DANIEL
DANIEL SAVED HIS OWN LIFE BY INTERPRETING THE KING'S DREAM. HE TOOK NO CREDIT FOR IT, ATTRIBUTING ALL WISDOM TO GOD. EVERYONE KNOWS DANIEL WAS THROWN INTO A LION'S DEN. NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THIS CHARACTER THAN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS LET ON!
FEW BIBLE CHARACTERS HAVE THE KIND OF STATUS THAT DANIEL DOES. HE IS A RIGHTEOUS AND WISE HERO OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WHOSE DECISIONS SAVE THE LIVES OF MANY. YOU REALLY OUGHT TO DIG INTO DANIEL WITH A BIBLE STUDY AND COMMENTARY TO LEARN ABOUT THIS CHARACTER FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR STARTERS, HERE ARE 12 BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT DANIEL THAT DO NOT GET A LOT OF SCREEN TIME IN CHURCH. (AND I MAY HAVE USED MY FAVORITE BIBLE SOFTWARE TO MAKE THIS LIST.)
1. DANIEL IS FROM DAVID'S ROYAL FAMILY.
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, A DESCENDANT OF DAVID HAD BEEN ON THE THRONE IN JERUSALEM—WELL, BESIDES ONE IMPOSTER QUEEN (2 KI 11:1–3). IN 605 B.C., THE DYNASTY WAS IN ITS TWILIGHT YEARS. NEBUCHADNEZZAR SUCCESSFULLY BESIEGES JERUSALEM AND CARRIES OFF SOME OF THE TREASURE FROM THE TEMPLE OF GOD TO BABYLON.
THAT IS NOT ALL HE TAKES. NEBUCHADNEZZAR ALSO CAPTURES SOME YOUNG MEN OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO SERVE HIM IN HIS COURT (DA 1:3). DANIEL IS ONE OF THEM (1:6). THIS PROBABLY TAKES PLACE BEFORE DANIEL HAS FINISHED ADOLESCENCE.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? MAYBE NEBUCHADNEZZAR ASSUMES JERUSALEM'S LEADERS WOULD NOT GIVE HIM ANY TROUBLE IF THEIR SONS ARE OFF IN BABYLON—KIND OF LIKE HIGH-PROFILE HOSTAGES. MAYBE HE WANTS TO SHOW ISRAELITE ROYALTY TO PEOPLE WHO VISIT HIS PALACE.
WHATEVER THE CASE, HE MAKES AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO PICK DANIEL.
2. DANIEL IS A GOOD-LOOKING YOUNG MAN.
NOT JUST ANY ROYAL KID GETS TO GO TO BABYLON: ONLY THE HANDSOME ONES. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S CRITERIA FOR SERVING IN HIS COURT INCLUDE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE (DA 1:4).
DANIEL MAKES THE GRADE.
3. DANIEL IS RENOWNED FOR HIS WISDOM AND INTELLIGENCE.
YOU HAVE TO BE A LOOKER AND A THINKER TO MAKE IT IN THE PALACE. ALL THE CAPTIVES NEED TO PASS A THREE-YEAR COURSE IN BABYLONIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. HOWEVER, DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS ARE TEN TIMES WISER THAN ALL THE EXPERIENCED MAGICIANS AND ENCHANTERS IN THE KINGDOM (DA 1:20).
DANIEL'S WISDOM MAKES HIM A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME. WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S SON SEES A TERRIFYING VISION, HIS MOTHER REFERS HIM TO DANIEL. THIS IS HOW SHE DESCRIBES HIM:
[DANIEL] WAS FOUND TO HAVE INSIGHT, INTELLIGENCE, AND WISDOM LIKE THE GODS. (DA 5:11)
SHEESH!
MOREOVER, DANIEL'S FAME IS NOT A ROYAL FAMILY SECRET. ANOTHER PROPHET, EZEKIEL, REFERENCES DANIEL WHEN PREACHING AGAINST ANOTHER NATION'S CLEVER BUT ARROGANT RULER. THIS RULER THINKS HE IS A GOD AND MIGHT EVEN BE WISER THAN DANIEL.
BEHOLD, YOU ARE WISER THAN DANIEL. THERE IS NO SECRET THAT IT IS A MATCH FOR YOU. (EZE 28:3)
(OR MAYBE EZEKIEL IS JUST MOCKING THAT GUY.)
IT IS REMARKABLE IN AND OF ITSELF THAT DANIEL IS BEING QUOTED BY A CONTEMPORARY.* BUT IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT A HEBREW WRITER CHOOSES DANIEL AS A REFERENCE POINT, RATHER THAN, SAY, SOLOMON.
*OK, FULL DISCLOSURE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE WAS AN ANCIENT LEGENDARY FIGURE NAMED DANIEL WHO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR PROPHET.
4. DANIEL'S SPECIALTY IS DREAM INTERPRETATION
THERE ARE SEVERAL DREAMS IN THE BIBLE, AND MANY OF THEM SEEM TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD. NEVERTHELESS, OTHER DREAMS USE BIZARRE SYMBOLISM TO COMMUNICATE SOMETHING TO THE DREAMER.
WHEN SOMEONE GETS A WEIRD DREAM LIKE THIS, THERE ARE A FEW WAYS THEY CAN INTERPRET IT:
FIGURE IT OUT THEMSELVES
GET SOMEONE IN THE DREAM TO EXPLAIN IT
ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO EXPLAIN IT
DANIEL HAS OPTION #3 COVERED.
HE GAINS NOTORIETY FOR UNDERSTANDING DREAMS IN HIS YOUTH (DA 1:17). MOREOVER, HE IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN INTERPRET SOME OF THE MOST TROUBLING DREAMS AND VISIONS FOR NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND HIS SON, BELSHAZZAR (DA 2:27, 30; 4:4–9; 5:15–17).
NEVERTHELESS, THAT DOES NOT MEAN DANIEL CAN INTERPRET EVERY DREAM. DANIEL HAS TROUBLE INTERPRETING SOME OF HIS DREAMS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, DANIEL GOES FOR OPTION #2 OF THOSE LISTED ABOVE: HE ASKS ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN HIS DREAM TO INTERPRET WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR HIM (DA 7:15–16).
5. DANIEL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS LEGENDARY STATUS
DO NOT MISTAKE DANIEL FOR SOME CONJURER OF CHEAP TRICKS. HE IS NOT JUST A WISE DREAM INTERPRETER. HIS UNWAVERING FAITHFULNESS CHARACTERIZES HIM TO THE LAW OF MOSES.
DANIEL CHOOSES NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE KING'S FOOD UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN BABYLON—THE FOOD WOULD HAVE RENDERED HIM CEREMONIALLY UNCLEAN, ACCORDING TO THE TORAH (DA 1:8). FURTHERMORE, TOWARD THE END OF HIS LIFE, HE CONTINUES TO PRAY TO GOD AND NOT THE KING, EVEN THOUGH IT PUTS HIM IN DANGER (DA 6:13).
HIS FAITHFULNESS TO GOD EARNS HIM ANOTHER HONORABLE MENTION FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL.
IN THE 14TH CHAPTER OF EZEKIEL, GOD USES DANIEL, NOAH, AND JOB AS EXAMPLES OF HIGHLY RIGHTEOUS MEN. HE IS PAINTING A PICTURE TO SAY THAT IF GOD CHOOSES TO DESTROY A NATION, IT GETS DESTROYED—AND EVEN THREE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE LIKE DANIEL COULD NOT SAVE THEIR CHILDREN. YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE STORY IN EZEKIEL 14:12–23.
DANIEL IS PRESENTED AS SUCH A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IN SCRIPTURE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS DESERVES A POINT ALL TO ITSELF.
6. THE BIBLE GIVES US ZERO DIRT ON DANIEL
ABRAHAM HAD HIS HAGAR INCIDENT.
MOSES STRUCK THE ROCK AND WAS BANNED FROM CANAAN.
DAVID COMMITTED ADULTERY AND MURDER.
AND THOSE OTHER TWO STERLING EXAMPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOAH AND JOB? NOAH GOT DRUNK AND NAKED (GEN 9:21). JOB REPENTED BECAUSE HE SPOKE ABOUT GOD (JOB 38:2; 42:1–6).
BUT DANIEL? WE HAVE NOTHING ON DANIEL. WHEN HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS TRIED TO GET DIRT ON HIM, THEIR ONLY OPTION WAS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO OBEY GOD (DA 6:4–5).
7. DANIEL OVERSAW THE PAGAN MAGICIANS OF BABYLON
DANIEL IS MADE THE CHIEF MONITOR (OVERSEER) OF THE WISE MEN IN BABYLON AFTER INTERPRETING NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S FIRST DREAM (DA 2:48; 4:9, 5:11).
HOW CRAZY IS THAT? DANIEL IS PLACED TO OVERSEE THE PEOPLE WHO RELIED ON OTHER GODS TO ENLIGHTEN THEM.
HOWEVER, THIS BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING ASPECT OF DANIEL THAT OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED. DANIEL IS A FREAK OF NATURE AS FAR AS THESE MAGICIANS ARE CONCERNED.
WHEN DANIEL IS STILL NEW TO BABYLON, NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAS A TROUBLING DREAM THAT (AT FIRST) NOBODY CAN INTERPRET. THE KING DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY EASIER ON THE MAGICIANS AND DIVINERS, EITHER—HE DOES NOT EVEN TELL THEM WHAT THE DREAM WAS. ("IF YOU ARE PSYCHIC, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT I DREAMED, RIGHT?")
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MAGICIANS' RESPONSE IS?
NO ONE CAN REVEAL IT TO THE KING EXCEPT THE GODS, WHO DO NOT LIVE AMONG HUMANS. (DA 2:11)
THIS IS BIZARRE BECAUSE THE BABYLONIANS HAVE A TEMPLE—AND A TEMPLE IS BUILT EXPLICITLY SO GODS CAN LIVE WITH HUMANS. WE KNOW THE BABYLONIANS HAVE A TEMPLE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE NEBUCHADNEZZAR STASHED THE TREASURES OF JERUSALEM'S TEMPLE (DA 1:2).
HOWEVER, DANIEL CAN INTERPRET THE DREAM. AND SO GUESS WHAT THEY START SAYING ABOUT DANIEL? THEY SAY THAT A SPIRIT OF THE HOLY GODS LIVES WITHIN HIM (DA 4:8–9, 18; 5:11, 14).
IN A WAY, GOD USES DANIEL'S WISDOM TO SHOW UP THE GODS OF BABYLON ON THEIR TURF—EVEN THOUGH THE BABYLONIANS HAVE DESTROYED HIS (GOD'S) OWN TEMPLE.
8. DANIEL IS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL UNDER FOUR KINGS
DANIEL IS MADE AN OFFICER IN BABYLON BY FOUR KINGS:
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AFTER DANIEL, INTERPRETS HIS DREAM (2:48)
BELSHAZZAR READS THE ORIGINAL "HANDWRITING ON THE WALL" (5:29)
DARIUS THE MEDE, BECAUSE DANIEL HAD AN "EXTRAORDINARY SPIRIT" (DA 6:1–3)
CYRUS THE PERSIAN, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, BUT THE GUY HAD A GREAT RÉSUMÉ BY THEN (DA 1:21; 6:28)
9. DANIEL’S CHALDEAN NAME IS BELTESHAZZAR
THE NAME "DANIEL" MEANS "[THE JEWISH] GOD HAS JUDGED." NEVERTHELESS, THE BABYLONIANS GIVE HIM A NEW NAME: "BELTESHAZZAR." THIS NEW NAME MEANS "BEL PROTECT HIM," WITH BEL BEING THE NAME OF A BABYLONIAN GOD (4:8).
10. DANIEL'S MINISTRY SPANS THE ENTIRE 70-YEAR CAPTIVITY
DANIEL IS CAPTURED AS A YOUNG MAN IN NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S FIRST SIEGE OF JERUSALEM, AND HE LIVES IN BABYLON RIGHT INTO THE REIGN OF CYRUS, THE PERSIAN.
THIS IS THE SAME CYRUS WHO DECREES THAT THE ISRAELITE EXILES MAY RETURN TO JERUSALEM AND REBUILD THE TEMPLE THAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR DESTROYED (EZRA 1:1–4).
THAT IS A LONG TIME, SO IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE TO POINT OUT THAT …
11. DANIEL WAS PROBABLY IN HIS EIGHTIES WHEN HE WAS THROWN TO THE LIONS
DANIEL WAS TAKEN TO BABYLON AS A YOUNG MAN—LIKELY BEFORE HE HAD FINISHED PUBERTY. SO LET US SAY HE WAS BETWEEN 10 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE.
THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY LASTED 70 YEARS, PUTTING DANIEL IN HIS EIGHTIES AT DARIUS' REIGN IN DANIEL 6. THIS IS WHEN THE WHOLE LIONS' DEN EPISODE TAKES PLACE.
IF THIS IS THE CASE, WE MAY NEED TO UPDATE OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL ARTWORK!
12. DANIEL INTRODUCES BOTH GABRIEL AND MICHAEL
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT TWO GOOD ANGELS ARE EXPLICITLY NAMED IN THE BIBLE: GABRIEL AND MICHAEL. THESE TWO ANGELS SHOW UP IN BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS DOING COOL STUFF LIKE ANNOUNCING THE COMING BIRTH OF CHRIST OR FIGHTING SATAN.
HOWEVER, GUESS WHERE WE MEET THEM FIRST? YEP: THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
DANIEL MEETS GABRIEL DURING ONE OF DANIEL'S TROUBLING VISIONS (IT INVOLVES A RAM, A GOAT, AND A CRAZY TALKING HORN). GABRIEL TELLS DANIEL WHAT IS GOING ON (8:15–19). GABRIEL SHOWS UP LATER TO TELL DANIEL THAT GOD HAS PLANS TO END ISRAEL'S SINS (9:21–27).
WE DO NOT SEE ANY CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN DANIEL AND MICHAEL, BUT HE IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE LATER CHAPTERS OF DANIEL. DANIEL IS TOLD THAT MICHAEL WILL ARISE ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL AGAIN (12:1). MICHAEL IS A WARRIOR ANGEL WHO COMBATS OPPOSING FORCES FROM PERSIA AND GREECE (10:13, 21).
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DANIEL
THE NAME BELTESHAZZAR MEANS: GOD IS JUDGE - MAY BEL PROTECT HIS LIFE.
ANCESTRY AND FAMILY LIFE: WE KNOW THAT DANIEL WAS A YOUNG MAN OF THE NOBILITY AND WAS THE CREAM OF THE CROP OF THE ISRAELITES (1:3-4). HE WAS YOUNG, LIKELY 16-18 AT THIS TIME, GOOD-LOOKING, INTELLIGENT, AND WISE. HE WAS TAKEN AS A CAPTIVE FOR JUST THESE REASONS. AFTER TRAINING IN THE BABYLONIAN WAYS, CULTURE, LANGUAGE, ETC., HE ENTERED THE PERSONAL SERVICE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR AS AN ADVISER AND OVERSEER. DANIEL LIVED IN BABYLON FOR OVER 60 YEARS, INTO HIS EIGHTIES.
WHEN AND WHERE HE LIVED: DANIEL GREW UP IN A TURBULENT TIME. HE WAS BORN AROUND 620 B.C. AND TAKEN TO BABYLON AFTER THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM (IT STARTED IN 605 B.C.). ISRAEL HAD BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR SOME TIME AND SUCCUMBED TO THE WORLD POWER OF BABYLON. DANIEL AND MANY OTHER NATIVE HEBREWS WERE EXILED TO BABYLON FOR MANY YEARS. JEWS LOVED THEIR HOMELAND, JERUSALEM, AND THE TEMPLE, BUT WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES AND TAKEN TO A FOREIGN CULTURE AND COUNTRY. DANIEL WAS MERELY A BOY WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE EVERYTHING HE KNEW. HE LIVED IN A PAGAN AND SINFUL CULTURE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THERE WERE CONTINUAL TEMPTATIONS TO LIVE AS THE SINFUL PEOPLE AROUND HIM. PEER PRESSURE WAS INTENSE TO GET HIM TO CONFORM. A LAW WAS EVEN PASSED FORBIDDING THE WORSHIP OF ANYONE/ANYTHING EXCEPT THE PERSIAN KING. IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT AN EASY LIFE OR AN EASY TIME IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL FOR DANIEL TO LIVE. DANIEL WAS ABOUT 80 WHEN PERSIA CONQUERED BABYLON.
EVENTS SURROUNDING BIRTH: NO INFO. AVAILABLE
TRAINING AND OCCUPATION: DANIEL WAS ONE OF THE ELITE. HE HAD A VERY HIGH EDUCATION AND WAS TRAINED IN ALL THE BRANCHES OF THE DAY'S WISDOM. HE ALSO STUDIED LITERATURE AND LEARNED TO BE AT LEAST BILINGUAL. IN BABYLON, HE SERVED IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES. HE WAS A WISE MAN, AN ADVISER IN THE PERSONAL SERVICE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR (1:19-20). AFTER DANIEL TOLD NEBUCHADNEZZAR HIS DREAM AND ITS INTERPRETATION, HE WAS MADE THE OVERSEER OVER THE PROVINCE OF BABYLON AND ALL THE WISE MEN AND MAGICIANS IN THE BABYLONIAN KINGDOM. DANIEL WAS ALSO ONE OF THREE SATRAPS (a provincial governor in the ancient Persian Empire.) WHO RULED OVER THE PERSIAN KINGDOM.
PLACE IN HISTORY: DANIEL HAS AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN HISTORY. HE WROTE THE BOOK OF DANIEL. HE SERVED SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. HE WAS AN ESSENTIAL ADVISER TO THEM. HE WAS AN IMPORTANT PROPHET FOR THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND THE WHOLE WORLD. DANIEL WAS HONORED BY GOD TO THE EXTENT THAT GOD GAVE HIM MANY SENSITIVE VISIONS AND MYSTERIES REGARDING THE FUTURE. MANY IMPORTANT THINGS WERE REVEALED TO DANIEL BECAUSE GOD KNEW WHAT KIND OF PERSON DANIEL WAS.
UNIQUE TRAITS: GOD GAVE DANIEL (LIKE JOSEPH) THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING DREAMS AND VISIONS AND GIVING THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION (1:17, 2:24). DANIEL ALSO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHEREVER HE TURNED (6:3).
WEAKNESSES: NONE ARE RECORDED.
STRENGTHS: SEE DANIEL 6:4-5 FOR A SUMMARY OF DANIEL'S CHARACTER. "MAN OF HIGH ESTEEM" (10:19).
WISDOM/DISCRETION – NUMEROUS EXAMPLES CAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF DANIEL. HE WAS NEVER TO ACT HASTILY, BUT HE WAS PATIENT AND PRAYERFUL. HE WAITED FOR THE RIGHT TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACT, AND THEN HE DID SO WITH MODESTY. SEE THE EXAMPLE OF HIS DEALINGS WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE OFFICIALS IN CHAPTER 1 (1:8-16). SEE HIS EXAMPLE WHEN ARIOCH CAME TO EXECUTE HIM AND ALL THE OTHER WISE MEN (2:14-15).
HUMILITY – IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, DANIEL HAD A FANTASTIC TALENT. HE COULD HAVE USED IT FOR HIS GAIN, BUT HE DID NOT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR HIM TO BECOME PRIDEFUL, BUT HE NEVER DID. EVERY TIME HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE HIMSELF, HE GAVE ALL THE CREDIT, GLORY, THANKS, AND PRAISE TO GOD (2:28-30, 4:19). WHEN HE APPROACHED THE COMMANDER OF THE OFFICIALS, HE ALSO DID SO WITH HUMILITY AND RESPECT. HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT GIFTS (5:17).
RELIANCE ON GOD – DANIEL FACED DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, TRIALS, AND TEMPTATIONS. HE NEVER RELIED ON HIMSELF OR TRUSTED IN HIS STRENGTH OR WISDOM (THOUGH HE WAS BRILLIANT AND GOOD LOOKING TOO!). WHEN FACED WITH A DILEMMA, HE PRAYED TO GOD AND ASKED GOD TO SHOW HIM HIS FAVOR AND COMPASSION (1:9, 2:17-18, 6:10-11, 9)
STEADFAST/UNCOMPROMISING – DANIEL LIVED IN A FOREIGN CULTURE AND WAS CONTINUALLY PRESSURED TO ACCEPT SINFUL CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES (PEER PRESSURE). IN EACH SITUATION, HE CHOSE INSTEAD TO FOLLOW GOD UNWAVERINGLY. HE WAS NOT BRASH, PRIDEFUL, OR RUDE ABOUT HIS BELIEFS, BUT HE STOOD BY HIS CONVICTIONS WITH COURAGE AND BOLDNESS (1:8, 6:10-11).
COURAGE – DANIEL WAS VERY BOLD. HE PRONOUNCED THE TRUE MEANING OF DREAMS AND VISIONS, EVEN WHEN THOSE WOULD BE NEGATIVE AND UNPOPULAR (4:19,27; 5:22,25-28)
ESSENTIAL FACTS AND EVENTS: INTERPRETING THE DREAMS FOR NEBUCHADNEZZAR ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE LIONS' DEN. THE VISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD. THEY ARE INTERPRETING THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL FOR BELSHAZZAR.
HOW HE DIED: NO INFO, BUT HE DID LIVE A LONG LIFE (INTO HIS EIGHTIES).
LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE:
FIRSTLY WE CAN LEARN FROM DANIEL'S EXAMPLE IN ALL THE AREAS OF HIS STRENGTHS. THESE ALONE COMPRISE NUMEROUS LESSONS.
ALSO, FROM DANIEL'S LIFE (LIKE WITH RUTH AND JOSEPH), WE SEE THAT GOD PROTECTS AND BLESSES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM AND PUT HIM FIRST. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DANIEL RISKED HIS LIFE TO FOLLOW GOD AND GOD PROTECTED HIM (6:20-23).
GOD THROWS DOWN THE PRIDEFUL AND RAISES THE HUMBLE. NEBUCHADNEZZAR, BELSHAZZAR, AND THE OTHER SATRAPS (GOVERNORS) WERE PRIDEFUL. GOD PUNISHED ALL OF THEM. DANIEL WAS HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT, AND GOD HONORED HIM BY RAISING HIM TO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP, GIVING HIM LONG LIFE, ENTRUSTING VISIONS AND DREAMS TO HIM, AS WELL AS MATERIALS.
NOTE: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO TO FALL AND WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD AND MERELY APPEAR TO WORSHIP THE IMAGE, BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN WANT TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS SIN.
"BELTESHAZZAR" REDIRECTS HERE. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BELSHAZZAR.
DANIEL (ARAMAIC AND HEBREW: MEANING "GOD IS MY JUDGE"), THE HERO OF THE BIBLICAL BOOK OF DANIEL, IS A NOBLE JEWISH YOUTH OF JERUSALEM TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR OF BABYLON, SERVING THE KING AND HIS SUCCESSORS WITH LOYALTY AND ABILITY UNTIL THE TIME OF THE PERSIAN CONQUEROR CYRUS, ALL THE WHILE REMAINING FAITHFUL TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL. THE CONSENSUS OF MOST MODERN SCHOLARS IS THAT DANIEL IS NOT A HISTORICAL FIGURE AND THAT THE BOOK IS A PUZZLING ALLUSION TO THE REIGN OF THE 2ND CENTURY BCE HELLENISTIC KING ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES.
IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM, DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS HANANIAH, MISHAEL, AND AZARIAH ARE TAKEN TO BABYLON BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON. THE FOUR ARE CHOSEN FOR THEIR INTELLECT AND BEAUTY TO BE TRAINED IN THE BABYLONIAN COURT AND NEW NAMES. DANIEL IS GIVEN THE BABYLONIAN NAME BELTESHAZZAR, WHILE HIS COMPANIONS ARE NAMED SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS REFUSE THE FOOD AND WINE PROVIDED BY THE KING OF BABYLON TO AVOID BECOMING DEFILED. THEY RECEIVE WISDOM FROM GOD AND SURPASS "ALL THE MAGICIANS AND ENCHANTERS OF THE KINGDOM." NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMS OF A GIANT STATUE OF FOUR METALS WITH FEET OF MINGLED IRON AND CLAY, SMASHED BY A STONE FROM HEAVEN. ONLY DANIEL CAN INTERPRET IT: THE DREAM SIGNIFIES FOUR KINGDOMS, OF WHICH BABYLON IS THE FIRST, BUT GOD WILL DESTROY THEM AND REPLACE THEM WITH HIS OWN KINGDOM.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMS OF A GREAT TREE THAT SHELTERS ALL THE WORLD AND OF A HEAVENLY FIGURE WHO DECREES THAT THE TREE WILL BE DESTROYED; AGAIN, ONLY DANIEL CAN INTERPRET THE DREAM, WHICH CONCERNS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S SON KING BELSHAZZAR USES THE VESSELS FROM THE JEWISH TEMPLE FOR HIS FEAST, A HAND APPEARS AND WRITES A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE ON THE WALL, WHICH ONLY DANIEL CAN INTERPRET; IT TELLS THE KING THAT HIS KINGDOM WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MEDES AND PERSIANS, BECAUSE BELSHAZZAR, UNLIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR, HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE GOD OF DANIEL. THE MEDES AND PERSIANS OVERTHROW NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AND THE NEW KING, DARIUS THE MEDE, APPOINTS DANIEL TO HIGH AUTHORITY. JEALOUS RIVALS ATTEMPT TO DESTROY DANIEL WITH AN ACCUSATION THAT HE WORSHIPS GOD INSTEAD OF THE KING, AND DANIEL IS THROWN INTO A DEN OF LIONS. HOWEVER, AN ANGEL SAVES HIM, HIS ACCUSERS ARE DESTROYED, AND DANIEL IS RESTORED TO HIS POSITION.
IN THE THIRD YEAR OF DARIUS, DANIEL HAS A SERIES OF VISIONS. IN THE FIRST, FOUR BEASTS COME OUT OF THE SEA, THE LAST WITH TEN HORNS, AND AN ELEVENTH HORN GROWS AND ACHIEVES DOMINION OVER THE EARTH, AND THE "ANCIENT OF DAYS" (GOD) GIVES DOMINION TO "ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN." AN ANGEL INTERPRETS THE VISION. A GOAT ATTACKS A RAM WITH TWO HORNS WITH ONE HORN; THE ONE HORN BREAKS AND IS REPLACED BY FOUR. A LITTLE HORN ARISES AND ATTACKS THE PEOPLE OF GOD AND THE TEMPLE, AND DANIEL IS INFORMED HOW LONG THE LITTLE HORN'S DOMINION WILL ENDURE. IN THE THIRD, DANIEL IS TROUBLED TO READ IN HOLY SCRIPTURE (THE BOOK IS NOT NAMED BUT APPEARS TO BE JEREMIAH) THAT JERUSALEM WOULD BE DESOLATE FOR 70 YEARS. DANIEL REPENTS ON BEHALF OF THE JEWS AND REQUESTS THAT JERUSALEM AND ITS PEOPLE BE RESTORED. AN ANGEL REFERS TO A PERIOD OF 70 SEVENS (OR WEEKS) OF YEARS. IN THE FINAL VISION, DANIEL SEES A PERIOD OF HISTORY CULMINATING IN A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE "KING OF THE NORTH" AND THE "KING OF THE SOUTH" IN WHICH GOD'S PEOPLE SUFFER TERRIBLY; AN ANGEL EXPLAINS THAT IN THE END, THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE VINDICATED AND GOD'S KINGDOM WILL BE ESTABLISHED ON EARTH.
ADDITIONAL TALES (GREEK TEXT)
THE GREEK TEXT OF DANIEL CONTAINS THREE OTHER TALES, TWO OF WHICH FEATURE DANIEL (THE THIRD IS AN EXPANSION OF THE TALE OF THE FIERY FURNACE).
THE TALE OF SUSANNA TELLS HOW DANIEL SAVES THE REPUTATION OF A YOUNG JEWISH MARRIED WOMAN WHEN TWO LECHEROUS JEWISH ELDERS CONDEMN HER TO DEATH, SUPPOSEDLY FOR UNCHASTITY, BUT ACTUALLY BECAUSE SHE RESISTED THEIR ADVANCES. DANIEL'S CLEVER CROSS-EXAMINATION UNMASKS THEIR EVIL AND LEADS TO THEIR DEATHS. THE STORY IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THE VILLAINS ARE JEWS INSTEAD OF HEATHENS; IT MAY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AS A POLEMIC (ARGUMENT) BY THE PHARISEES AGAINST THE SADDUCEES, WHO WERE ABUSING THEIR OPPONENTS THROUGH THEIR CONTROL COURTS.
BEL AND THE DRAGON CONSIST OF TWO EPISODES. IN THE FIRST, DANIEL EXPOSES THE DECEPTIONS OF THE HEATHEN PRIESTS, WHO HAVE BEEN PRETENDING THAT THEIR IDOLS EAT AND DRINK (IN FACT, IT IS THE PRIESTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONSUMING THE FOOD SET OUT FOR THE FALSE GODS). IN THE SECOND, DANIEL DESTROYS A GIANT SERPENT CYRUS BELIEVES IS A GOD; THE BABYLONIANS REVOLT, CYRUS IMPRISONS DANIEL WITHOUT FOOD, THE PROPHET HABAKKUK MIRACULOUSLY FEEDS HIM, AND CYRUS REPENTS.
DEATH AND TOMB OF DANIEL THE TOMB OF DANIEL IS LOCATED AT SUSA. RABBINIC SOURCES SUPPOSE THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE DURING THE REIGN OF THE PERSIAN KING AHASUERUS (BETTER KNOWN AS ARTAXERXES, BASED ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 4, 5). HOWEVER, DANIEL WAS KILLED BY THE WICKED PRIME MINISTER OF KING AHASUERUS, HAMAN, THE WICKED PRIME MINISTER OF AHASUERUS (ESTHER, 4, 11).
THE 1ST-CENTURY JEWISH WRITER JOSEPHUS REPORTED THAT DANIEL'S BODY LAY IN A TOWER IN ECBATANA IN PARTHIA, ALONGSIDE THE KINGS OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS; LATER JEWISH AUTHORITIES SAID HE WAS BURIED IN SUSA AND THAT NEAR HIS HOUSE WERE HIDDEN THE VESSELS FROM THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. MUSLIM SOURCES REPORTED THAT THE MUSLIMS HAD DISCOVERED HIS BODY, OR POSSIBLY ONLY A BOX CONTAINING HIS NERVES AND VEINS, TOGETHER WITH A BOOK, A JAR OF FAT, AND A SIGNET RING ENGRAVED WITH THE IMAGE OF A MAN BEING LICKED BY TWO LIONS. THE CORPSE WAS REBURIED, AND THOSE WHO BURIED IT DECAPITATED IT TO PREVENT THEM FROM REVEALING THE SPOT.
TODAY SIX CITIES CLAIM DANIEL'S TOMB: BABYLON, KIRKUK, AND MUQDADIYAH IN IRAQ, SUSA, MALAMIR IN IRAN, AND SAMARKAND IN UZBEKISTAN. THE MOST FAMOUS IS THAT IN SUSA (SHUSH, IN SOUTHERN IRAN), AT A SITE KNOWN AS SHUSH-E DANIYAL. ACCORDING TO JEWISH TRADITION, THE RICH AND POOR OF THE CITY QUARRELED OVER POSSESSION OF THE BODY. THEREFORE, THE BIER WAS SUSPENDED FROM A CHAIN OVER THE CENTER OF THE RIVER. A HOUSE OF PRAYER OPEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVED IN GOD WAS BUILT NEARBY, AND FISHING WAS PROHIBITED FOR A CERTAIN DISTANCE UP AND DOWN THE RIVER; FISH THAT SWAM IN THAT SECTION OF THE RIVER HAD HEADS THAT GLINTED LIKE GOLD, AND UNGODLY PERSONS WHO ENTERED THE SACRED PRECINCT WOULD MIRACULOUSLY DROWN IN THE RIVER. TO THIS DAY, THE TOMB IS A POPULAR SITE OF PILGRIMAGE.
