Faith & Reason Nexus

MEANING: “God is my Judge.”

AUTHOR: Daniel

TIME WRITTEN: Completed by the 9th year of Cyrus’ reign (530 B.C.)

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 27th Book in the Bible
• 28th Book in the Old Testament
• 5th of 17 books of Prophecy (Isaiah – Malachi)
• 5th and final of the 5 major prophets (Isaiah-Daniel)
• 39 Books to follow it

CHAPTERS: 12
VERSES: 357
WORDS: 11,606

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT DANIEL:

• Daniel’s life and ministry encompass the entire 70-year Babylonian Captivity.
• Deported to Babylon at age 16, Daniel was selected for special service and underwent three years of training in Babylon’s top schools. He was given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar, meaning “Bel Protect His Life.”
• The book of Daniel is notable for its emphasis on dreams, with 9 of the 12 chapters focusing on them.
• Among the 2,930 Bible characters, Daniel is one of the few about whom nothing negative is recorded. Joseph is another example.
• Daniel’s life was marked by faith, prayer, courage, consistency, and a lack of compromise. Ezekiel references Daniel three times as an exemplar of righteousness (Ezekiel 9:23; 10:11; 19).
• Daniel was appointed the third ruler in the Babylonian kingdom. Nabonidus was the first ruler, Belshazzar (Nabonidus’ son) was the second, and Daniel was the third.
• The Book of Daniel has been called the “Apocalypse of the Old Testament.”
• It begins in Hebrew but switches to Aramaic from chapters 2-7.
• During Darius’ reign, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den due to a plot against him. By this time, Daniel would have been at least 82 years old.
• Significant dates in Daniel’s life:
• 621 B.C.: Daniel’s birth
• 605 B.C.: Daniel taken to Babylon at age 16
• 539 B.C.: Fall of Babylon to Persia (Daniel would be 82 years old)
• The Book of Daniel was written to provide encouragement to Jewish exiles, revealing God’s sovereign will for Israel amid Gentile domination.
• As stated in Daniel 4:32, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”