![]() In the Babylonian and Medo-Persian narratives, the Israelites are forced to give up their Israelite identity in how they eat ( Daniel 1), how they learn ( Daniel 1), how they worship ( Daniel 3), and how they pray ( Daniel 6).Īnd in many cases, those who resist will face pain or execution ( Daniel 3, 6 and 9). The main theme of both sections of the book appears to be perseverance during a time of mass persecution and cultural genocide. In other words, those who are at the end of time will also be the audience for Daniel 7-12. While the abomination of desolation did resemble Antiochus IV Epiphanes, it is also hinting at the antichrist at the end of time. However, Jews later living under strict Hellenistic or Roman rule would have found inspiration and comfort from the examples of Daniel and his three friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.Īs for the second section, Daniel 7-12, the audience for the visions Daniel saw are those who are living in the fulfillment. The main audience for this book would have likely been Jews who were under an oppressive ruler. They work hard and excel in Babylonian society, without compromising their integrity or faith. The first section, Daniel 1-6, known as the Babylonian Narratives, shows four Jewish men living holy lives in a pagan land. The prophet Daniel was taken captive in one of those waves.ĭuring the time of writing this book, Daniel had lived through the reign and fall of the Babylonian Empire and the start of the Medo-Persian Empire when they invaded Babylon in Daniel 5.Īs for the book’s recipients, that differs based on which section of the book the reader is in. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, had fallen to the greatest empire at the time, Babylon, and was taken into captivity in three waves. The Book of Daniel was written during the life of Daniel in the sixth century BC in Babylon. The two sections are also intended for different audiences, which could explain the difference in language. Most scholars agree Daniel is the author of all twelve chapters, and the differences of style, language, and theme are due to the shift of the Babylonian narratives (seen in chapters 1-6) to the visions Daniel experienced about events to come (chapters 7-12). However, this shows a lack of belief in the power of prophecy – that the events of Antiochus IV could have been foreseen in a vision hundreds of years before happening. But some minority views, including those outside of the Christian faith, believe the final six chapter were written by a Jew during the time when Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Jewish temple with an abomination of desolation. Most theologians do agree that Daniel wrote the entirety of the book. ![]() The chapters experience a shift in the language used, tone, and style, which contributes to this debate. Although most scholars consistently agree that Daniel, an Israelite captive in Babylon during the sixth century BC, wrote the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel, some scholars debate as to who authored the final six.
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