Daniel- Introduction

Additional Details

• Author: Daniel
• Audience: The people of Israel in captivity in Babylon
• Original Hebrew Name: דאניאל
• Translated Greek Name: Δανιήλ
• Common English Name: Daniel
• Transliteration: Dani'el
• Meaning: Judgment of G-d
• Date Created: c 535 BCE
• Content Reference Time: c 605-535 BCE
• Key Individuals:
  • Daniel
  • Nebuchadnezzar
  • Shadrach
  • Meshach
  • Abednego
  • Belshazzar
  • Darius
• Key Themes:
  • Daniel's life, the story of the fiery furnace, and the lion's den (Daniel 1-6)
  • Daniel's visions of the statue, the beasts, and the kingdoms to come (Daniel 7-12)
• Date Canonized: c 499-100 BCE
• Abstract:

  Like Isaiah and Ezekiel, the book of Daniel provides a historical narrative, prophecy, and apocalyptic vision.  Daniel writes about the challenges of being a faithful Jew in the midst of the Babylonian court of Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel interprets the king's dreams (much like his ancestor, Joseph), relates the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and shares his trial in the lions' den. Throughout all of these stories, we find G-d's sovereign hand in the lives of His people. The latter portions of the book deliver Daniel's visions of future kingdoms, judgment, and Messiah.

• Location Created: Babylon
• Content Location: Nebuchadnezzar's palace, the fiery furnace, Belshazzar's banquet, the lion's den
• Teaches:
  • G-d is in control.
  • G-d is the purpose of life.
  • G-d enables us to persevere in the midst of trials.
  • G-d is faithful to His promises.
• Chapters: 12
• Verses: 357