Title and Author: The book of Daniel is named after its primary character, Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon who becomes a prominent figure in the Babylonian and Persian empires. Traditionally, Daniel is considered the author of the book, as suggested by the first-person narrative in several sections (e.g., Daniel 7:2, 8:1). Conservative scholars maintain that Daniel wrote the book in the 6th century BC, during and shortly after the events it describes.

Historical Context: The book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian exile, a period when the Jewish people were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon around 605 BC. This was a time of great upheaval and transformation for the Jewish nation, as they were removed from their homeland and exposed to foreign cultures and religions. The book also spans the transition from Babylonian to Persian rule, highlighting the sovereignty of God over earthly kingdoms.

Audience: The primary audience of the book of Daniel was the Jewish exiles living in Babylon and later under Persian rule. It served to encourage them by demonstrating God's control over history and His faithfulness to His covenant people. The book also speaks to future generations, offering hope and guidance during times of persecution and trial.

Purpose: The purpose of the book of Daniel is to affirm God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even in the midst of exile and oppression. It aims to encourage the Jewish people to remain faithful to God despite external pressures and to trust in His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.

Genre and Style: The book of Daniel is a blend of historical narrative and apocalyptic literature. The first half (chapters 1-6) contains court tales, while the second half (chapters 7-12) features symbolic visions and prophecies. The use of Aramaic (Daniel 2:4b-7:28) and Hebrew reflects its dual audience and themes.1. Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1)
- Jehoiakim was the king of Judah when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem. His reign marked the beginning of the Babylonian captivity.

2. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:1)
- Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and took many Israelites, including Daniel, into exile. He plays a significant role throughout the book.

3. Ashpenaz (Daniel 1:3)
- Ashpenaz was the chief of the court officials under Nebuchadnezzar. He was tasked with selecting and training young Israelites for service in the king's palace.

4. Daniel (Daniel 1:6)
- Daniel was a young Israelite of noble birth taken into Babylonian captivity. Known for his wisdom and faithfulness to God, he becomes a prominent figure in the Babylonian and Persian courts.

5. Hananiah (Daniel 1:6)
- Hananiah, also known as Shadrach, was one of Daniel's companions. He was selected for training in the Babylonian court and is known for his faithfulness to God.

6. Mishael (Daniel 1:6)
- Mishael, also known as Meshach, was another of Daniel's companions. Like Hananiah, he was chosen for service in the Babylonian court and remained faithful to God.

7. Azariah (Daniel 1:6)
- Azariah, also known as Abednego, was the third companion of Daniel. He was also selected for training in the Babylonian court and is noted for his steadfast faith.

8. Arioch (Daniel 2:14)
- Arioch was the commander of the king's guard under Nebuchadnezzar. He was ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon when they could not interpret the king's dream.

9. Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1)
- Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus and the last king of Babylon. He is known for the feast where he used the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple, leading to the writing on the wall.

10. Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31)
- Darius the Mede took over the kingdom after the fall of Babylon. He appointed Daniel as one of the top administrators in his kingdom.

11. Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28)
- Cyrus was the king of Persia who conquered Babylon. He is noted for allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.1. Babylon (Daniel 1:1)
- Babylon is the primary setting for much of the Book of Daniel. It is where Daniel and his friends are taken into captivity and where they serve in the royal court. Babylon was the capital of the Babylonian Empire, known for its grandeur and the Hanging Gardens.

2. Shinar (Daniel 1:2)
- Shinar is another name for the region of Babylonia. It is mentioned as the place where King Nebuchadnezzar brought the articles from the house of God in Jerusalem to the house of his god.

3. Jerusalem (Daniel 1:1)
- Jerusalem is the city from which Daniel and other young men were taken into exile. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah and the location of the Temple, which was central to Jewish worship.

4. The Plain of Dura (Daniel 3:1)
- The Plain of Dura is the location where King Nebuchadnezzar set up a massive golden statue and commanded all to worship it. This is where the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego takes place.

5. The Palace (Daniel 4:4)
- The palace in Babylon is where King Nebuchadnezzar has his dream of the great tree, which Daniel interprets. It serves as a backdrop for several key events in the narrative.

6. The River Ulai (Daniel 8:2)
- The River Ulai is mentioned in Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat. It is located in the province of Elam, which is part of the Persian Empire.

7. Susa (or Shushan) (Daniel 8:2)
- Susa, also known as Shushan, is the location of Daniel's vision in chapter 8. It was one of the capitals of the Persian Empire and is situated in modern-day Iran.

8. The Great Sea (Daniel 7:2)
- The Great Sea, often identified as the Mediterranean Sea, is mentioned in Daniel's vision of the four beasts. It symbolizes the tumultuous nations of the world.1. Daniel and His Friends Taken to Babylon (Daniel 1:1-7)
In the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem. Daniel and other young men from the royal family and nobility are taken to Babylon to be trained in the king's court.

2. Daniel's Dietary Test (Daniel 1:8-16)
Daniel resolves not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. He requests a diet of vegetables and water, and after ten days, he and his friends appear healthier than those who ate the king's food.

3. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Statue (Daniel 2:1-49)
King Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream of a statue made of various materials. Daniel interprets the dream, revealing it as a prophecy of successive kingdoms, culminating in God's eternal kingdom.

4. The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:1-30)
Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden statue and commands all to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse and are thrown into a fiery furnace. They are miraculously unharmed, and a fourth figure appears with them.

5. Nebuchadnezzar's Madness (Daniel 4:1-37)
Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great tree that is cut down. Daniel interprets the dream as a warning of the king's impending madness. The prophecy is fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar is driven from men until he acknowledges God's sovereignty.

6. The Writing on the Wall (Daniel 5:1-31)
During a feast, King Belshazzar sees a mysterious hand writing on the wall. Daniel interprets the writing as a message of judgment, predicting the fall of Babylon. That night, Belshazzar is killed, and Darius the Mede takes over the kingdom.

7. Daniel in the Lions' Den (Daniel 6:1-28)
Under King Darius, Daniel is thrown into a lions' den for praying to God, defying a royal edict. God shuts the lions' mouths, and Daniel is unharmed. His accusers are thrown into the den and killed.

8. Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts (Daniel 7:1-28)
Daniel has a vision of four beasts rising from the sea, representing four kingdoms. The vision culminates in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, ruled by the "Ancient of Days" and the "Son of Man."

9. Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8:1-27)
Daniel sees a vision of a ram and a goat, symbolizing the Medo-Persian and Greek empires. The vision predicts the rise of a powerful king who will desecrate the sanctuary.

10. Daniel's Prayer and the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:1-27)
Daniel prays for his people and confesses their sins. The angel Gabriel delivers the prophecy of seventy weeks, outlining the timeline for the coming of the Anointed One and the end of transgression.

11. Daniel's Vision of a Man (Daniel 10:1-21)
Daniel receives a vision of a glorious man, who reveals spiritual battles and future events. The vision provides insight into the spiritual realm and the struggles affecting earthly kingdoms.

12. The Kings of the North and South (Daniel 11:1-45)
Daniel receives a detailed prophecy about future conflicts between the kings of the North and South, leading to the rise of a contemptible person who will exalt himself above all gods.

13. The Time of the End (Daniel 12:1-13)
The final chapter describes a time of great distress, the resurrection of the dead, and the ultimate deliverance of God's people. Daniel is told to seal the words of the prophecy until the time of the end.1. Sovereignty of God
The book of Daniel emphasizes God's ultimate control over the affairs of nations and individuals. Despite the rise and fall of empires, God's will prevails.
(Daniel 1:2) - "And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the house of God."

2. Faithfulness and Obedience
Daniel and his friends demonstrate unwavering faithfulness to God, even in the face of persecution and pressure to conform to Babylonian culture.
(Daniel 1:8) - "But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine."

3. Wisdom and Revelation
God grants wisdom and understanding to Daniel, enabling him to interpret dreams and visions that reveal divine plans.
(Daniel 1:17) - "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and wisdom."

4. Divine Protection and Deliverance
The book highlights God's ability to protect and deliver His faithful servants from danger, as seen in the fiery furnace and the lions' den.
(Daniel 3:25) - "Look! I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!"

5. Pride and Humility
The narrative warns against pride and illustrates the importance of humility before God, as seen in the humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar.
(Daniel 4:30-31) - "Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by my vast power and for the glory of my majesty?"

6. Prophecy and Future Kingdoms
Daniel contains visions and prophecies about future kingdoms and the coming of God's eternal kingdom, offering hope and assurance of divine justice.
(Daniel 2:44) - "In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed."

7. Perseverance in Prayer
Daniel's commitment to prayer, even when it is outlawed, underscores the importance of maintaining a relationship with God through prayer.
(Daniel 6:10) - "Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

8. Judgment and Redemption
The book speaks of God's judgment on nations and individuals, as well as the redemption and restoration of His people.
(Daniel 5:27) - "You have been weighed on the scales and found deficient."1. The Son of Man
- Description: In Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel has a vision of "one like a son of man" coming with the clouds of heaven. This figure is given authority, glory, and sovereign power, and all nations worship him. This title is significant as it is later used by Jesus to refer to Himself in the New Testament, emphasizing His divine authority and messianic role.
- Reference: (Daniel 7:13-14) - "In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

2. The Anointed One (Messiah)
- Description: In Daniel 9:25-26, the prophecy of the "Seventy Weeks" mentions an "Anointed One" who will come and be "cut off." This is widely interpreted as a reference to the coming of the Messiah, who Christians believe is Jesus, and His sacrificial death.
- Reference: (Daniel 9:25-26) - "Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing."

3. The Stone Not Cut by Human Hands
- Description: In Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45, Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue, where a stone "not cut by human hands" strikes the statue and becomes a great mountain filling the earth. This stone is seen as a representation of God's kingdom, established by Jesus, which will ultimately triumph over all earthly kingdoms.
- Reference: (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) - "While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer; the wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

4. The Prince of Princes
- Description: In Daniel 8:25, during the vision of the ram and the goat, a prophecy is made about a king who will rise and oppose the "Prince of princes." This title is interpreted as referring to Jesus, who is the ultimate ruler and authority.
- Reference: (Daniel 8:25) - "He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will exalt himself. In a time of peace, he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands."

5. The Great Prince
- Description: In Daniel 12:1, Michael is described as "the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people." While Michael is an archangel, some interpretations see this as a typological reference to Jesus, who is the ultimate protector and deliverer of His people.
- Reference: (Daniel 12:1) - "At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered."1. Prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Statue (Daniel 2:31-45)
- Prophecy: King Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A stone not cut by human hands strikes the statue and destroys it.
- Fulfillment: Traditionally interpreted as representing successive empires: Babylon (gold), Medo-Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), Rome (iron), and a divided kingdom (iron and clay). The stone represents God's eternal kingdom.

2. Prophecy of the Four Beasts (Daniel 7:1-28)
- Prophecy: Daniel has a vision of four beasts emerging from the sea, representing four kingdoms. The fourth beast is particularly terrifying and has ten horns.
- Fulfillment: Similar to the statue, these beasts are interpreted as symbolizing Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The ten horns are often seen as ten kings or kingdoms arising from the Roman Empire.

3. Prophecy of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8:1-14)
- Prophecy: Daniel sees a vision of a ram with two horns and a goat with a prominent horn. The goat defeats the ram, and its horn is broken, replaced by four smaller horns.
- Fulfillment: The ram represents the Medo-Persian Empire, and the goat represents the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. The breaking of the horn and the emergence of four smaller horns symbolize the division of Alexander's empire among his generals.

4. Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24-27)
- Prophecy: Daniel receives a prophecy about seventy "weeks" (interpreted as weeks of years) decreed for his people and the holy city to finish transgression and bring in everlasting righteousness.
- Fulfillment: This prophecy is often interpreted as predicting the coming of the Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem. The timeline is debated, but many see it as fulfilled in the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

5. Prophecy of the Kings of the North and South (Daniel 11:1-45)
- Prophecy: A detailed prophecy about conflicts between the "king of the North" and the "king of the South," involving many battles and political maneuvers.
- Fulfillment: Historically, this is seen as describing the conflicts between the Seleucid Empire (North) and the Ptolemaic Kingdom (South) following the division of Alexander's empire. Specific events align with historical figures like Antiochus III and Ptolemy IV.

1. Narrative of Daniel  ( 1:1⁠–⁠6:28 )

a. Under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon  ( 1:1⁠–⁠4:37 )

i. Exile to Babylon  ( 1:1⁠–⁠21 )

1. Daniel Removed to Babylon  ( 1:1⁠–⁠7 )

2. Daniel’s Faithfulness  ( 1:8⁠–⁠16 )

3. Daniel’s Wisdom  ( 1:17⁠–⁠21 )

ii. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Statue  ( 2:1⁠–⁠49 )

1. No One Can Interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream  ( 2:1⁠–⁠13 )

2. The Dream Revealed to Daniel  ( 2:14⁠–⁠23 )

3. Daniel Interprets the Dream  ( 2:24⁠–⁠45 )

4. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel  ( 2:46⁠–⁠49 )

iii. Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue  ( 3:1⁠–⁠30 )

1. Golden Statue Erected  ( 3:1⁠–⁠7 )

2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused  ( 3:8⁠–⁠18 )

3. The Fiery Furnace  ( 3:19⁠–⁠30 )

iv. Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride  ( 4:1⁠–⁠37 )

1. Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom  ( 4:1⁠–⁠3 )

2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree  ( 4:4⁠–⁠18 )

3. Daniel Interprets the Second Dream  ( 4:19⁠–⁠27 )

4. The Second Dream Fulfilled  ( 4:28⁠–⁠33 )

5. Nebuchadnezzar Restored  ( 4:34⁠–⁠37 )

b. Under King Belshazzar of Babylon  ( 5:1⁠–⁠31 )

i. Belshazzar’s Feast  ( 5:1⁠–⁠12 )

ii. Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall  ( 5:13⁠–⁠31 )

c. Under King Darius the Mede  ( 6:1⁠–⁠28 )

i. The Plot against Daniel  ( 6:1⁠–⁠9 )

ii. Daniel in the Lions’ Den  ( 6:10⁠–⁠24 )

iii. Darius Honors God  ( 6:25⁠–⁠28 )

2. Visions of Daniel  ( 7:1⁠–⁠12:13 )

a. Daniel’s First Vision  ( 7:1⁠–⁠28 )

i. Vision of The Four Beasts  ( 7:1⁠–⁠8 )

ii. Vision of the Ancient of Days  ( 7:9⁠–⁠12 )

iii. Vision of the Son of Man  ( 7:13⁠–⁠14 )

iv. Visions Interpreted  ( 7:15⁠–⁠28 )

b. Daniel’s Second Vision  ( 8:1⁠–⁠27 )

i. Vision of the Ram and the Goat  ( 8:1⁠–⁠14 )

ii. Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision  ( 8:15⁠–⁠27 )

c. Daniel’s Prayer  ( 9:1⁠–⁠27 )

i. Prayer for His People  ( 9:1⁠–⁠19 )

ii. Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks  ( 9:20⁠–⁠27 )

d. Daniel’s Third Vision  ( 10:1⁠–⁠12:13 )

i. Daniel’s Vision by the Tigris  ( 10:1⁠–⁠21 )

ii. Kings of the South and North  ( 11:1⁠–⁠35 )

iii. The King Who Exalts Himself  ( 11:36⁠–⁠45 )

iv. The End Times  ( 12:1⁠–⁠13 )