Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is the twenty-seventh book of the Old Testament, written by the prophet Daniel. It records Daniel's work and various prophecies received through visions from God. The book is classified among the Major Prophets, along with the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
| Daniel | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Da |
| Class. | Old Testament |
| Category | Major Prophets |
| Chapters | 12 Chapters |
| Record Related | |
| Writer | Daniel |
| Date (Approx.) | BC 530 |
Daniel the Writer
Daniel is known to be the writer of this book. He was taken captive to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II of Neo-Babylon), invaded Jerusalem[1] in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. His Babylonian name was Belteshazzar.[2] Selected from among the royal and noble youths of Israel, he was chosen to serve in the king's palace, where he received a Babylonian education to serve the Babylonian king. With God's help, Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and rose to an honorable position, ruling over all of Babylon.[3] He held a high-ranking position from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon until the time of King Cyrus (Cyrus II) of Media and Persia, and he did not lose faith in God at any moment.
Record Background
Babylon invaded Judah three times in total. After the first invasion around 606 BC,[1] about 10,000 leaders, including King Jehoiachin, were taken captive around 597 BC.[4] Then, in 586 BC, when Judah was completely destroyed, the majority of Judah’s people were taken away.[5] Babylon's power did not last long and fell to the Medo-Persian Empire. King Cyrus liberated the people of Judah from Babylon and returned them to the land of Judah.[6] It had been about 70 years since Babylon invaded Judah.
Composition of the Book of Daniel
| Chapter | Content |
| Ch.1 | Faith of the Boy Daniel and His Three Friends |
| Ch.2 | The Dream of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Prophecy of World History |
| Ch.3 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Are Saved From the Furnace |
| Ch.4 | The Arrogance of King Nebuchadnezzar |
| Ch.5 | Fall of Babylon |
| Ch.6 | Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den |
| Chs.7–8, 10–11 | Daniel’s Vision and Prophecy |
| Ch.9 | Daniel’s Prayer |
| Ch.12 | Prophecy of the Last Days |
Faith of the Boy Daniel and His Three Friends (Ch.1)
Among the food in the royal palace of Babylon, there were many unclean foods classified by the Law of Moses. Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, asked the chief official to allow them to become vegetarians so as not to eat unclean food. The chief official was worried that he would be at a disadvantage because of the boys' disfigured faces, but he followed the boys' persuasion to “test us for ten days.” Ten days later, their faces were more radiant and healthier than those of the other boys. The chief official allowed the boys to eat a vegetarian diet as they wished.
God granted Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knowledge and made them proficient in learning. Daniel was even given the wisdom to realize dreams and visions. Those who were recognized for their outstanding wisdom by the king of Babylon were assigned to assist the king.
The Dream of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Prophecy of World History (Ch.2)
When King Nebuchadnezzar could not recall the dream he had the night before, he summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him both the dream and its interpretation. However, nobody could tell the dream, saying, “No one except the gods can reveal it.” King Nebuchadnezzar, being infuriated, ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be killed. Daniel and his three friends, who believed in God, were also in danger of being killed. However, God revealed both the dream and its interpretation to Daniel. The dream involved a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and a mixture of iron and clay, symbolizing the kingdoms that would arise after Babylon.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Are Saved From the Furnace (Ch.3)
King Nebuchadnezzar made a large golden statue and commanded people to bow to the golden statue whenever they heard the sound of instruments. He commanded that those who did not bow down would be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow down to the end. The enraged king threw them into the fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter than usual. God sent an angel to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When King Nebuchadnezzar saw the three men without a single hair on their heads singed and without a smell of fire, he praised God and elevated their status.
The Arrogance of King Nebuchadnezzar (Ch.4)
King Nebuchadnezzar, who was walking through the palace, said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” in arrogance. At that moment, a voice came from heaven, “You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” As prophesied, Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from the palace and lived like a wild animal. After seven years, Nebuchadnezzar regained his sanity, looked up to heaven, and praised God. When he realized the power of God, he received greater honor than before and was restored to the throne.
Fall of Babylon (Ch.5)
Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, drank from vessels brought from the temple of God and praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Then a human finger appeared and wrote the words “Mene Mene Tekel Parsin” on the wall of the palace. Mene means "God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end." Tekel means "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." Peres [Parsin] means "Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." That very night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.
Daniel Is Thrown Into the Lions’ Den (Ch.6)
King Darius appointed 120 satraps to govern the kingdom, along with three administrators. The king intended to elevate Daniel, who was one of the administrators, to the position of chief administrator due to his loyalty and abilities. However, opposing factions conspired to sabotage this plan. When they learned that Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem every day, they made the king issue an order: “If anyone prays or bows down to any god or person other than the king for the next thirty days, let him be thrown into the lions' den.” Then they accused Daniel, who still prayed to God, and threw him into the lions' den.
King Darius, worried about Daniel, ran to the lions' den at dawn the next day. Daniel was kept safe because God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. King Darius threw the group that accused Daniel into the lions' den and issued a decree to the entire kingdom, “Fear and honor God.”
Daniel’s Vision and Prophecy (Chs.7–8, 10–11)
Daniel had a dream in which he saw a lion, bear, leopard, and terrifying beast, which connected with King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue made of four metals (Daniel 7-8). The beasts in turn symbolize Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Additionally, God showed Daniel various visions and prophecies (Daniel 10–11).
Daniel’s Prayer (Ch.9)
Daniel realized through the prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah[7] that after 70 years, the desolation of Jerusalem would come to an end. As the seventy years of captivity in Babylon were about to be completed, Daniel confessed the sins of his nation, which led to the destruction of their homeland, and prayed for the safe return of the people of Judah to their homeland, through fasting.
Prophecy of the Last Days (Ch.12)
Michael, the great prince, appears to protect God’s people, and great tribulation occurs. Then, those whose names are written in the book of life are to be saved, and those who lead many to righteousness are to shine like the stars forever and ever.