Daniel

Daniel is attributed to the prophet Daniel, a Jewish exile who served in the Babylonian and Persian courts from approximately 605-536 BC. Jesus referred to 'Daniel the prophet' (Matthew 24:15), affirming traditional authorship. The book is written partly in Hebrew (chapters 1, 8-12) and partly in Aramaic (chapters 2-7).

Daniel contains 12 chapters divided into two distinct sections: court narratives (chapters 1-6), including famous stories of faithfulness under pressure, and apocalyptic visions (chapters 7-12), containing symbolic prophecies about future empires and the coming of God's kingdom.

The main theme of Daniel is God's sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms. Whether through Nebuchadnezzar's humbling, the writing on the wall, or the lion's den, Daniel demonstrates that the God of Israel rules over all nations and history. The visions reveal that human empires rise and fall, but God's kingdom will endure forever.

Key events include: Daniel's resolve not to defile himself (chapter 1), Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great statue (chapter 2), the three friends in the fiery furnace (chapter 3), Nebuchadnezzar's madness and restoration (chapter 4), Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall (chapter 5), Daniel in the lion's den (chapter 6), the vision of four beasts (chapter 7), the 70 weeks prophecy (chapter 9), and visions of the end times (chapters 10-12).

Daniel's prophecies provide the framework for biblical eschatology. The 'Son of Man' coming on the clouds (7:13-14) is the title Jesus most frequently used for Himself. The 70 weeks prophecy (9:24-27) is one of the most precise messianic predictions in Scripture. Revelation draws heavily on Daniel's imagery of beasts, kingdoms, and the final triumph of God's kingdom.