Commentary To Daniel - Bible Commentaries

1Commentary to Daniel - Rev. John SchultzDANIELIntroduction:A good question to ask, when beginning the study of a book in the Bible, is what the content of thebook adds to the understanding of God’s revelation of Himself. How much poorer would we be if Danielhad not found its place into the biblical canon?The answer is that Daniel provides us with a wealth of detailed information about the time ofIsrael’s captivity in Babylon. With Ezekiel, he was the only prophet we know of who lived through thiscaptivity.Daniel throws a revealing light on the person and power of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s greatestking, whom he knew personally and intimately.Many biblical scholars believe Daniel to be the key for understanding much of biblical prophecy.His book is often linked with Revelation in simultaneous study. Jesus gave prominence and endorsement toDaniel by quoting from the book in regard to “the abomination that causes desolation.” We read inMatthew’s Gospel: “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’spoken of through the prophet Daniel- let the reader understand- then let those who are in Judea flee to the1mountains.” Daniel’s visions spell out for us in detail the events that will mark the end of time: theappearance of the “Antichrist” and the great tribulation. The interpretation of some of those details may notbe as simple as some students of prophecy want to make us believe, but the details are there.Without Daniel’s visions, we would not know much about the hierarchy of angelic powers, bothgood and evil, in the heavenly places. Daniel is the only prophet who mentions “the prince of Persia” and2“the prince of Greece.”Daniel’s prayer of confession was pivotal to the end of the Babylonian captivity and the return of3the remnant to Jerusalem.J. Sidlow Baxter, in Exploring the Book states: “For sheer interest this Book of Daniel surelystands first among the writings of the prophets. It is full of supernatural marvel, both in events which itrecords and in the visions which it describes. But its interest is eclipsed by its importance; for it preserves tous not only unique links in the chain of history, but also vital keys to the interpretation of prophecy.” And:“Now the miracles in this Book of Daniel were a sign from God, both to Israel and the Gentiles. When theearthly sovereignty was transferred from Israel to Nebuchadnezzar, God raised up this notable man, Daniel,to represent Him at the Babylonian courts, so that through his lips, and by these supernatural attestations, Hemight teach Nebuchadnezzar, and impress upon the Gentile world-empires, through Nebuchadnezzar theirhead, the delegated nature of their authority, and their accountability to the one true God, even the God ofIsrael.”Some time during Daniel’s life the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the place of God’srevelation on earth ceased to exist. Both the book of Ezekiel and Daniel prove to us that God’s revelation,ultimately, is not bound to any place on earth. God reveals Himself wherever He will and to whomever Hewill. In actuality, God’s revelation to His prophets in exile was more intimate and in a sense more gloriousthan the prophets at home ever knew. No one saw more magnificent visions of God’s glory than Ezekiel andno one had more overpowering visitations by angels or archangels than Daniel.The Fausset’s Bible Dictionary observes: “A new stage in the theocracy begins with the captivity.Hence arose the need for miracles to mark the new era. National miracles in Egypt, the wilderness, andCanaan marked the beginning of the theocracy or outwardly manifested kingdom of God.”Isaac Newton is quoted as saying: “He who denies Daniel’s prophecies undermines Christianity,which is founded on Daniel’s prophecies concerning Christ.”The Person of Daniel:The name Daniel means: “God is my judge,” or “judge of God.” In Babylon, his Hebrew name waschanged into Belteshazzar, meaning: “prince of Bel,” or “Bel protect the king!” According to The Eaton’sBible Dictionary, Daniel “was probably born in Jerusalem about B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah.” He1Matt. 24:15,162See ch. 10:203See ch. 9:1-19 2003 E-sst LLC All Rights ReservedPublished by Bible-Commentaries.com Used with permission

2Commentary to Daniel - Rev. John Schultzwas among the first captives made by King Nebuchadnezzar during his first siege of Jerusalem, in about BC606. This would make Daniel about seventeen years of age at the time of his deportation.He remained in Babylon for the rest of his life. He survived the capture of the city by the Persianmonarch Cyrus and was probably well in his eighties ( 87) when the captivity ended in BC 536, too old tobe able to return to his native land.During the reign of the Babylonian kings, and also in the years of Darius’ reign, Daniel rose to thehighest office in the government of the empire, proving his outstanding abilities and unflinching integrity.Daniel was one of God’s choice servants and like the apostle John, the object of God’s preferentialtreatment. The archangel Gabriel addresses him with the words: “At the beginning of your supplications the4command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved.”Place in the Canon:Daniel is nowhere in the book called a prophet. The Fausset’s Bible Dictionary observes aboutthis: “Being a ‘seer,’ having the gift and spirit, not the theocratical office and work, of a prophet, his bookstands in the third rank in the Hebrew canon, namely, in the Hagiographa (Kethubim) between Esther andEzra, the three relating to the captivity. Its position there, not among the prophets as one would expect,shows it was not an interpolation of later times, but deliberately placed where it is by Ezra and theestablishers of the Jewish canon. Daniel was ‘the politician, chronologer, and historian among the prophets’(Bengel). Similarly, the Psalms, though largely prophetic, are ranked with the Hagiographa, not theprophets.”The Language of the Book of Daniel:The Fausset’s Bible Dictionary states about the language of Daniel: “The language of Daniel fromDan 2:4 to the end of Dan 7 is Chaldee, the world empire’s language, the subject here being about the worldat large. The rest is Hebrew generally, as the subject concerns the Jews and their ultimately restoredtheocratic kingdom.”Daniel and “The Apocalyptic Literature”:Daniel is often considered to be a forerunner of books called: “Apocalyptic Literature,” whichflourished between 200 BC and 200 AD. The Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary states about this:“Most of the apocalyptic books were written by Jews in reaction to the oppression of their people by foreignpowers. Often they wrote to explain why evil seemed to prosper while the righteous suffered. The Christianapocalyptic writings were influenced by these earlier Jewish works. The Book of Revelation in the NewTestament uses symbols and images that occur in the Book of Enoch, and the book known as 4 Ezra, writtenabout A.D. 100, seems to parallel the New Testament book of Revelation in several ways. The closesimilarities between Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature explains why scholars group them into onecategory and study both Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature together.”Historical Background:The Book of Daniel has been torn apart limb for limb by the discipline that calls itself “HigherCriticism.” “Higher Criticism” objects particularly to the date of writing, trying to place it in the Maccabeanperiod ( 167 BC).The scope of our study does not allow us to delve into the problems raised (and satisfactorilyanswered by conservative scholars), nor do we feel any inclination to take a closer look at those problems.Sir Robert Anderson wrote a book under the appropriate title: Daniel in the Critic’s Den.There is no reason for us to consider Daniel to be written during any other period than theBabylonian Captivity, which lasted from 597-538.Daniel’s experience as a displaced person began with Nebuchadnezzar who mounted the throne 604 B.C. and besieged Jerusalem even before his ascension, taking several hostages into captivity toBabylon.4Ch. 9:23;10:11 (NKJV) 2003 E-sst LLC All Rights ReservedPublished by Bible-Commentaries.com Used with permission

3Commentary to Daniel - Rev. John SchultzDaniel’s presence in Babylon and his renown during his own lifetime is confirmed by hiscontemporary Ezekiel, who states: “Even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job-were in it, they could save5only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.”The world in which Daniel lived and worked was one of brute power and technological advance.The hanging gardens of Babylon were considered to be among the seven wonders of the ancient world. TheFausset’s Bible Dictionary comments on this: “Nebuchadnezzar is most celebrated for his buildings: thetemple of Bel Merodach at Babylon (the Kasr), built with his Syrian spoils (Josephus, Ant. 10:11, section 1);the fortifications of Babylon, three lines of walls 80 ft. broad, 300 ft. high, enclosing 130 square miles; anew palace near his father’s which he finished in 15 days, attached to it were his "hanging gardens," a square400 ft. on each side and 75 ft. high, supported on arched galleries increasing in height from the base to thesummit; in these were chambers, one containing the engines for raising the water to the mound; immensestones imitated the surface of the Median mountain, to remind his wife of her native land. The standardinscription (‘I completely made strong the defenses of Babylon, may it last forever . the city which I haveglorified,’ etc.) accords with Berosus’ statement, and nine-tenths of the bricks in site are stamped withNebuchadnezzar’s name.”Outline of The Book of Daniel:The Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary provides the following outline of the Book of Daniel:Part One: The Personal History of Daniel(1:1-21)I.Daniel Carried Away to Babylon1:1-7II.The Faithfulness of Daniel in Babylon1:8-16III.Daniel’s Reputation in Babylon1:17-21Part Two: The Prophetic Plan for the Gentiles(2:1--7:28)I.Nebuchadnezzar’s First Dream2A. Nebuchadnezzar Conceals His Dream2:1-13B. God Reveals the Dream2:14-23C. Daniel Interprets the Dream2:24-45D. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel2:46-49II.Nebuchadnezzar’s Image of Gold3A. Nebuchadnezzar’s Image is Set Up3:1-7B. Daniel’s Friends Refuse to Worship3:8-12C. Daniel’s Friends Trust God3:13-18D. Daniel’s Friends Are Protected in the Furnace 3:19-25E. Daniel’s Friends Are Promoted3:26-30III.Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision of a Great Tree4A. Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation4:1-3B. Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision4:4-18C. Daniel’s Interpretation of the Vision4:19-27D. Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation4:28-33E. Nebuchadnezzar’s Restoration4:34-37IV.Belshazzar and the Handwriting on the Wall5A. Belshazzar Defiles the Temple Vessels 5:1-4B. Belshazzar Sees the Handwriting 5:5-9C. Daniel Interprets the Handwriting5:10-29D. Belshazzar Is Killed5:30-31V.Darius’ Foolish Decree6A. Daniel Is Promoted6:1-3B. Darius Signs the Foolish Decree6:4-9C. Daniel Prays Faithfully6:10-15D. Daniel in the Lion’s Den6:16-17E. Daniel Is Saved from the Lions6:18-24F. Darius’ Wise Decree6:25-28VI.Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts75Ezek. 14:14 (See also Ezek. 14:20; 28:3) 2003 E-sst LLC All Rights ReservedPublished by Bible-Commentaries.com Used with permission