DANIEL

Lessons in the University of Babylon

In spite of present Circumstances GOD IS IN CONTROL

Passage Content King Involved Genre Time Frame

1:1–21Daniel and his three friends tested

Nebuchadnezzar

Narrative, with interspersed dreams

Mainly occurring in Daniel’s present

situation

2:1–49Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

3:1–30 The fiery furnace

4:1–37Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity and recovery

5:1–31The writing on the wall

Belshazzar

6:1–28Daniel in the lions’ den

Darius

7:1–28Vision of the four beasts

Belshazzar

Dreams, with interspersed

narrative

Mainly predictive of the future

8:1–27Vision of the ram and goat

9:1–27Daniel’s prayer and vision of the future

Darius

10:1–12:13Vision of the future and the last days

Cyrus

CHAP 1,3,6 - An Uncompromising Life

CHAP 2,4,5 - The Rise and Fall of Empires

Chap 7-12 - Sovereignty of God in the Affairs of Nations (past, present and future)

CHAP 1,3,6 - An Uncompromising Life

CHAP 2,4,5 - The Rise and Fall of Empires

narrative

A sequence of events composed of the three ingredients of plot, setting, and character. Synonymous with story.

apocalypse; apocalyptic writing; apocalyptic vision

Literally the word apocalypse means “unveiling” or “revelation.”

Apocalyptic writing is a branch of visionary writing that specifically portrays the end of history and the eternity that succeeds that end.

Chap 7-12 - Sovereignty of God in the Affairs of Nations (past, present and future)

visionary writing.

- presents material that is envisioned as opposed to something that exists in the real world

- presents characters, events, scenes that exist only in the imagination

- details are un-lifelike at a literal level, however…

- they picture events, people, places, human emotions that really exist

- found in prophetic books and eschatological predictions

Two kinds of alternate reality appear in visionary writing:

1. the writer transports us to a world of the imagination that transcends earthly reality; 2. the writer keeps us rooted in the known world but envisions a future time when conditions that now exist are radically altered The structure of visionary writing is typically a pageant of brief and constantly shifting pictures.

CHAP 1,3,6 - An Uncompromising Life

CHAP 2,4,5 - The Rise and Fall of Empires

narrative

A sequence of events composed of the three ingredients of plot, setting, and character. Synonymous with story.

apocalypse; apocalyptic writing; apocalyptic vision

Literally the word apocalypse means “unveiling” or “revelation.”

The events portrayed in apocalyptic writing often embody universal principles (such as a conflict between good and evil or the sovereignty of God over history) that are true at any point in history.

Specific motifs in apocalyptic writing include: dualism (the universe envisioned as divided into good and evil); spiritism (angels and demons as characters); judgment against evil; messianic focus; animal symbolism; color symbolism; number symbolism; cataclysmic imagery; forces of nature as “characters” in the story.

Apocalyptic writing is a branch of visionary writing that specifically portrays the end of history and the eternity that succeeds that end.

Chap 7-8 / 9-12 Sovereignty of God in the Affairs of Nations (past, present and future)

The conundrum is that faithful interpreters find themselves on two sides of a debate.

If I hold to a 2nd century dating and also believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, I must then struggle with a theological issue

a book in the Bible which, at least on the surface, attempts to deceive its audience into thinking it is prophesying about future events when in reality it is casting the past into a future tense

When was Daniel written?

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mat 24:14-16)

- those who believe it necessary to stick to a 6th century date - those who feel the text drives them to a 2nd century date

Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st year 605 B.C. ch. 1

Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd year

604 ch. 2

Nebuchadnezzar’s reign 605–562 chs. 3–4

Belshazzar’s 1st year 550 ch. 7

Belshazzar’s 3rd year 548 ch. 8

Belshazzar’s last year 539 ch. 5

Medo -Persia

Cyrus’s 3rd year 536 chs. 10–12

Darius’s 1st year 522 ch. 9

Darius’s reign 522–486 ch. 6

The LANGUAGES of Daniel

Aramaic and Hebrew are the two languages used in Daniel.

Hebrew is used in Daniel 1:1 to Daniel 2:4a and Chapters 8 through 12, Aramaic is used from Daniel 2:4a to 7:28.

The Aramaic langue was the common language or lingua franca, used in Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian communication.

Aramaic is found also in the Ezra 4:8-6:18, 7:12-26 and Jeremiah 10:11.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 

21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

1. What purpose did the King have for bringing the young Israelites into the palace? a. training c. company b. slavery d. Jewish brain drain

2. Why do you think the chief official changed the Israelites names? a. to intimidate them d. To brand them b. to frighten them e. to anger them c. to assimilate them

3. Why did Daniel ask for special food? a. religious reasons c. cultural reasons b. distrusted the Kings food d. wanted to feel separate

4. Why was the Babylonian official willing to show favor to Daniel? a. Daniel was living in exile d. God convinced him it was OK b. he had nothing to lose e. Daniel was scrawny looking c. he liked Daniel better

5. To Daniel, his resolve to maintain his diet was: a. easy d. traumatic b. frightening e. spiritual c. risky

6. If you had been Daniel, which resources would you have appreciated the most? a. The helpful official d.my three friends b. God’s sustaining power e. Jewish dietary laws c. knowledge and understanding from God

7. What impressed the king about Daniel and his friends? a. their intelligence c. their courage b. their loyalty d. their appearance

Since we are often skilled at self-justification, it is easy for us to succumb to the external pressure which we try to redefine as internal principle.

We need to determine the principles by which we live.

Do we do what we do and say what we say because of - specific conviction, or - because we feel pressure from the outside?

What determines our decisions, attitudes and behavior?

external pressures

internal principles

NEXT WEEK:

Read Chapters 1, 3, 6 in one sitting

and

Think about what these chapters teach about

LIVING A GODLY LIFE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Medo – Persian Empire

The fortunes of kings and the affairs of men are subject to God’s decrees. . . . He is able to accomplish His will despite the most determined opposition of the mightiest potentates on earth.

 

Babylonian Empire (625–

539 B.C.)

Medo–Persian

Empire(539–331B.C.)

Greek Empire (331–

63B.C.)

Roman Empire(63B.C.–A.D.476)

Future Events

Vision of Statue(ch. 2)

head of gold (vv. 36–38)

chest and arms of silver (vv. 32, 39)

middle and thighs of bronze (vv. 32, 39)

legs of iron; feet of iron and clay (vv. 33, 40–43)

messianic kingdomstone (vv. 44–45)

Vision of Tree(ch. 4)

Nebuchad- nezzar humbled (vv. 19–37)

       

Vision of Four Beasts(

ch. 7)

lion with wings of eagle (v. 4)

bear raised up on one side (v. 5)

leopard with four wings and four heads (v. 6)

terrifying beast with iron teeth (v. 7)

Antichristlittle horn uttering great boasts (vv. 8–11)

Vision of Ram and

Goat(ch. 8) 

ram with two horns: one longer than the other (vv. 2–4)

male goat with one horn: it was broken and four horns came up (vv. 5–8); Antiochus IV (vv. 23–26)

   

CHAP 1,3,6 - An Uncompromising Life

CHAP 2,4,5 - The Rise and Fall of Empires

Chap 7-12 - Sovereignty of God in the Affairs of Nations (past, present and future)

DANIEL

 

Babylonian Empire (625–

539 B.C.)

Medo–Persian

Empire(539–331B.C.)

Greek Empire (331–

63B.C.)

Roman Empire(63B.C.–A.D.476)

Future Events

Vision of Statue(ch. 2)

head of gold (vv. 36–38)

chest and arms of silver (vv. 32, 39)

middle and thighs of bronze (vv. 32, 39)

legs of iron; feet of iron and clay (vv. 33, 40–43)

messianic kingdomstone (vv. 44–45)

Vision of Tree(ch. 4)

Nebuchad- nezzar humbled (vv. 19–37)

       

Vision of Four Beasts(

ch. 7)

lion with wings of eagle (v. 4)

bear raised up on one side (v. 5)

leopard with four wings and four heads (v. 6)

terrifying beast with iron teeth (v. 7)

Antichristlittle horn uttering great boasts (vv. 8–11)

Vision of Ram and

Goat(ch. 8) 

ram with two horns: one longer than the other (vv. 2–4)

male goat with one horn: it was broken and four horns came up (vv. 5–8); Antiochus IV (vv. 23–26)