Daniel
The main character of the Book of Daniel, a Jewish youth in Babylonian captivity known for wisdom and visions.
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Daniel (Aramaic and Hebrew: דָּנִיֵּאל, romanized: Dānīyyēʾl, lit. 'God is my Judge'; Greek: Δανιήλ, romanized: Daniḗl; Arabic: دانيال, romanized: Dāniyāl) is the main character of the Book of Daniel. According to the Hebrew Bible, Daniel was a noble Jewish youth of Jerusalem taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, serving the king and his successors with loyalty and ability until the time of the Persian conqueror Cyrus, all the while remaining true to the God of Israel. While some conservative scholars hold that Daniel existed and his book was written in the 6th century BCE, most scholars agree that Daniel, as depicted in the Book of Daniel, was not a historical figure, wherein the character was probably based on a similar legendary Daniel from earlier traditions. It follows that much of the book is a cryptic allusion to the reign of the 2nd century BCE Hellenistic king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- Siege of Jerusalem
- Daniel 1:1
- Dream of four kingdoms
- Daniel 2:40
- Fiery furnace deliverance
- Daniel 3:27
- Nebuchadnezzar's madness
- Daniel 4:33
- Writing on the wall
- Daniel 5:8
- Seventy weeks prophecy
- Daniel 9:26
Lore & Background
Daniel's name means 'God (El) is my judge'. The Bible also briefly mentions three other individuals of this name: a legendary Daniel famed for wisdom and righteousness in the Book of Ezekiel (14:14, 14:20 and 28:3); a priest named Daniel who went from Babylon to Jerusalem with Ezra (Ezra 8:2); and a son of David called Daniel (1 Chronicles 3:1). Daniel (Dn'il, or Danel) is also the name of a figure in the Aqhat legend from Ugarit (tablet dated c. 1360 BCE). The authors of the tales in the first half of the Book of Daniel probably took the name of their hero from Ezekiel; the author of the visions in the second half took his hero's name from the tales. The tales in chapters 1–6 can be dated to the 3rd or early 2nd centuries BCE; the visions in chapters 8–12 were added between 167 and 164 BCE. In the tales, Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, given new names (Daniel is given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar), and receive wisdom from God. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, interprets the writing on the wall for Belshazzar, and is thrown into a den of lions but saved by an angel. In the visions, Daniel sees four beasts, a ram and a goat, and a period of 70 sevens of years, culminating in a struggle between the 'king of the north' and the 'king of the south'. The Greek text of Daniel contains three additional tales: the tale of Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon (two episodes). The last mention of Daniel in the Book of Daniel is in the third year of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1). Rabbinic sources suppose he was still alive during the reign of Ahasuerus, but he was killed by Haman. The 1st century Jewish writer Josephus reported that Daniel's body lay in a tower in Ecbatana in Parthia, alongside the bodies of the kings of the Medes and Persians; later Jewish authorities said he was buried in Susa. Muslim sources reported that the Muslims had discovered his body.
Reader's Guide
Six cities claim the Tomb of Daniel, the most famous being that in Susa, in southern Iran, at a site known as Shush-e Daniyal. He is not a prophet in Judaism, but the rabbis reckoned him to be the most distinguished member of the Babylonian diaspora, unsurpassed in piety and good deeds, firm in his adherence to the Law despite being surrounded by enemies who sought his ruin, and in the first few centuries CE they wrote down the many legends that had grown up around his name. He is considered a prophet in Christianity, and although he is not mentioned in the Quran, Muslim sources describe him as a prophet.
Did You Know?
- Daniel's name means 'God (El) is my judge'.
- The Book of Ezekiel refers to a legendary Daniel famed for wisdom and righteousness.
- Daniel is given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar in the Book of Daniel.
- The Greek text of Daniel contains three additional tales, including the tale of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon.
- Six cities claim the Tomb of Daniel, the most famous being in Susa, Iran.
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