. The goat becomes great in power, but its horn is broken, and replaced by four others (= the four successors to Alexander the Great). One horn (= Antiochus IV Epiphanes) grows great towards the south, east and Glorious Land. The horn takes away daily sacrifices, and casts down the place of God’s sanctuary. The transgression of desolation will last 2300 days, then the sanctuary will be cleansed. Gabriel explains to Daniel that the vision refers to the time of the end. Further interpretation is given: the two horns of the ram are the kings of Media and Persia; the male goat is the Greek empire. The Antiochus horn will destroy many, and then be destroyed without human means. The vision refers to many days in the future. Daniel responds to the vision with fainting and sickness.


9

Daniel knows from Jeremiah that the Babylonian exile will last seventy years. Daniel fasts and prays, confessing the sins of his people. The curses in the Law of Moses (towards the end of Deuteronomy) have come to pass. Daniel asks that God forgive and restore Jerusalem. As he prays, Daniel is visited by Gabriel. Gabriel says that in seventy weeks (meaning seventy sets of seven years, ie, 490 years), reconciliation will be made for iniquity, everlasting righteousness will be brought in, and the Most Holy anointed. From the command to restore Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah, there will be seven weeks and sixty weeks ((7+62) x 7 years = 483 years). The Messiah will be cut off, but for the sake of others, not for himself. The people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. There will be a flood, and desolations are determined until the end of the war. The coming prince will make a covenant with Israel for the final unit of seven years, completing the seventy weeks prophesied for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The covenant will be broken in the middle of this final seven year period. On the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, until the consummation is determined.


10

Daniel’s vision in the third year of Cyrus’ reign. Daniel has been mourning for three weeks. On the banks of the Tigris, Daniel sees a glorious man clothed in linen, girded with a golden belt; his face was like lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet were like burnished bronze, and his voice like that of a multitude. Daniel’s companions do not see the vision – but they are terrified nonetheless, and flee. The glorious man says he has faced opposition from the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and was helped by the prince Michael. Daniel feels overwhelmed by weakness, but is reassured and told to be strong. The glorious person says he must fight the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece. Michael assists him. He has confirmed and strengthened Darius.


11

Three kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be richer than them all, and fight against Greece. A mighty king’s empire (Alexander’s) will be divided into four parts at his death. The southern part shall become the strongest (Ptolemy’s). Joined by a marriage, the kings of the North and South will be allies for a while, but the arrangement will not last (marriage between Antiochus II of the Seleucids and Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II. There was peace for a time because of this marriage, but it was upset when Ptolemy II died: Antiochus II put away Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice. She poisons her husband and has Berenice killed). From the South, an army will defeat the kingdom of the North (Ptolemy III, avenging the murder of Berenice his sister, invaded Syria and humbled Seleucus II). The sons of the kings of the North will continue the battle. One of the sons will conquer the Holy Land which stood as a buffer between the kings of the South and the kings of the North. The king of the South will gain an upper hand over the king of the North, who will occupy the Holy Land (‘Glorious Land’) (Antiochus III was defeated at the battle of Raphia, and forced to give back dominion over the Holy Land to Ptolemy IV). The king of the North will then occupy the Glorious Land (Antiochus III invaded Egypt again, gaining final control over the armies of Ptolemy V and over the Holy Land). The king of the South will give his daughter to the king of the North (Antiochus III giving his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V of Egypt). The king of the North shall stumble and fall (Antiochus III tried to pillage a Babylonian temple and was killed by enraged local citizens). The reign of the succeeding king of the North will be brief (Seleucus III). In his place shall arise a vile person (Antiochus IV), who will use flattery and intrigue, and fail to conquer the king of the South. He will take away daily sacrifices, and place the abomination of desolation in the temple. He will exalt himself and speak blasphemies, worshipping a god of fortresses. The king of the North and the king of the South shall form an alliance to attack him. Many countries will be overthrown, but news from the east and the north shall trouble him. When he comes to his end, no one will help him.


12

Michael shall stand up at a time of trouble. The Jewish people shall be delivered, if their name is found written in the book. The dead will be resurrected, some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt. The righteous and wise shall shine like the stars. Daniel is told to shut up his words, and seal the book until the end of time. The time of trouble will be for a time, times and half a time (ie, three and a half years). God will purify and preserve His people, and has set a limit of days to the time of trouble. There will be 1290 days from the setting up of the abomination of desolation to the final consummation of all things. Blessed is he who waits to day 1335. Daniel is told to go his way.