Topics Research

Question

What historical and linguistic evidence bears on Daniel's composition date and historical reliability?

Topics

DANIEL

• A Jewish captive, also called BELTESHAZZAR
• Educated at king's court DAN 1
• Interprets visions DAN 2; 4; 5
• Promotion and executive authority of DAN 2:48,49; 5:11,29; 6:2
• Conspiracy against, cast into the lions' den DAN 6
• Prophecies of DAN 4:8,9; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; MAT 24:15
• Abstinence of DAN 1:8-16
• Wisdom of DAN 1:17; EZK 28:3
• Devoutness of DAN 2:18; 6; 9; 10; 12; EZK 14:14
• Courage and fidelity of DAN 4:27; 5:17-23; 6:10-23
• Worshiped by Nebuchadnezzar DAN 2:6
• David's son, also called CHILEAB (2SA 3:3; 1CH 3:1)
• A descendant of Ithamar, companion of Ezra (EZR 8:2; NEH 10:6)

BELSHAZZAR

• King of Babylon DAN 5:1-30
• NOTE: Nave's has only one entry -- the entire narrative of Daniel 5 is the sole biblical data source for Belshazzar.

DARIUS

1. The Mede, king of Persia -- DAN 5:31; 6; 9:1
2. King of Persia (emancipator of Jews) -- EZR 5; 6; HAG 1:1,15; ZEC 1:1
3. The Persian -- NEH 12:22
4. NOTE: Three distinct Darius figures are listed. The Darius of Daniel (entry 1) is distinguished from the Darius who emancipated the Jews (entry 2) and "the Persian" (entry 3).

BABYLON

1. CITY OF -- Built by Nimrod (GEN 10:10); tower of (GEN 11:1-9); capital of the kingdom (DAN 4:30; 2KI 25:13; 2CH 36:6,7,10,18,20). Prophecies concerning: PSA 87:4; 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:4-26; 21:1-10; 46:1,2; 47; 48:14,20; JER 21:4-10; 25:12-14; 50; 51; DAN 2:21-38; 4:10-26; 5:25-29; 7; HAB 1:5-11; ZEC 2:7-9
2. EMPIRE OF -- Founded by Nimrod (GEN 10:10); called LAND OF SHINAR (DAN 1:2); divisions of (DAN 3:1; 2KI 17:24); extent at time of Nebuchadnezzar (DAN 2:37,38; 4:1; 6:1). Government: a limited monarchy (EST 1:13-19; 8:8; DAN 6:8,14,17); tyrannical (DAN 3).

PERSIA

• Extended from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces (EST 1:1; DAN 6:1)
• Government restricted by constitutional limitations (EST 8:8; DAN 6:8-12)
• Princes as advisors in administration (DAN 6:1-7)
• Rulers: Darius (DAN 5:31; 6; 9:1); Artaxerxes I (EZR 4:7-24); Artaxerxes II (EZR 7; NEH 2; 5:14); Cyrus (2CH 36:22,23; EZR 1; ISA 44:28; 45:1-4,13)
• Prophecies concerning: ISA 13:17; 21:1-10; JER 49:34-39; 51:11-64; DAN 2:31-45; 5:28; 7; 8; 11:1-4

CYRUS

• King of Persia. Issues decree for emancipation of Jews and rebuilding the temple: 2CH 36:22,23; EZR 1; 3:7; 4:3; 5:13,14; 6:3
• Prophecies concerning: ISA 13:17-22; 21:2; 41:2; 44:28; 45:1-4,13; 46:11; 48:14,15

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

• Also called NEBUCHADREZZAR. King of Babylon (JER 21:2).
• Administration: DAN 1; 2; 3; 4
• Conquests: Jerusalem (2KI 24; 25; 1CH 6:15; 2CH 36:5-21; EZR 1:7; JER 39); Egypt (2KI 24:7; JER 46:2); Tyre (EZK 29:18)
• Instrument of God's judgments (JER 27:8)

CAPTIVITY

• Foretold: LEV 26:33; DEU 28:36
• Of Judah in Babylon, prophecy: ISA 39:6; JER 13:19; 20:4; 25:2-11; 32:28
• Fulfilled: 2KI 24:11-16; 25; 2CH 36; JER 52:28-30
• Return: EZR 2; 3; 8
• 70-year prophecy: JER 25:11,12; DAN 9:2

PROPHECY

• Inspired: ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21
• Sure fulfillment: EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; 24:35; ACT 13:27,29
• Captivity predicted and fulfilled: JER 25:11,12; 29:10,14; 32:3-5; DAN 9:2; with 2KI 25:1-8; EZR 1

CHALDEA

• Southern portion of Babylonia, often interchangeable with Babylon
• Abraham a native of: GEN 11:28,31; 15:7
• Founded by the Assyrians: ISA 23:13

BELTESHAZZAR

• A name given Daniel: DAN 1:7

RULERS

• Appointed and removed by God; chastised (DAN 4)
• Daniel listed among righteous rulers
• Wicked rulers in Daniel: Nebuchadnezzar destroying wise men (DAN 2:1-13); three Hebrews to furnace (DAN 3:1-23); Belshazzar in sacrilege (DAN 5:22); Darius deifying himself (DAN 6:7,9); princes conspiring against Daniel (DAN 6:1-9)

Related Topics Discovered

• CHRONOLOGY -- EXO 12:2 (limited relevance)
• EZEKIEL -- connected through references to Daniel (EZK 14:14; 28:3); Ezekiel was a contemporary exile
• The connection between CAPTIVITY and PROPHECY is significant: the 70-year prophecy (JER 25:11,12) is explicitly referenced in DAN 9:2 as something Daniel himself studied