A Study in
Daniel
Introduction:
Daniel went into exile some time around 605 B.C. and continued to the
third year of Cyrus (about 536 B.C.) which is a period of about 69 years. There is a great deal of debate about the
date of this book because some scholar cannot accept some of the very specific
predictive prophecy in this book.
In terms of history, we know that the Babylonian empire
started with Nebuchadnezzar’s father Nebopolassar. Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was from 605 B.C to
562 B.C. He was noted for large building
projects which he brags about in Daniel 4:30
After the Babylonian empire came to Medes and the Persians and then the
Greeks.
There is a large section of writing in this book that is in
Aramaic. This was the commercial
language of the day in which this was written.
The Aramaic section begins from 2:4b and continues to 7:28. The emphasis in this section is on the
nations of the world.
King Jehoiakim who is mentioned in chapter one was a king
that was put in power by Pharaoh Neco.
His original name was Eliakim son of Josiah, but Pharaoh changed his
name to Jehoiakim. He was 25 years old
when he reigned and ruled for 11 years.
In 2 Kings 24:1 it mentioned that Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar’s
servant. In 2 Chronicles 36:5-8 it says
that Jehoiakim reigned 11 years and was eventually bound in bronze chains to go
to Babylon and that Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the vessels of the temple
2 Chronicales 36:7.
Jesus made reference to Daniel and thought he was a real and
righteous man see Matt 24:15, Mk 13:14.
The Lord mentions Daniel to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 14:14 and 14:20. Ezekiel mentions the wisdom of Daniel in Ezek
28:3.
A possible outline for Daniel would include
1.
Daniel 1:1-2:4a- the historical introduction
2.
Daniel 2:4b-7:28
The nations on earth
3.
Daniel 8:1-12:13- the Hebrews, as the relate to
Gentile dominion and its future in the plan of God.
Daniel 1:1-2- Jehoiakim was in his third year as king when
The Babylonians captured Jerusalem and took some of the vessels of the temple
to Babylon. The vessels are referred to
in Daniel 5:2-3. In 2 Kings 24:1 it
mentions that Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar’s servant.
Daniel 1:3-7 The king
orders one of his officials Ashpenaz to bring in some youth who were from the
royal family and nobles to be taught the literature and language of the
Chaldeans for 3 years vs4-5. Their names
were changed to Babylonian names. Daniel
became Belteshazzar. They were given the
king’s choice food but Daniel did not want to defile himself so he refused and
requested vegetables.
Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are
described as good looking, showing intelligence, understanding and
knowledge.
