Daniel lived beyond the time described in Dan. 10:1 (ca. 536 B.C.). It seems most probable that he wrote the book shortly after this date but before ca. 530 B.C. Daniel 2:4b–7:28, which prophetically describes the course of Gentile world history, was originally and appropriately written in Aramaic, the contemporary language of international business. Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah were Daniel’s prophetic contemporaries.
Background and Setting
The book begins in 605 B.C. when Babylon conquered Jerusalem and exiled Daniel, his 3 friends, and others. It continues to the eventual demise of Babylonian supremacy in 539 B.C., when Medo-Persian besiegers conquered Babylon (5:30, 31), and goes even beyond that to 536 B.C. (10:1). After Daniel was transported to Babylon, the Babylonian victors conquered Jerusalem in two further stages (597 B.C. and 586 B.C.). In both takeovers, they deported more Jewish captives. Daniel passionately remembered his home, particularly the temple at Jerusalem, almost 70 years after having been taken away from it (6:10).
Daniel’s background is alluded to in part by Jeremiah, who names 3 of the last 5 kings in Judah before captivity (cf. Jer. 1:1–3): Josiah (ca. 641–609 B.C.), Jehoiakim (ca. 609–597 B.C.) and Zedekiah (597–586 B.C.). Jehoahaz (ca. 609 B.C.) and Jehoiachin (ca. 598–597 B.C.) are not mentioned (cf. Jeremiah Introduction: Background and Setting). Daniel is also mentioned by Ezekiel (cf. 14:14, 20; 28:3) as being righteous and wise. He is alluded to by the writer of Hebrews as one of “…the prophets: who through faith…stopped the mouths of lions” (Heb. 11:32, 33).
The long-continued sin of the Judeans without national repentance eventually led to God’s judgment for which Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah had given fair warning. Earlier, Isaiah and other faithful prophets of God had also trumpeted the danger. When Assyrian power had ebbed by 625 B.C., the Neo-Babylonians conquered: 1) Assyria with its capital Nineveh in 612 B.C.; 2) Egypt in the following years; and 3) Judah in 605 B.C. when they overthrew Jerusalem in the first of 3 steps (also 597 B.C., 586 B.C.). Daniel was one of the first groups of deportees, and Ezekiel followed in 597 B.C.
Israel of the northern kingdom had earlier fallen to Assyria in 722 B.C. With Judah’s captivity, the judgment was complete. In Babylon, Daniel received God’s word concerning successive stages of Gentile world domination through the centuries until the greatest Conqueror, Messiah, would put down all Gentile lordship. He then will defeat all foes and raise His covenant people to blessing in His glorious millennial kingdom.
Historical and Theological Themes
Daniel was written to encourage the exiled Jews by revealing God’s program for them, both during and after the time of Gentile power in the world. Prominent above every other theme in the book is God’s sovereign control over the affairs of all rulers and nations, and their final replacement with the True King. The key verses are 2:20–22, 44 (cf. 2:28, 37; 4:34–35; 6:25–27). God had not suffered defeat in allowing Israel’s fall (Dan. 1), but was providentially working His sure purposes toward an eventual full display of His King, the exalted Christ. He sovereignly allowed Gentiles to dominate Israel, i.e., Babylon (605–539 B.C.), Medo-Persia (539–331 B.C.), Greece (331–146 B.C.), Rome (146 B.C.-A.D. 476), and all the way to the Second Advent of Christ. These stages in Gentile power are set forth in chaps. 2 and 7. This same theme also embraces Israel’s experience both in defeat and finally in her kingdom blessing in chaps. 8–12 (cf. 2:35, 45; 7:27). A key aspect within the over-arching theme of God’s kingly control is Messiah’s coming to rule the world in glory over all men (2:35, 45; 7:13, 14, 27). He is like a stone in chap. 2, and like a son of man in chap. 7. In addition, He is the Anointed One (Messiah) in chap. 9:26. Chapter 9 provides the chronological framework from Daniel’s time to Christ’s kingdom.
A second theme woven into the fabric of Daniel is the display of God’s sovereign power through miracles. Daniel’s era is one of 6 in the Bible with a major focus on miracles by which God accomplished His purposes. Other periods include: 1) the Creation and Flood (Gen. 1–11); 2) the patriarchs and Moses (Gen. 12-Deut.); 3) Elijah and Elisha (1 Kin. 17–2 Kin. 13); 4) Jesus and the apostles (Gospels, Acts); and 5) the time of the Second Advent (Revelation). God, who has everlasting dominion and ability to work according to His will (4:34, 35), is capable of miracles, all of which would be lesser displays of power than was exhibited when He acted as Creator in Gen. 1:1. Daniel chronicles the God-enabled recounting and interpreting of dreams which God used to reveal His will (chaps. 2, 4, 7). Other miracles included: 1) His writing on the wall and Daniel’s interpreting it (chap. 5); 2) His protection of the 3 men in a blazing furnace (chap. 3); 3) His provision of safety for Daniel in a lions’ den (chap. 6); and 4) supernatural prophecies (chaps. 2; 7; 8; 9:24—12:13).
Interpretive Challenges
The main challenges center on interpreting passages about future tribulation and kingdom promises. Though the use of Imperial Aramaic and archeology have confirmed the early date of writing, some skeptical interpreters, unwilling to acknowledge supernatural prophecies that came to pass (there are over 100 in chap. 11 alone that were fulfilled), place these details in the intertestamental times. They see these prophecies, not as miraculously foretelling the future, but as simply the observations of a later writer, who is recording events of his own day. Thus, they date Daniel in the days of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 B.C., chap. 8; 11:21–45). According to this scheme, the expectation of the Stone and Son of Man (chaps. 2, 7) turned out to be a mistaken notion that did not actually come to pass, or the writer was being intentionally deceptive. Actually, a future 7 year judgment period (cf. 7:21, 22; 11:36–45; 12:1) and a literal 1,000 year kingdom (cf. Rev. 20) after Christ’s second coming when He will reign over Israelites and Gentiles (7:27) are taught. This will be an era before and distinct from the final, absolutely perfect, ultimate state, i.e., the new heaven and the new earth with its capital, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21, 22). The literal interpretation of prophecy, including Daniel, leads to the premillennial perspective.
Many other aspects of interpretation challenge readers: e.g., interpreting numbers (1:12, 20; 3:19; 9:24-27); identifying the one like a Son of Man (7:13, 14); determining whether to see Antiochus of the past or Antichrist of the far future in 8:19-23; explaining the “seventy sevens” in 9:24-27; and deciding whether Antiochus of 11:21-35 is still meant in 11:36-45, or whether it is the future Antichrist.
Outline
I. The Personal Background of Daniel (1:1-21)
A. Conquest of Jerusalem (1:1, 2)
B. Conscription of Jews for Training (1:3-7)
C. Courage of Four Men in Trial (1:8-16)
D. Choice of Four Men for Royal Positions (1:17-21)
II. The Prophetic Course of Gentile Dominion (2:1-7:28)
A. Dilemmas of Nebuchadnezzar (2:1-4:37)
B. Debauchery and Demise of Belshazzar (5:1-31)
C. Deliverance of Daniel (6:1-28)
D. Dream of Daniel (7:1-28)
III. The Prophetic Course of Israel’s Destiny (8:1-12:13)
A. Prophecy of the Ram and Male Goat (8:1-27)
B. Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (9:1-27)
C. Prophecy of Israel’s Humiliation and Restoration (10:1-12:13)
The Book of
DANIEL
Daniel 1
Daniel and His Friends Obey God
(cf. 2 Kin. 24:10–17)
1In the third year of the reign of aJehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with bsome of the articles of 1the house of God, which he carried cinto the land of Shinar to the house of his god; dand he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring esome of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4young men fin whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, po
ssessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and gwhom they might teach the language and 2literature of the Chaldeans.
5And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might hserve before the king.
6Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7iTo them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: jhe gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself kwith the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9Now lGod had brought Daniel into the favor and 3goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
10And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11So Daniel said to 4the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13“Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
14So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
16Thus 5the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. An Overview of Daniel’s Kingdoms
17As for these four young men, mGod gave them nknowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had ounderstanding in all visions and dreams.
18Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19Then the king 6interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore pthey served before the king.
20qAnd in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
21rThus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. Alexander’s Greek Empire
Daniel 2
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
1Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; aand his spirit was so troubled that bhis sleep left him.
2cThen the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to 1know the dream.”
4Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, d“O2 king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My 3decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be ecut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6f“However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
8The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
9“if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the 4time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can 5give me its interpretation.”
10The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
11“It is a 6difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king gexcept the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought hDaniel and his companions, to kill them.
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
14Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
15he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so 7urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
16So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18ithat they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19Then the secret was revealed to Daniel jin a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20Daniel answered and said:
k“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
l For wisdom and might are His.
21And He changes mthe times and the seasons;
n He removes kings and raises up kings;
o He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22p He reveals deep and secret things;
q He knows what is in the darkness,
And rlight dwells with Him.
23“I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we sasked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s 8demand.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
24Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”
25Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the 9captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.
28t“But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar uwhat will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
29“As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; vand He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
30w“But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, xand that you may 10know the thoughts of your heart.
31“You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
32y“This image’s head was of fine go
ld, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and 11thighs of bronze,
33“its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of 12clay.
34“You watched while a stone was cut out zwithout hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35a“Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became blike chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that cno trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image dbecame a great mountain eand filled the whole earth.
36“This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
37f“You, O king, are a king of kings. gFor the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;
38h“and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—iyou are this head of gold.
39“But after you shall arise janother kingdom kinferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
40“And lthe fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
41“Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 405
