Home

The Book of Daniel

A B C D E G H I J K M N O P R S T Z
Th To
Tha The Tho

The Book of Daniel is the 27th book of the Bible. It is traditionally believed to have been written by the prophet Daniel and was likely written between 540 and 530 BC. The name of the book is derived from its principal character, Daniel, who was a Jewish exile in Babylon. The Book of Daniel is a blend of historical narratives and apocalyptic visions. Notable figures in the book include Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, King Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar, and King Darius.

Background of Daniel

The book reflects the experiences and hopes of the Jewish people during a time of foreign domination. Themes include God’s sovereignty, faithfulness in adversity, and prophetic visions concerning the rise and fall of empires. The apocalyptic visions in Daniel provided a theological framework for understanding historical and future events.

Key themes in Daniel

The Book of Daniel explores several significant theological and moral themes that reflect both the historical context of Jewish exile and broader spiritual insights. Below are some of the major themes explored in the book:

  1. God’s Sovereignty: Central to the Book of Daniel is the theme of God’s supreme authority and control over human history, even amidst the apparent dominance of foreign empires. This is seen in how God sets up and deposes kings (Daniel 2:21), and in the visions of the succession of empires leading to the ultimate establishment of God’s eternal kingdom (Daniel 7).

  2. Faithfulness and Integrity: Daniel and his companions exemplify faithfulness and integrity in the face of hostile foreign rulers. Their loyalty to God in spite of the pressure to conform to Babylonian culture is a recurring theme (e.g., Daniel 1:8-20; 3:13-30; 6:10-23).

  3. Divine Deliverance: The book repeatedly illustrates God’s ability to deliver His faithful servants from peril, as seen in the stories of Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6) and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).

  4. Apocalyptic Visions and Prophecy: The latter half of Daniel (chapters 7-12) is filled with apocalyptic visions and prophecies. These passages contain prophetic imagery and messages concerning the future, portraying a cosmic battle between good and evil, which ends with the vindication of God’s people.

Outline of Daniel

  1. Narrative Section (Daniel 1-6): Stories of Daniel and his friends’ faithfulness and God’s deliverance in the Babylonian and Persian courts.
    • Introduction and Daniel’s Dedication (Daniel 1): Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon, and they choose not to defile themselves with the king’s food and are blessed by God.
    • Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (Daniel 2): King Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream which Daniel interprets as a prophecy of future kingdoms.
    • The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3): Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship a golden image but are miraculously saved by God.
    • Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation (Daniel 4): Nebuchadnezzar has another dream, which Daniel interprets; the king is humbled by God until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
    • Belshazzar’s Feast (Daniel 5): King Belshazzar sees handwriting on the wall during a feast, which Daniel interprets as a message of judgment; Belshazzar is killed, and Darius the Mede takes over the kingdom.
    • Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6): Daniel is thrown into a lion’s den for praying to God but is miraculously saved.
  2. Apocalyptic Section (Daniel 7-12): Visionary material concerning the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.
    • Vision of the Four Beasts (Daniel 7): Daniel sees a vision of four beasts representing four kingdoms and the Ancient of Days judging in favor of the saints.
    • Vision of the Ram and Goat (Daniel 8): Daniel has a vision of a ram and a goat representing the Medo-Persian and Greek empires.
    • Daniel’s Prayer and the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9): Daniel prays for Jerusalem, and Gabriel gives him a prophecy concerning the seventy weeks.
    • Daniel’s Vision of a Heavenly Messenger (Daniel 10): Daniel receives a vision and message from a heavenly messenger concerning the future.
    • The Kings of the North and the South (Daniel 11): A detailed prophecy concerning the conflicts between the kings of the North and the South leading to the end times.
    • The Time of the End Prophecies (Daniel 12): concerning the end times and the resurrection of the dead.

Biblical Timeline

  • 605 BC: Daniel is taken to Babylon in the first deportation of the Jews.
  • 603 BC: Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and Nebuchadnezzar builds the great image.
  • 597 BC: Ezekiel is taken to Babylon in the second deportation of the Jews.
  • 586 BC: Jerusalem falls and is destroyed by Babylon.
  • 553 BC: Daniel begins having prophetic visions.
  • 539 BC: Cyrus Conquers Babylon as it falls to the Medes and Persians.
  • 537 BC: Daniel’s vision of the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24-27).
  • 530 BC: Estimated time of Daniel’s death.

Practical Lessons from Daniel

  1. Faithfulness Amidst Trials (Daniel 3:16-18): Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrate unwavering faith when faced with the fiery furnace, teaching the importance of steadfastness in faith despite trials.
  2. Humility Before God (Daniel 4:34-37): King Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling teaches the importance of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and repenting from the sin of pride.
  3. Discernment and Wisdom (Daniel 2:14-23): Daniel’s wise and tactful handling of King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree shows the importance of seeking God’s wisdom in challenging situations.
  4. Prayer and Repentance (Daniel 9:3-19): Daniel’s heartfelt prayer of confession and intercession serves as a model for sincere repentance and prayer.
  5. God’s Sovereign Control Over History (Daniel 2:20-22, 44-45): The prophecy of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream underscores God’s control over the rise and fall of empires.
  6. Trust in God’s Deliverance (Daniel 6:16-23): Daniel’s deliverance from the lion’s den illustrates God’s power to save and should inspire trust in God.
  7. Integrity and Consistency (Daniel 6:4-5): Daniel’s upright character in the face of his enemies teaches the importance of integrity and consistency in one’s faith walk.
  8. Boldness in Witness (Daniel 5:17-28): Daniel’s boldness in delivering God’s message to King Belshazzar teaches the importance of bold witness, even in the face of opposition.
  9. Understanding of Prophetic Visions (Daniel 7:15-28): The apocalyptic visions in Daniel underscore the need for discernment and understanding of prophetic and eschatological teachings.
  10. Commitment to Godly Living (Daniel 1:8-16): Daniel’s resolve to maintain a godly diet in a pagan culture teaches the importance of commitment to godly principles.
  11. God’s Faithfulness to His People (Daniel 10:12-14): The angelic revelation to Daniel demonstrates God’s faithfulness in answering prayer and acting on behalf of His people.

Additional Notes

Extrabiblical Support for Daniel

There is significant archeological evidence for the historicity of some events and figures mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

  1. The Nabonidus Cylinders: These are four cuneiform artifacts that were written by King Nabonidus of Babylon. Nabonidus was the father of Belshazzar and attests to Belshazzar being his firstborn son, placing Belshazzar in the correct context for the Book of Daniel. These documents confirm Nabonidus was often far from Babylon during his rule and allowed his son Belshazzar to rule as his proxy.
  2. Dead Sea Scrolls: Among the scrolls, fragments from every chapter of the Book of Daniel have been found, supporting the text’s antiquity and its importance among the Jewish communities at Qumran.
  3. The Cyrus Cylinder: An artifact that confirms the policy of religious tolerance by King Cyrus of Persia, the fall of Babylon under Belshazzar and Nabonidus, and the official policy that eventually returned the Jewish people to Jerusalem.
  4. Nebuchadnezzar’s Architectural Legacy: Many of Nebuchadnezzar’s monumental building projects, including the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the grand Ishtar Gate, are echoed in Daniel’s descriptions of Babylon’s splendor (Daniel 4:30). Archaeological excavations have uncovered numerous inscriptions and structures bearing Nebuchadnezzar’s name, confirming his extensive building programs and aligning with the Biblical narrative regarding the magnificence of Babylon during his reign.

Recently Updated:

© 2018 – 2024 Nerd in the Word | All Rights Reserved | www.nerdintheword.com