1

Date of Daniel

2

““Probably no date of a biblical book has Probably no date of a biblical book has been so positively asserted or so stridently been so positively asserted or so stridently denied as that of Daniel.”denied as that of Daniel.”

3

Major Views of Authorship

The Sixth Century BC DateThe Sixth Century BC Date

Around 165 BCAround 165 BC

Chapters 1-6 maybe as early as the sixth Chapters 1-6 maybe as early as the sixth century, but 7-12 latercentury, but 7-12 later

4

An Old Problem

Porphyry wrote his twelfth book against the Porphyry wrote his twelfth book against the prophecy of Daniel, denying that it was prophecy of Daniel, denying that it was composed by the person to whom it is composed by the person to whom it is ascribed in its title, ascribed in its title,

5

An Old Problem (cont.)

but rather by some individual living in but rather by some individual living in Judaea at the time of the Antiochus who Judaea at the time of the Antiochus who was surnamed Ephiphanes. He furthermore was surnamed Ephiphanes. He furthermore alleged that “Daniel” did not foretell the alleged that “Daniel” did not foretell the future so much as he related the past, future so much as he related the past,

6

An Old Problem (cont.)

and lastly that whatever he spoke of up till and lastly that whatever he spoke of up till the time of Antiochus contained authentic the time of Antiochus contained authentic history, whereas anything he may have history, whereas anything he may have conjectured beyond that point was false, conjectured beyond that point was false, inasmuch as he would not have foreknown inasmuch as he would not have foreknown the future…the future…

7

An Old Problem (cont.)

But this very attack testifies to Daniel’s But this very attack testifies to Daniel’s accuracy. For so striking was the reliability accuracy. For so striking was the reliability of what the prophet foretold, that he could of what the prophet foretold, that he could not appear to unbelievers as a predicter of not appear to unbelievers as a predicter of the future, but rather a narrator of things the future, but rather a narrator of things already past.already past.

8

How Do We Know the Bible is the Word of God?

Impartiality of the Biblical WritersImpartiality of the Biblical Writers Calmness of the AuthorsCalmness of the Authors Unexplained Brevity of the New Testament Unexplained Brevity of the New Testament

RecordsRecords Air of Infallibility of the Biblical WritersAir of Infallibility of the Biblical Writers Power of the Scriptures to Move Men to Power of the Scriptures to Move Men to

Holy LivingHoly Living

9

Ezekiel 40-48

Return from CaptivityReturn from Captivity Christ Dwells with Christ Dwells with

Man in his ministry Man in his ministry (John 1:14)(John 1:14)

God dwells with us in eternity (Rev. 21:3)

10

Is Daniel 11:40ff Failed Prophecy?

1. Telescoping -- two events connected 1. Telescoping -- two events connected theologically are separated chronologicallytheologically are separated chronologically

2. Emphasize the reason for judgment-set 2. Emphasize the reason for judgment-set himself against the people of Godhimself against the people of God

3. An apocalyptic ideal3. An apocalyptic ideal

11

The Language of Daniel

Fifteen Persian Words in Daniel Fifteen Persian Words in Daniel By the time the Septuagint was translated By the time the Septuagint was translated

the meaning of four of these words was the meaning of four of these words was purely guess workpurely guess work

12

Persian Words

The fifteen Persian words are largely The fifteen Persian words are largely pertaining to government functions and pertaining to government functions and administrative titles.administrative titles.

No Greek terms are found to describe these No Greek terms are found to describe these government functions or administrative government functions or administrative titles.titles.

13

Greek Words in Daniel

Three Greek words appear in Daniel’s list Three Greek words appear in Daniel’s list of musical instruments in Daniel 3:5of musical instruments in Daniel 3:5

Greek mercenaries served in the Babylonian Greek mercenaries served in the Babylonian army by 600 BC so the people would have army by 600 BC so the people would have been exposed to Greek words by Daniel’s been exposed to Greek words by Daniel’s time.time.

14

Hebrew Language

The Hebrew of Daniel more closely The Hebrew of Daniel more closely resembles the Chronicler than the Mishnah resembles the Chronicler than the Mishnah or Qumran. or Qumran.

15

Aramaic Language

The Aramaic of Daniel is closer to Ezra The Aramaic of Daniel is closer to Ezra (4:8-6:18) and the fifth century Elephantine (4:8-6:18) and the fifth century Elephantine papyri than Qumranpapyri than Qumran

16

Dates of Daniel

Asses-Asses-sion sion yearyear

1:11:1 AccessiAccession yearon year

1st yr.1st yr. 2nd yr.2nd yr. 3rd yr.3rd yr.

Non-Non-AssessiAssession yr.on yr.

Jer. Jer. 25:1,925:1,9

46:246:2

1st yr1st yr 2nd yr2nd yr 3rd yr3rd yr 4th yr.4th yr.

17

Persian Kings

Cyrus 539-530Cyrus 539-530 Cambyses 530-522Cambyses 530-522 Darius 521-486Darius 521-486 XerxesXerxes 486-464486-464 Artaxerxes 464-423Artaxerxes 464-423

18

Who was Darius the Mede?

1. Shea claimed he was Gubaru.1. Shea claimed he was Gubaru. 2. Whitcomb believed the same, but 2. Whitcomb believed the same, but

distinguished between Gubaru and Ugbaru.distinguished between Gubaru and Ugbaru. 3. Wiseman claimed Darius was the Median 3. Wiseman claimed Darius was the Median

name of King Cyrus.name of King Cyrus.

19

Historical Accuracy of Daniel

Nebuchadnezzar pictured as changing Nebuchadnezzar pictured as changing Babylonian law at will (2:12, 46).Babylonian law at will (2:12, 46).

Darius the Mede unable to change the laws Darius the Mede unable to change the laws of the Medes and Persians (6:8).of the Medes and Persians (6:8).

20

Historical Accuracy of Daniel (cont.)

Babylonians used fire as a means of capital Babylonians used fire as a means of capital punishment (3:11)punishment (3:11)

Persians used the lions’ den as a means of Persians used the lions’ den as a means of capital punishment (6:7)capital punishment (6:7)

21

Kingdoms of Daniel 2 and 7

Babylonian 605-539Babylonian 605-539 Medo-Persian 539-331Medo-Persian 539-331 Greece 331-167Greece 331-167 Roman 63 -- New Testament times and Roman 63 -- New Testament times and

beyondbeyond

22

Liberal View of the Four Kingdoms

BabylonianBabylonian MedianMedian PersianPersian GreecianGreecian

23

Does Daniel View the Median and Persian Kingdom as Different Kingdoms?

5:28 5:28 6:8, 12, 156:8, 12, 15 8:20-218:20-21

24

Qumran and the Date of Daniel Because of findings at Qumran a Maccabean Because of findings at Qumran a Maccabean

date for Chronicles, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes as date for Chronicles, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes as been eliminated.been eliminated.

One Qumran manuscript of Daniel can be dated One Qumran manuscript of Daniel can be dated no later than 120 BC.no later than 120 BC.

Does this leave enough time for a book written Does this leave enough time for a book written in 165 to be accepted and spread over a large in 165 to be accepted and spread over a large area?area?

25

The Apocrypha and the Date of Daniel

I Maccabees 4:40 and 14:41 view prophecy I Maccabees 4:40 and 14:41 view prophecy as past as past

I Maccabees 1:54 may quote from Daniel I Maccabees 1:54 may quote from Daniel