Daniel

The book of Daniel is concerned with religious persecution. Daniel's message in this apocalyptic text, however, assures that God will deliver those who trust God, refuse to worship other Gods, and keep Jewish tradition in the face of persecution. C. L. Seow examines this difficult and provocative book and explores its relevance to faith and the church today.Books in the Westminster Bible Companion series assist laity in their study of the Bible as a guide to Christian faith and practice. Each volume explains the biblical book in its original historical context and explores its significance for faithful living today. These books are ideal for individual study and for Bible study classes and groups.

C. L. Seow is Henry Snyder Gehman Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary

Series Foreword

xi

Abbreviations

xiii

Introduction

1

(1)

The Book in the Canon

2

(1)

The Legendary Daniel

3

(1)

The Origin of the Book

4

(3)

How the Final Form of the Book Came About

7

(2)

Literary Genres

9

(3)

The Occasion of the Book

12

(2)

Theological Perspective

14

(7)

Daniel and His Friends at the Babylonian Court

Daniel 1:1--21

19

(2)

Historical Setting and a Theological Problem (1:1--2)

21

(2)

Opportunities and Temptations to Compromise (1:3--8)

23

(4)

Daniel's Resistance and the Grace of God (1:9--17)

27

(2)

Daniel's Final Examination and Its Results (1:18--21)

29

(8)

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Daniel 2:1--49

31

(6)

The Crisis (2:1--12)

37

(2)

Daniel Steps Forward (2:13--23)

39

(3)

The Dream Described (2:24--35)

42

(2)

The Dream Interpreted (2:36--45)

44

(4)

The Immediate Impact of the Revelation (2:46--49)

48

(4)

The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:1--30

50

(2)

Nebuchadnezzar's Setup (3:1--7)

52

(2)

The Accusation (3:8--12)

54

(1)

The Confrontation (3:13--18)

55

(3)

The Consequence (3:19--23)

58

(1)

In the Midst of the Fire (3:24--25)

58

(1)

The Outcome (3:26--30)

59

(5)

The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4:1--37

61

(3)

Introduction and Doxology (4:1--3)

64

(2)

The Dream Recounted (4:4--18)

66

(3)

The Dream Interpreted (4:19--27)

69

(2)

The Dream Fulfilled (4:28--33)

71

(1)

Conclusion and Doxology (4:34--37)

72

(6)

Belshazzar and the Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel 5:1--31

74

(4)

Belshazzar's Sacrilege (5:1--4)

78

(1)

Handwriting on the Wall (5:5--9)

78

(2)

The Queen Mother's Recommendation (5:10--12)

80

(1)

Daniel Reads and Interprets the Inscription (5:13--28)

81

(2)

Conclusion (5:29--31)

83

(5)

Daniel in the Lions' Pit

Daniel 6:1--28

85

(3)

Jealousy and Conspiracy (6:1--9)

88

(2)

Daniel Is Caught Acting Normally (6:10--13)

90

(1)

The King's Quandary (6:14--18)

91

(2)

Deliverance (6:19--24)

93

(2)

The King's Encyclical (6:25--28)

95

(5)

Monsters, Divine Judgment, and the Coming of a Humanlike One

Daniel 7:1--28

97

(3)

Introduction (7:1)

100

(1)

Four Beasts from the Great Sea (7:2--8)

101

(5)

Divine Response (7:9--14)

106

(3)

Interpretation (7:15--27)

109

(4)

Conclusion (7:28)

113

(5)

The Ram, the Goat, and the Interpretation of Gabriel

Daniel 8:1--27

115

(3)

Introduction (8:1--2)

118

(2)

The Ram and the Goat (8:3--8)

120

(1)

The Little Horn (8:9--12)

121

(3)

An Angelic Conversation (8:13--14)

124

(2)

The Interpretation (8:15--26)

126

(6)

Conclusion (8:27)

132

(6)

Daniel's Prayer and the Predicted End of Desolation

Daniel 9:1--27

134

(4)

Introduction (9:1--2)

138

(2)

Daniel's Prayer (9:3--19)

140

(5)

An Angelic Interpretation (9:20--27)

145

(8)

The Final Revelation: Prologue

Daniel 10:1--19

152

(1)

Introduction (10:1)

153

(2)

The Setting (10:2--4)

155

(1)

An Epiphany (10:5--19)

156

(11)

The Final Revelation: Back to the Future

Daniel 10:20--12:4

163

(4)

Introduction (10:20--11:1)

167

(1)

The Persian Empire (11:2)

168

(2)

Alexander's Empire (11:3--4)

170

(1)

North versus South before Antiochus IV Epiphanes (11:5--20)

170

(5)

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (11:21--39)

175

(9)

An End of Antiochus (11:40--45)

184

(2)

Resurrection of the Dead (12:1--4)

186

(11)

The Final Revelation: Postscript

Daniel 12:5--13

191

(6)

Select Bibliography

197

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials