Introduction:
The Book of Daniel is a significant text within the Old Testament, known for its apocalyptic visions and narratives of faithfulness amidst persecution. It is traditionally attributed to Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon, and is divided into two main sections: the historical narratives (chapters 1-6) and the apocalyptic visions (chapters 7-12). The book is written in both Hebrew and Aramaic, reflecting its historical and cultural context.

Authorship and Date:
Daniel is traditionally considered the author of the book, with the events occurring during the 6th century BC. The text itself claims to be written by Daniel, a young nobleman taken into Babylonian captivity. Conservative scholarship supports the traditional view of authorship, asserting that the book was composed during or shortly after the events it describes, rather than during the Maccabean period as some critical scholars suggest.

Historical Context:
The Book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian exile, a period of great trial for the Jewish people. Daniel and his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, are among the exiles taken to Babylon. The narrative begins with their refusal to defile themselves with the king's food, demonstrating their commitment to God's laws (Daniel 1:8: "But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine...").

Key Themes:

1. Sovereignty of God:
The book emphasizes God's control over the affairs of nations and individuals. This is evident in Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue (Daniel 2) and the subsequent interpretation, which reveals the rise and fall of empires under God's dominion.

2. Faithfulness and Deliverance:
Daniel and his friends exemplify unwavering faith in God, even when faced with death. The fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and the lions' den (Daniel 6) narratives highlight God's miraculous deliverance of those who trust in Him.

3. Prophecy and Eschatology:
The latter half of the book contains visions that predict future events, including the rise and fall of empires and the coming of God's eternal kingdom. Daniel 7:13-14 describes the "Son of Man" receiving dominion, a passage often interpreted as a messianic prophecy: "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... His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away."

Structure:

1. Historical Narratives (Chapters 1-6):
· Chapter 1: Daniel's training in Babylon
· Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue
· Chapter 3: The fiery furnace
· Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's madness and restoration
· Chapter 5: Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall
· Chapter 6: Daniel in the lions' den

2. Apocalyptic Visions (Chapters 7-12):
· Chapter 7: Vision of the four beasts
· Chapter 8: Vision of the ram and the goat
· Chapter 9: Daniel's prayer and the prophecy of the seventy weeks
· Chapters 10-12: Final vision and prophecy of the end times

Significance:
The Book of Daniel is a cornerstone of biblical prophecy and eschatology, providing insight into God's ultimate plan for history. It serves as a source of hope and encouragement for believers, affirming that God's kingdom will ultimately triumph over all earthly powers. The book's portrayal of steadfast faith in the face of adversity continues to inspire Christians to remain faithful to God amidst trials and tribulations.the Book Of Daniel

stands at the head of a series of writings in which the deepest thoughts of the Jewish people found expression after their close of the prophetic era. Daniel is composed partly in the vernacular Aramaic (Chaldee) and partly in the sacred Hebrew. The introduction, Dan. 1-2:4 a, is written in Hebrew. On the occasion of the "Syriac" (i.e. Aramaic) answer of the Chaldeans, the language changes to Aramaic, and this is retained till the close of the seventh chapter (2:4 b-7). The personal introduction of Daniel as the writer of the text, 8:1, is marked by the resumption of the Hebrew, which continues to the close of the book. ch. 8-12. The book may be divided into three parts. The first chapter forms an introduction. The next six chapters, 2-7, give a general view of the progressive history of the powers of the world, and of the principles of the divine government as seen in the events of the life of Daniel. The remainder of the book, chs. 8-12, traces in minuter detail the fortunes of the people of God, as typical of the fortunes of the Church in all ages. In the first seven chapters Daniel is spoken of historically ; int he last five he appears personally as the writer. The cause of the difference of person is commonly supposed to lie int he nature of the case. It is, however, more probable that the peculiarity arose from the manner in which the book assumed its final shape. The book exercised a great influence upon the Christian Church. The New Testament incidentally acknowledges each of the characteristic elements of the book, its miracles, (Hebrews 11:33,34) its predictions, (Matthew 24:15) and its doctrine of angels. (Luke 1:19,26) The authenticity of the book has been attacked in modern times. (But the evidence, both external and internal, is conclusive as to its genuineness. Rawlinson, in his "Historical Evidences," shows how some historical difficulties that had been brought against the book are solved by the inscription on a cylinder lately found among the ruins of Ur in Chaldea. --ED.)

Title and Position.
... A the subscription mentioned above, marking it as the "end of Daniel the prophet,"
distinctly attaches it to the Book of Daniel, and precludes further additions ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/title and position 3.htm

Authorship.
... defend the canonicity of the book. Origen in his Epistle to Africanus maintains
the solidarity of the piece with the book of Daniel. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/authorship.htm

The Recovery and Revival of the Blessed Hope Itself.
... As is well known, the book of Daniel is largely composed of prophecies, prophecies
which refer frequently to the closing days of the Times of the Gentiles. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 the recovery and revival.htm

The History of the Prophetic Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses
... [Sidenote: The historical background of the book of Daniel]. To the mind
of one who has carefully studied the book of Daniel in the ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vii the history of the.htm

Elucidations.
... oracles paint, should have a superhuman king, seems only a natural and necessary
inference....If, as certain modern critics contend, the book of Daniel is not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lactantius/the divine institutes/elucidations.htm

Daniel.
... I say this to show you how hard it is to master the book of Daniel, which in Hebrew
contains neither the history of Susanna, nor the hymn of the three youths ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jerome/the principal works of st jerome/daniel.htm

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... outlines the governmental history of the earth as it relates to Palestine, further
details being supplied in the other visions found in the book of Daniel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm

Daniel
... to a cursory inspection of the contents of Daniel (1), that certain statements about
the exilic period, during which, according to the book, Daniel 54ed, are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

Place of Jesus in the History of the World.
... The first apocalypse, "The Book of Daniel," appeared. ... The Book of Daniel gave,
in a manner, the last expression to the Messianic hopes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter i place of jesus.htm

The Son of Man
... The name has been often supposed to be taken from the remarkable prophecy in the
Book of Daniel, of one 'like a son of man,' who receives from the Ancient of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the son of man.htm

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