Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. The answer is yes, there are proclaimed prophets around the world today, but are they truly appointed by God like the major prophets? We know that Daniel was taken to Babylon from Jerusalem with the At this time, apparently all of the young men in training were tested by the king. Tudith 12:1-4; Book of Jubilees 22:16; and the interesting account in Josephus, Life 3 (14), where we hear of certain Jewish priests in Rome who avoided defilement with Gentile food by living solely on figs and nuts (cf. The closing section of Daniel 1 is a summary of the three years of hard study and the result of Gods blessing upon the four faithful young men. What can we learn about his personal life and the prophecies God revealed to him about the end times ahead of us now? Answer The Bible does not say whether Daniel was made a eunuch. al., The Aramaic of Daniel, in Notes on Some Problems in the Book of Daniel, 31-79. 127-28 for a complete discussion; cf. It is not stated that the Jewish youths were made actual eunuchs as Josephus assumes.49 Isaiah had predicted this years before (Is 39:7), and Young supports the broader meaning of eunuch by the Targum rendering of the Isaiah passage which uses the word nobles for eunuchs.50 However, because the word saris means both court officer and castrate, scholars are divided on the question of whether both meanings are intended. 4.How did he go about doing God's work? Manuscript Evidence: Manuscripts discovered at Qumran (e.g., a Florilegium found in cave 4Q), which date from the Maccabean period make it very unlikely that the book was written during the time of the Maccabees (e.g., 168 B.C.) 46 Edward J. Even the Romans were aware of his prophecies of a coming king of Israel. Although an education such as this did not in itself violate the religious scruples of Jewish youths, their environment and circumstances soon presented some real challenges. How did Daniel become a prophet? And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. The reason is that most scholars embrace a liberal, naturalistic, and rationalistic philiosphy. Who was Daniel the prophet? Here Daniel is exercising a proper conscience in matters that were of real importance. Here the grace of God operated, however, in giving them understanding so they could distinguish between the true and the false. 2 Prologue to Ecclesiasticus (c. 132 B.C. Jehoiakim himself was not deported, later died, and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin. The book discusses the destruction of Jerusalem because of the peoples behavior while also celebrating the love of God and His everlasting reign. And Praise be to Him Who compensates good with good, rewards patience with safety, dispels harm after distress, assures us when we are overwhelmed, and is our hope when skill fails us.". Unlike the other prophets, Daniel was part of a tradition in which young men of noble families were brought before the king to become teachers and advisors to the king. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 14 Gleason L. Archer, Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 398-401. 1:8-10 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 6:26-27, Daniel prays and fasts about what lies ahead and the Jewish peoples indifference to their captivity. Here then is confirmatory proof that the book contains genuine predictions (Bruce K. Waltke, The Date of the Book of Daniel. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us, Daniel, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (later named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), is taken to Babylon, where they are ordered to learn Babylonian culture on Nebuchadnezzars orders. The first capture of Jerusalem and the first captives were the beginning of the end for Jerusalem, which had been made magnificent by David and Solomon. Here were four young men whose testimony has been a source of strength to every saint in temptation. To do so would certainly have offended God (see D&C 59:21 ). And in all matters bf wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. Darius notes Daniels good qualities and plans to elevate him to the highest administrative position. Ezekiel is remembered because his calling to be a prophet happened while in exile from King Nebuchadnezzar. Longman understands that Daniel was a 6th century BC hero and the original author of the book, with some later addition by one of his disciples. In the Bible, there were categories of prophets listed as major and minor, which is based on the length of their books in Gods Word. ; see above). Significantly, all of their Hebrew names indicate their relationship to the God of Israel, and in the customs of the time, connote devout parents. Montgomery states, It is not necessary to draw the conclusion that the youths were made eunuchs, as Jos. ), Prophets (c. 200 B.C. However, let me speculate. Daniel did not take credit to himself for what the Lord had done for his benefit. ; usually 165 B.C. When then he desired food and drink, God revealed to Jeremiah, who was in Sham: "Prepare food and drink for Danyal." In order to serve the King, Daniel needed to learn the language and literature of Babylonia. By knowledge and skill (or intelligence) is indicated that they not only had a thorough acquaintance with the learning of the Chaldeans, but that they had insight into its true meaning (James 1:5). Daniel 1:18-20, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzars dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. 1:11-14 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Bruce K. Waltke, The Date of the Book of Daniel. The writings of the prophets discuss how important it is for Christian people to change their ways to avoid Gods wrath, shining more of a light on the carnal intentions of people. And Praise be to God Who never forgets those who appeal to Him! Cyrus consented to the reconstruction of the sanctuary, but refused to let him go, saying, "If I had a thousand prophets . Named the weeping prophet, Jeremiah writes full expression of his emotions at the difficulties and struggles of the world. Their presence in the kings court also would be a pleasant reminder to the Babylonian king of his conquest and success in battle. She previously worked for eight years with Xulon Press as an editor. In addition to their natural intellectual ability and their evident careful application to their studies, God added His grace. 12 Archer writes, Despite the numerous objections whihc have been advanced by scholars who regard this as a prophecy written after the event, there is no good reason for denying to the sixth-century Daniel the composition of the entire work. The meaning here may include both: the general learning of the Chaldeans and specifically the learning of wise men, such as astrologers. The time interval between the first of Nisan (444 B.C.) By around the second century B.C.2 a three-fold division of the Hebrew Scriptures arose: The Law, The Prophets, and The Writings3, a. Therefore 'blessed is he who waits' (Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, 615-16). Ultimately the choice is left to the interpreter, although, as indicated above, some favor the thought of court officer.. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 38. On the other hand, if His appraisal is right, then His claim to deity cannot be questioned in this regard (Bruce K. Waltke, The Date of the Book of Daniel. Have you read my book on Daniel? Chapter 1 concludes with the simple statement that Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus. Even in the days of Israels apostasy, there were those who corresponded to Elijahs seven thousand in Israel who did not bow the knee to Baal. . What Kind of Place Is Jesus Preparing for Us? Christian Author Bookstore - Xulon Press Publishing. Rather, it is entirely in keeping with information available outside the Bible and supports the view that Daniel is a genuine book. In the Hebrew canon Daniel is not included among the prophets. A similar event involving Habakkuk and Daniel, however, is to be found in Lives of the Prophets. Daniel 8:1-12, Belshazzar holds a great feast and uses the holy vessels taken from Jerusalem. Jack Finegan, for instance, has demonstrated that the phrase the first year of Nebuchadnezzar in Jeremiah actually means the accession year of Nebuchadnezzar38 of the Babylonian reckoning. 37 Carl Frederick Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel, p. 60. 1:17-21 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. In verse 2, the same word is used in the normal meaning of came.. April 14, 2023 The term "prophet" is something that many have likely heard of, both within Christian and non-Christian circles. 2 Kings 6:8-23 ESV. The fact that the Hebrew youths were given heathen names, however, does not indicate that they departed from the Hebrew faith any more than in the case of Joseph (Gen 41:45). Isaiahs opening message is typical of this theme song of the prophets: They were a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. Hamelsar). Some aspects of apocalyptic literature which Daniel is accused of are: 1) It is pseudepigraphic--a false author is attached to the book to give it credibility, 2) The prophecies are vaticinia ex eventu or prophecies-after-the-event, 5. As noted previously, however, it would be most significant and natural for Ezekiel, a captive, to mention one of his own people who, though also a captive, had risen to a place of power second only to the king. This would be Jehoiakims fourth year according to the Nisan reckoning and the third year according to the Tishri calendar. What the Bible says about Daniel as Chief over Magi ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Daniel 2:48 Using the Brown, Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, we can define some of the key terms: "promoted" ( rebah )to grow long, tall, or great; to increase; to make great. The seventy years of the captivity were, in effect, God claiming the Sabbath, which Israel had violated, in order to give the land rest. 73 *Leupold credits Kliefoth as expressing this concept (Leupold, p. 66). Therefore, a placement in the writings does not determine a late date10, 3. al., The Aramaic of Daniel, in Notes on Some Problems in the Book of Daniel, 41-42; Bruce K. Waltke, The Date of the Book of Daniel. What about these major prophets led to them being classified as major, as opposed to the twelve minor prophets also featured in the Bible? As Graeme Bradford points out, Samuel, for example was a " nabi . He was truthful, wise[13]. While most all would agree that there are apocolyptic elementes to Daniel, this does not require that it also be modled after all aspects of apocalyptic literature. since it would have taken some time for it to have been accepted and included in the canon13, a. Aramaic: Daniels Aramaic demonstrates grammatical evidences for an early date more closely associated with the seventh and sixth centuries B.C. If you had, then you would already have answers to your question. Numbers 12:6 ESV. Certainly Daniel would not have been recognized as a prophet of God and the channel of divine revelation if he had not been a man of prayer and of uncompromising moral character, whom God could honor fittingly. He lived during the reign of Cyrus, and taught this prince the unity of God and the true religion of Islam. Thiele resolves the discrepancy by assuming that Daniel used the old calendar year in Judah which began in the fall in the month Tishri (Sept.-Oct.) and that Jeremiah used the Babylonian calendar which began in the spring in the month Nisan (March-April). 36 J. In this case, the capture of Daniel would be a year earlier or about 606 b.c.41. He is famous for successfully interpreting the proverbial "writing on the wall" and miraculously surviving the lions' den. On the other hand, if the predictions are fraudulent, then one must remain agnostic about Daniel's God. Of this, all the prophets spoke again and again. Then the supervisors . Daniel 5:30. [2] There are debates, however, that go on about Daniel's time of preaching and while in reports of Shia Islam from the Shia Imams he is considered as a prophet,[3] some Muslims from other branches of Islam believe that he was not a prophet but a saintly man. Daniel was deported 10 years before Ezekiel. This perhaps explains why these, in contrast to the other young men, are found true to God: they had godly homes in their earlier years. The change in the name of Daniel and his three companions focuses attention upon the meaning of both their Hebrew and Babylonian names. 3 The Writings include: (1) Poetical Books--Psalms, Proverbs, Job, (2) Five Rolls (Megilloth)--Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, Ecclesiastes, (3) Historical Books--Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles. Keil summarizes the problem in these words: The command of the king, that the young men should be fed with the food and wine from the kings table, was to Daniel and his friends a test of their fidelity to the Lord and to His law, like that to which Joseph was subjected in Egypt, corresponding to the circumstances in which he was placed, of his fidelity to God (Gen. 39:7 f.). than with the second century B.C.14, 1) Persian loan words in Daniel do not necessarily argue against an early date for the book since Daniel, who lived under the Persians, could have placed the material in its final form at the latter part of his life15, 2) Four of the nineteen Persian words are not translated well by the Greek renderings of about 100 B.C. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the kings meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.70. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. 53 *In his discussion, Leupold observes correctly, Critics should use uncertain terms with proper caution (Leupold, p. 59). Isaiah 1:1 explains that the prophet Isaiah received his revelations from God in a vision, one way that prophets can receive messages from God. Although he is not mentioned in the Qur'an,[1] nor in hadith of Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslim reports of him are taken from Isra'iliyyat, which bear his name and which refer to his time spent in the den of the lions. A graduate of Stetson University with a bachelor's in communications, Blair previously worked as a writer/editor for several local magazines in the Central Florida area, including Celebration Independent and Lake Magazine and currently writes for the Southwest Orlando Bulletin. 1:3).47 The significance of the name Ashpenaz has been much debated, but it seems best to agree with Young that its etymology is uncertain.48, It is probable that by eunuchs reference is made to important servants of the king, such as Potiphar (Gen 37:36), who was married. All are featured in books from the Bible, and Jeremiah may have written two. A. Hebrew: laynd meaning God is Judge., 1. 80 John Calvin, Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Daniel, 1:105. What Keil ignores is that Daniel is a most unusual case because he of all the prophets was the only one thoroughly instructed in Babylonian culture and point of view. forgery. The Jewish Talmud attributes the writing of Daniel to the Great Synagogue22 but it is questionable whether such a synagogue ever really existed. The great head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar, the one into whose hand God gave king Jehoiakim, the king of Judah. This is also a logical placement of Daniel becuase of the many prophetic visions in the book, A. It is hard to deny that these four prophets were major vehicles of prophecy that shaped who God is to us and what the future looks like for those who reject Him. Daniels handling of this problem sets the spiritual tone for the entire book. Therefore, some have suggested Daniel was castrated as well. With the possible exceptions of Moses and Solomon, Daniel was the most learned man in the Old Testament and most thoroughly trained for his important role in history and literature. of Early Life Of Daniel In Babylon Article contributed by www.walvoord.com The first chapter of Daniel is a beautifully written, moving story of the early days of Daniel and his companions in Babylon. Daniel proclaims to Darius that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. Scholars are generally agreed that Daniels name means God is judge or my judge is God or God has judged. Hananiah, whose name also appears elsewhere in the Bible, referring to other individuals (1 Ch 25:23; 2 Ch 26:11; Jer 36:12; etc.) The request to eat pulse or vegetables included a broad category of food. John F. Walvoord, long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation.
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