BGCT: DSM: Old Testament Text: Lecture 35: Daniel

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PROPHETICAL BOOKS

LECTURE 35

DANIEL

Students will be able to

1. describe the historical context of Daniel's life

2. describe the major events in Daniel's life.

3. identify characteristics of Apocalyptic literature.

Background: The six stories which comprise the first six chapters are set against the Babylonian exile just before and after the Persian conquest. The superscription would date the exile of Daniel and other Jewish youth as taking place about 605 B.C. Daniel and Ezekiel are major prophets which portray events during the exile.

OUTLINE OF DANIEL

I. Daniel's Experiences

A. Training in Babylon (Chapter 1)

The purpose of this story was to show that faithfulness to the Jewish law would be rewarded.

B. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream (Chapter 2)

There are two basic interpretations of what the parts of the image represented although there is agreement about the head of gold:

Head of Gold represented Babylonia

Breast of Silver could either be the Medes or Persians

Belly and Thighs of Bronze could either be Persians or Greeks

Feet of Iron and Clay could either be Greeks or Romans

The fifth Kingdom which breaks up the feet of iron and clay is the kingdom of God (2:43-45)

C. Golden Image and Fiery Furnace (Chapter 3)

This story reinforces the idea that death is preferable to apostasy. In Daniel 3:1618, the young men state their confidence in God's constancy and His ability to rescue even if He does not rescue them.

D. Nebuchadnezzar's Pride and Repentance (Chapter 4)

This story illustrates the frailty of Nebuchadnezzar's power when compared to God's. The King's sanity and prosperity returned only as he turned his devotion to God (4:3437).

E. Belshazzar's Pride and Destruction (Chapter 5)

Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus and last of the Babylonian rulers, being overthrown by the Persians.

The story provides a sober warning for people who practice sacrilege. The words written on the wall represented weights:

mene = a mina = "to number"

tekel = a shekel = "to weigh"

peres = a half shekel = "to divide"

F. Darius' Decree and the Lion's Den (Chapter 6)

The King mentioned here and in 5:31 seems to be Darius the Mede. The story encourages faithfulness, stressing the security of those guarded by God.

II. Daniel's Visions

A. Two visions of beastempires

1. Four Beasts (7)

Although scholars disagree on the identity of the last three beasts (the winged lion certainly represented Babylonia), there is agreement that the various beasts match the parts of the image in Chapter Two.

2. Goat and Ram (8)

In Daniel 8:20, the powerful twohorned ram was identified as the alliance between the kings of Media and Persia.

The goat represented Alexander the Great who overthrew the Persians (8:521).

The "little horn" of Daniel 8:914 seems to be the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV, who referred to himself as "Epiphanes," "The Manifest." He profaned the Jewish temple by sacrificing a pig. His contempt led him to ban Judaism, resulting in the Maccabean revolt which established Jewish independence about 142 B.C.

B. Two prophecies explained

1. Jeremiah's seventy years (9)

One way of determining the seventy years of exile predicted by Jeremiah (Daniel 9:12) would be to start with the early Babylonian exile of 605 and allow for the decree of Cyrus the Great in 538 to take a few years to be implemented. Between 605 and 535 the Jewish people would be in exile seventy years.

The reference to seventy years led the writer of Daniel to consider a period of 70 weeks which have produced a variety of interpretations, including attempts to date the coming of God's Messiah.

2. As with other apocalyptic writings which utilize symbols, numbers and images, interpreters find a variety of possible meanings for this section, interpreting material in light of the past (especially in reference to events of the interbiblical period) and the future (the end times).

OUTLINE OF DANIEL

1. Daniel's experiences

A. Training in Babylon (1)

B. Nebuchadnezzar's dream (2)

C. Golden image and fiery furnace (3)

D. Nebuchadnezzar's pride and repentance (4)

E. Belshazzar's pride and destruction (5)

F. Darius' decree and the lion's den (6)

II. Daniel's visions

A. Two visions of beastempires

1. Four beasts (7)

2. Goat and ram (8)

B. Two prophecies explained

1. Jeremiah's seventy years (9)

2. Events leading to the end (1012)

ASSIGNMENT

Read chapter on Ezekiel in text such as Chapter 31, pages 339348 in the Hill and Walton text.

Discussion Questions:

#1 After class lecture, ask students to characterize the two main sections of Daniel.

Section one includes six stories designed to encourage faithfulness during stressful times. The second part is an apocalyptic view of history and events that affect God's people.

Ask students if, in their opinion, there are times when one section might be more relevant than the other. What are some of the important lessons which come out of Daniel?

#2. Why has Daniel become one of the heroes of the Judeo-Christian tradition? In your opinion, what were his greatest virtues?

#3. In the interpretation of Apocalyptic literature, why are there so many different points of view?

Teacher's Notes:

The book of Daniel points to the sovereignty of God in all the affairs of men, whether spiritual or political. Throughout Daniel's life, God uses him to give evidence of His power, justice and mercy.

The first six chapters of the book give a series of encounters between Daniel and his friends, and the rulers of the empire that has conquered Jerusalem. In each encounter, it is evident that God is still working through His people, and that His sovereignty extends to all nations. Through their lives, Daniel and his friends gave hope to their people, that God had not abandoned them and that he still required their obedience.

The final six chapters contain some of the most vivid imagery in the Bible as Daniel reveals God's vision for the future. Interpretation of these colorful passages is subject to a great deal of debate; however, some general conclusions can be drawn:

1. Kingdoms and governments will rise and fall in the course of time.

2. God is sovereign over the affairs of the world.

3. The Son of Man will establish an everlasting kingdom over all peoples.

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