Sermon Tone Analysis

620BC - Daniel born612BC - Fall of Assyrian empire605BC - Babylonians now dominant power 602BC?

- Nebuchadnezzar’s dreamUNKNOWN - Nebuchadnezzar’s statue586BC - Temple destroyed in 3d Babylonian seige605-562BC = zenith of Babylonian power under Nebuchadnezzar - largest city in world at time539BC - Babylon falls to Persia

620BC - Daniel born612BC - Fall of Assyrian empire605BC - Babylonians now dominant power 602BC?

- Nebuchadnezzar’s dreamUNKNOWN - Nebuchadnezzar’s statue586BC - Temple destroyed in 3d Babylonian seige605-562BC = zenith of Babylonian power under Nebuchadnezzar - largest city in world at time539BC - Babylon falls to Persia

The background (quick recap)

The background (quick recap)

Daniel & friends taken captive in 605BCProbably about 15 years old, based on Hebrew word describing them Noble descent, so likely a pretty solid guyBabylonian university-level education to prepare for government service (3 years, per Persian literature)Like Joseph, God gifted him with dream interpretation

Daniel & friends taken captive in 605BCProbably about 15 years old, based on Hebrew word describing them Noble descent, so likely a pretty solid guyBabylonian university-level education to prepare for government service (3 years, per Persian literature)Like Joseph, God gifted him with dream interpretation

Daniel had previously interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

Daniel had previously interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

A giant statue: Head = Babylon, Chest/arms = Medo-Persia, stomach = Greece, legs = Rome, feet = future revived RomeContinuous dominating empires from 605BC to almost 1500AD (1453 in East, 1476 in West)Head = Babylon = goldNebuchadnezzar honors God

A giant statue: Head = Babylon, Chest/arms = Medo-Persia, stomach = Greece, legs = Rome, feet = future revived RomeContinuous dominating empires from 605BC to almost 1500AD (1453 in East, 1476 in West)Head = Babylon = goldNebuchadnezzar honors God

Nebuchadnezzer orders all officials to bow to a giant golden statue

Nebuchadnezzer orders all officials to bow to a giant golden statue

Why? Records of a revolt in 10th year of Nebu’s reign - loyalty test?Who?

Apparently lots of people, much/all of his leadership (v 2-3)NOT Daniel - several explanations - Away on a mission?

Sufficiently senior not to need to show loyalty?

Too powerful to threaten?

“Ruler over entire province” - someone had to run the show while Nebuchadnezzar was out of townWhat?

Giant golden statue - likely all gold to signal, contrary to dream, Babylonian rule will never endWas it Nebuchadnezzar?

Probably not - Babylonian kings not divine, so not worshipped; also would be strangely stylized as 90 x 9 foot humanProbably doesn’t matter - it still required actions no true follower of God could takeWas it anti-semitic?

Possibly - Most non-Jews were polytheistic, so this loyalty test could be OKASIDE: In the recent history of Ghana the President allowed a slightly more than life-size statue of himself to be erected in front of Parliament House, Accra.

He ‘could tolerate no disunity in Ghana, which he shaped into a monolithic republic under the complete control of his party and dominated by his own personality as President (1960)’ (J.

D. Fage, A Short History of Africa, Penguin Africa Library, 1962, pp.

251f.).

An inscription on the side bore the words, ‘Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things shall be added unto you.’

The statue was religiously controversial from the beginning and was destroyed after the bloodless coup of 1966.

Cf.

Africa Survey, No. 50, October 1975, p. 46.

I am indebted to Dr Myrtle S. Langley for drawing my attention to these details.Baldwin, J. G. (1978).

Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol.

23, p. 110).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Why? Records of a revolt in 10th year of Nebu’s reign - loyalty test?Who?

Apparently lots of people, much/all of his leadership (v 2-3)NOT Daniel - several explanations - Away on a mission?

Sufficiently senior not to need to show loyalty?

Too powerful to threaten?

“Ruler over entire province” - someone had to run the show while Nebuchadnezzar was out of townWhat?

Giant golden statue - likely all gold to signal, contrary to dream, Babylonian rule will never endWas it Nebuchadnezzar?

Probably not - Babylonian kings not divine, so not worshipped; also would be strangely stylized as 90 x 9 foot humanProbably doesn’t matter - it still required actions no true follower of God could takeWas it anti-semitic?

Possibly - Most non-Jews were polytheistic, so this loyalty test could be OKASIDE: In the recent history of Ghana the President allowed a slightly more than life-size statue of himself to be erected in front of Parliament House, Accra.

He ‘could tolerate no disunity in Ghana, which he shaped into a monolithic republic under the complete control of his party and dominated by his own personality as President (1960)’ (J.

D. Fage, A Short History of Africa, Penguin Africa Library, 1962, pp.

251f.).

An inscription on the side bore the words, ‘Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things shall be added unto you.’

The statue was religiously controversial from the beginning and was destroyed after the bloodless coup of 1966.

Cf.

Africa Survey, No. 50, October 1975, p. 46.

I am indebted to Dr Myrtle S. Langley for drawing my attention to these details.Baldwin, J. G. (1978).

Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol.

23, p. 110).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The punishment - incineration in a fire

The punishment - incineration in a fire

Daniel’s 3 friends refuseAccused by others Offered 2d chance - still refuse, saying God can but not must rescue themDocumented Babylonian punishment, per code of HammurabiJeremiah records this happening to two Judean false prophets - Zedekiah & Ahab

Daniel’s 3 friends refuseAccused by others Offered 2d chance - still refuse, saying God can but not must rescue themDocumented Babylonian punishment, per code of HammurabiJeremiah records this happening to two Judean false prophets - Zedekiah & Ahab

Who wrote Daniel?

Who wrote Daniel?

Contested since Porphyry, 3d century AD philosopher - argued for 2d century BC based on background, historical circumstances related to Antiochus EpiphanesOther late-date arguments: alleged historical errors, loaned words from Greek & Persian, and punch line: denial of predictive prophecyBoth Jewish and Christian (cf. ) tradition have held that the author of this book is Daniel, a Jew who lived during the sixth-century b.c.

Babylonian exile.Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

1581).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Contested since Porphyry, 3d century AD philosopher - argued for 2d century BC based on background, historical circumstances related to Antiochus EpiphanesOther late-date arguments: alleged historical errors, loaned words from Greek & Persian, and punch line: denial of predictive prophecyBoth Jewish and Christian (cf.

Matt.

24:15) tradition have held that the author of this book is Daniel, a Jew who lived during the sixth-century b.c.

Babylonian exile.Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

1581).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Was Daniel a prophet?

Was Daniel a prophet?

Jesus says yes…()Hebrew Bible has Daniel with the “Writings”, not the “Prophets”Some suggest prophecy only operates in IsraelBut...Ezekiel only prophesied in exile

Jesus says yes…(Matt 24:15)Hebrew Bible has Daniel with the “Writings”, not the “Prophets”Some suggest prophecy only operates in IsraelBut...Ezekiel only prophesied in exile

When was Daniel written?

When was Daniel written?

Early date: 6th century BC by Daniel

Early date: 6th century BC by Daniel

Late date: 2d century BC

Late date: 2d century BC

Contested since Porphyry, 3d century AD philosopher - argued for 2d century BC based on background, historical circumstances related to Antiochus Epiphanes

Contested since Porphyry, 3d century AD philosopher - argued for 2d century BC based on background, historical circumstances related to Antiochus Epiphanes

Other late-date arguments:

Other late-date arguments:

Not part of “prophets”, too apocalyptic (popular in 2d century BC), alleged historical errors, loaned words from Greek & Persian, and punch line: denial of predictive prophecyThe story is fantastic - the size of the statue, the gold plating, the heat of the furnace, the miraculous preservationColossus of Rhodes was documented as 10 cubits taller than Nebuchadnezzar’s statueGold plating shown to be common Early date points:Daniel says he wrote it in 6th century BCDaniel was senior gov’t official, not formally a prophetVery detailed history hard to preserve for 400 yearsQumran scrolls found before suggested late date (165BC), and support early date textDaniel IS accepted by Jews, so must have come before intertestamental periodApocolyptic literature dates to 6th century (Ezekiel)Actually very few Greek loan words, which suggests earlier date

Not part of “prophets”, too apocalyptic (popular in 2d century BC), alleged historical errors, loaned words from Greek & Persian, and punch line: denial of predictive prophecyThe story is fantastic - the size of the statue, the gold plating, the heat of the furnace, the miraculous preservationColossus of Rhodes was documented as 10 cubits taller than Nebuchadnezzar’s statueGold plating shown to be common Early date points:Daniel says he wrote it in 6th century BCDaniel was senior gov’t official, not formally a prophetVery detailed history hard to preserve for 400 yearsQumran scrolls found before suggested late date (165BC), and support early date textDaniel IS accepted by Jews, so must have come before intertestamental periodApocolyptic literature dates to 6th century (Ezekiel)Actually very few Greek loan words, which suggests earlier date

Why Daniel is important

Why Daniel is important

Most commentators view this story as metaphor, not history (I don’t, for what that’s worth)Establishes predictive prophecyTeaches God retains dominion even when world empires are evil (Remember, we “will have trouble”)We can be faithful in exile, surrounded by the World’s influencesGod can, but not must, vindicate us against the World’s powers

Most commentators view this story as metaphor, not history (I don’t, for what that’s worth)Establishes predictive prophecyTeaches God retains dominion even when world empires are evil (Remember, we “will have trouble”)We can be faithful in exile, surrounded by the World’s influencesGod can, but not must, vindicate us against the World’s powers

Supporting text

Supporting text

Daniel and his friends were taken into exile in 605 B.C.

They served mighty Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled the Babylonian empire until 562.

Nebuchadnezzar’s successors were Evil-Merodach, Neriglissar, Labashi-Marduk, and Nabonidus.

Nabonidus spent much of his reign in Tema worshiping the moon god.

His son Belshazzar served as his vice-regent.

Though the Book of Daniel calls Belshazzar “king,” it hints that he was really second in command in the kingdom (5:7, 16).

Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon in 539 and made Gubaru governor over the city.

Daniel retained a high civil office under the Persians.Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. .

(1992).

Holman Bible Handbook (p.

448).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.Daniel, whose name means “God is judge,” was carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon in the third year of Jehoiakim (1:1), which, according to the Babylonian system of reckoning, was 605 b.c.