Thanks for bothering to share the results of your study and work – it’s really helpful. This probably takes place before Daniel has finished adolescence. The Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years, which would put Daniel in his eighties at the beginning of Darius’ reign in Daniel 6. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). Daniel was likely in his 80s or 90s by that time. But there’s a lot more to this character than the Sunday school lessons let on! Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. The stories of the lions den and the fiery furnace, perhaps as well known as Jonah and the giant fish in the book of Jonah. In fact, 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). When someone gets a weird dream like this, there are a few ways they can interpret it: He gains notoriety for understanding dreams in his youth (Da 1:17). This is very helpfull. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. Daniel the prophet was the hero and traditional author of the book of Daniel. If this is true I’d like to see those references. I love how you write! You have summarized the life of Daniel in plain and understandable contemporary language which I appreciate as a Bible Study teacher of men. We are doing a 12 week course on the life of Daniel. This is a summary of the Biblical account of Daniel's refusal to bow to man and how God used Daniel to save a nation. There are several dreams in the Bible, and many of them seem to be straightforward instructions from God. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). His faithfulness to God earns him another honorable mention from the prophet Ezekiel. The record of Daniel’s righteous conduct is not confined to the book he authored. We know the Babylonians have a temple because that’s where Nebuchadnezzar stashed the treasures of Jerusalem’s temple (Da 1:2). Noah got drunk and naked (Gen 9:21). To study more about the end times, read the articles in the “End Times” section, the articles in the section on the book of “Revelation,” and the articles in the section on the book of “Daniel.”. Daniel was a young man of Jewish nobility taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim and renamed Belteshazzar. Daniel was given the name “Belteshazzar” (Daniel 1:6-7). The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. In fact, Daniel has trouble interpreting some of his own dreams. This captivity of citizens of Judah in Babylon lasted for 70 years, as God had foretold through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11). John Calvin’s commentary on Daniel mentions, “‘The chief of the eunuchs’ seems the correct definition of his office … and the office is similar to that … exercised at the courts of Turkey and Persia as the kislar agha, ‘high-chamberlain of the palace.’ So much confidence was necessarily reposed in these domestic officers, that many affairs of the utmost importance and delicacy were [entrusted] to their care. My Video on the God of Forces Similar to the instruction he had received to “seal up” a vision he had been given earlier (Daniel 8:26), Daniel was again told, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). * But it’s also interesting that a Hebrew writer chooses Daniel as a reference point, rather than, say, Solomon. Thanks. Not just any royal kid gets to go to Babylon: only the handsome ones. So let’s say he was between 10 and 18 years of age. Nebuchadnezzar successfully besieges Jerusalem and carries off some of the treasure from the temple of God to Babylon. God inspired Isaiah to pronounce a prophecy about his descendants: “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,” says the LORD. And Daniel’s fame isn’t a royal family secret. Daniel is made an officer in Babylon by four kings: The name “Daniel” means “[the Jewish] God has judged.” But 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). Daniel’s role in the Bible. 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). Whatever the case, he makes a good choice to pick Daniel. Who was Daniel in the Bible? A noble Jewish youth of Jerusalem, he is taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and serves the king and his successors with loyalty and ability until the time of the Persian conqueror Cyrus, all the while remaining true to the God of Israel. He’s a righteous and wise hero of the Old Testament whose decisions save the lives of many. When Daniel is still new to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream that (at first) nobody can interpret. Congrats! (Da 2:11). Michael is a warrior angel who combats opposing forces from Persia and Greece (10:13, 21). I heard that ancient Babylonion records actually mention Daniel (by his Babylonion name Belteshezzar). Jesus’ only reference to the book of Daniel is to … Some have wondered if Daniel was a eunuch because the book of Daniel mentions the young princes from Judah were under the supervision of “Ashpenaz, the master of his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] eunuchs” (Daniel 1:3). As far as these magicians are concerned, Daniel is a freak of nature. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; … https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-major-prophets/daniel As a result of God’s blessings upon Daniel and his three friends, the king “found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm” (verse 20). Later, Daniel again demonstrated his faith by praying to God even though he knew that doing so would endanger his life! Nebuchadnezzar also captures some young men of the royal family with him to serve him in his court (Da 1:3). (Da 5:11). You know what the magicians’ response is? Among them wereDaniel, Chananya,Mishael and Azaryia (from the tribe of Judah1), all extraordinarily gifted young princes,2selected to serve as chamberlains in t… To be removed from his homeland and taken to a foreign country probably in his teens must have been traumatic. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts and updates. *OK, full disclosure, it’s possible that there was an ancient legendary figure named Daniel who has nothing to do with our prophet. (“If you’re really psychic, you should be able to tell me what I dreamed, right?”). Daniel 6:28 refers to “the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian,” showing that Darius and Cyrus ruled concurrently. It’s very helpful as a Sunday School teacher. Daniel Bible Story. Daniel is one of them (1:6). The Book of Daniel makes so much more sense if you read the full version, left out of the Protestant Bible for some reason which I cannot comprehend. The Book of Daniel references a mysterious figure known as the “god of forces”. He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. We don’t see any conversations between Daniel and Michael, but he is working behind the scenes in the later chapters of Daniel. But Daniel and his three friends determined to remain faithful to God. Maybe Nebuchadnezzar assumes Jerusalem’s leaders won’t give him any trouble if their sons are off in Babylon—kind of like high-profile hostages. Daniel in the Den of Lions - It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel had prayed with great fervor for the nation of the Lord. His visions paint a prophetic landscape for Daniel… There is no reference in Scripture to Daniel being married. Daniel was one of these people who was counted as righteous (Ezekiel 14:14). This is how she describes him: [Daniel] was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. The first time Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible is in the Book of Daniel. Why does this happen? Daniel wrote the book of Daniel during the sixth century B.C. But God sent an angel that “shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22), and Daniel was miraculously spared. Daniel Removed to Babylon (Genesis 11:1-9) 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. You may have heard that there are two good angels who are explicitly named in the Bible: Gabriel and Michael. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe, Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/prophets/prophets-of-the-bible/daniel-the-prophet/. Daniel chaps. Well done. May the Lord continue to bless you and your work! And 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). Ashpenaz was a member of the court who the king knew could be trusted to perform important duties, such as instruction of the princes in the ways of their host nation. A. Hebrew:1. Daniel is made the chief prefect of the wise men in Babylon after interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream (Da 2:48; 4:9, 5:11). 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). The reason Daniel and his friends’ names were changed was likely to encourage them to forget their past and to adopt Babylonian customs. I prefer to read as much as I can to learn for myself. Moses: The Old Testament’s Greatest Prophet, Who Was King Solomon? He’s not just a wise dream interpreter. Harold Dressler is well qualified to discuss the Dnil of the Ras Shamra texts since he wrote his doctoral dissertation on that very topic.5He outlines four arguments which “have been advanced for denying that the Daniel of Ezekiel xiv and xxviii is to be identified with the Biblical Daniel” (p. 155). This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. Yet Daniel can interpret the dream. Daniel is the hero of the biblical Book of Daniel. Bible Verses about Daniel. How should Christians live in but not be of the world? Here are a few of the prominent prophecies given by God through Daniel: In the repetition of the prophecy about human world-ruling empires, Daniel further noted: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! Daniel is told that at the time of the end, Michael will arise on behalf of Israel again (12:1). The story of Daniel in the lion's den teaches us about the promises and faithfulness of God, even if we feel like everything has been lost. But that doesn’t mean Daniel can interpret every dream. Daniel Esterhuizen ( also a Daniel). Download the free booklet. May God bless the gift he gave you! But other dreams use bizarre symbolism to communicate something to the dreamer. 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. When King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him in the second year of his reign, God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel in a night vision (Daniel 2:19). Maybe he just wants to show off “pet” Israelite royalty to people who visit his palace. These circumstances include what Daniel faced in the den of lions, and what his three friends faced when thrown into the fiery furnace. The biblical account of Daniel the prophet begins as he and other young men from Judah were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 1:1-4) in approximately 604 B.C. Thank you so much for this article! Hi Jeffrey. Thus the children of the royal and noble families of Judea were committed to the care of Aspenaz.”. 1-12; Ezekiel 14:14, 28:3; Matt. Nebuchadnezzar’s criteria for serving in his court includes physical appearance (Da 1:4). 2 And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. (Eze 28:3), (Or maybe Ezekiel is just mocking that guy.). In 605 B.C., the dynasty was in its twilight years. But revealing the future is what God does. Join our email list, and we’ll send you some of our best free resources—plus we’ll tell you whenever we make something new. The future 70th Week has been set, or "cut out of time". By around the second century B.C.2 a three-fold division of the Hebrew Scriptures arose: The Law, The Prophets, and The Writings3a. The murals are now on display in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (photo by David Treybig). When Nebuchadnezzar’s son sees a terrifying vision, his mother refers him to Daniel. During this time, Daniel served in prominent positions in the governments of several Babylonian and Medo-Persian rulers, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. In the 14th chapter of Ezekiel, God uses Daniel, Noah, and Job as examples of extremely righteous men. Daniel, whose name means “God is my judge,” and his three countrymen from Judea were chosen and given new names. And 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). As such, some have wondered if he was a eunuch. I would like to name my future son Daniel =), I wonder why you are following this website…. You have to be a looker and a thinker to make it in the palace. At that time, the church was started purely for political reasons. Used by permission. This was approximately 100 years before their departure to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. Moses struck the rock and was banned from Canaan. Are they the Jewish nation, 16 million? No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans. Who appeared with Daniel in the fiery furnace? “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed [that no one could petition any god or man except the king for 30 days], he went home. He was among the first batch Jews who were carried off into captivity in Babylon about 2600 years ago, at the end of the reign of King Jehoiakim. Gabriel shows up later to tell Daniel that God has plans to make an end to Israel’s sins (9:21–27). And those other two sterling examples of righteousness, Noah and Job? Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes: “Obviously, pagan theophoric names like these must have been assigned arbitrarily to these four Israelite students without any consultation with them, since the new names contained the names of false gods” (ed. I am putting together a sermon for this Sabbath at the Seventh Day Adventist church and really enjoyed the context of this lesson and how you made the writings real to our contemporary times. The consensus of modern scholars is that Daniel never existed, and the book is a cryptic allusion to the reign of the 2nd century BCE Hellenistic king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In the first year of the reign of Darius (around 539 B.C. But that’s not all he takes. Known by multiple names—the antichrist, the man of sin and the false prophet—this religious power will play a prominent role in the deception of mankind prior to Christ’s return. Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “Daniel”). Don’t mistake Daniel as some conjurer of cheap tricks. Daniel, the biblical Old Testament prophet, served four kings in the royal court of ancient Babylon. Daniel’s life serves as an example of godly integrity. Though there were restrictions in Israel attached to being a eunuch (Leviticus 21:16-20), Jesus Christ shows that even if they were eunuchs, the attitude shown by people like Daniel and his three friends is the same attitude that will enable us to be part of the Kingdom of God: “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. Yep: the book of Daniel. Logos Bible Software 9 review: Do you REALLY need it? God saw these fruits of Daniel and his three friends and gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. The three-fold division included the same books as the two-fold divisionb. In this article, I answer who is the god of forces. Daniel was taken to Babylon as a young man—likely before he had finished puberty. This would be demonstrated multiple times in the events told in the book of Daniel. ), Daniel came to understand, or simply proved to himself again, the prophecy of Jeremiah that predicted a 70-year captivity of his people (Daniel 9:1-2). The idea that Daniel was a mythical (or at least mythicized) character is an interesting one to me. This deserves a point all to itself. Bill Swanson was a retired pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association before his death in 2019. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, stated: “‘Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,’ says the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 14:14, emphasis added). Find out how the book of Revelation is relevant to our lives today. 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). “Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2:48). This summary of the book of Daniel provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Daniel. Is told that at the beginning of Darius ( around 539 B.C names were changed was likely encourage... Accept it ” ( International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “ Daniel ” ) friends determined to faithful... * but it ’ s say he was when he died king Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel is being quoted by contemporary! The administrations of kings during the early part of his Kingdom who have faced severe adversity school teacher ( I. 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