when in daniel write daniel?

When did Daniel Write?

Liberals typically declare that the Book of Daniel had to

be written during the reign of Antiochus IV (175-164

BC).


Liberals typically declare that the Book of Daniel had to

be written during the reign of Antiochus IV (175-164

BC).

The reasoning is that the book so accurately portrays

the events surrounding the reign of Antiochus, it had to

be written after the events took place.


Samuel Rolles Driver, a well-known liberal scholar,

wrote a commentary on Daniel in 1901.



wrote a commentary on Daniel in 1901.◦ “The minuteness of the predictions, embracing even special

events in the distant future, is . . . out of harmony with the

analogy of prophecy.”



wrote a commentary on Daniel in 1901.◦ “The minuteness of the predictions, embracing even special

events in the distant future, is . . . out of harmony with the

analogy of prophecy.”

◦ While Driver did not deny predictive prophecy as a rule, he did

declare that the predictions in Daniel were too precise to be

written before they took place.


The issue with many interpreters is simply an anti-

supernatural bias.



supernatural bias.◦ They believe that any God who might be out there could never

have the power to know the future.





◦ Therefore, they come to the book already believing that it could

not have been written prior to the events it predicts.





◦ Therefore, they come to the book already believing that it could

not have been written prior to the events it predicts.

◦ Then, they find “evidence” that the book was written during

Antiochus’ reign.


Initial Bias:

Daniel written ca 165

BC

Read Book:

Find “evidence”


If the book was written during the reign of Antiochus,

contrary to the claims of Scripture, then how can we

trust any part of Scripture?


If the Book of Daniel was written during the reign of

Antiochus, then Jesus Christ was simply a fraud.



Antiochus, then Jesus Christ was simply a fraud.◦ “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the

prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader

understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the

mountains” (Mt 24:15-16, ESV).



Antiochus, then Jesus Christ was simply a fraud.◦ Mt 24:15-16.

◦ Shouldn’t we expect that the Son of God would know if the

historical Daniel wrote the book that bears his name?



Antiochus, then Jesus Christ was simply a fraud.◦ Mt 24:15-16.

◦ Shouldn’t we expect that the Son of God would know if the

historical Daniel wrote the book that bears his name?

Yes, this is strong language, but either Jesus Christ or

the liberal theology is right.


In an earlier era, this material was only espoused in

liberal seminaries.



liberal seminaries.◦ However, Newsweek, Time, the Discovery Channel, etc., have

popularized this view.



liberal seminaries.◦ However, Newsweek, Time, the Discovery Channel, etc., have

popularized this view.

◦ Thus, it’s essential that we take some time to establish the

validity of the Scriptures.


The testimony in the book is that it was written by

Daniel.



Daniel.◦ 7:2; 8:1; 9:2; 12:4, 9.



Daniel.◦ 7:2; 8:1; 9:2; 12:4, 9.

◦ It is amazing that "scholars" living so long after the writing of

Daniel would know more about who wrote it than the author

himself!


Daniel is mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel, another

book coming from the Babylonian Exile.



book coming from the Babylonian Exile.◦ 14:14, 20.



book coming from the Babylonian Exile.◦ 14:14, 20.

◦ The picture of Daniel in the Book of Ezekiel matches the

picture painted of Daniel in the Book of Daniel (Ezek 28:3).


The ancient Jews believed that no books were added

to the Old Testament after the reign of Artaxerxes (464-

424 BC).


About this, Josephus writes: "This interval of time [the writing of the Old

Testament] was little short of three thousand years; but as to the time from

the death of Moses till the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, who reigned

after Xerxes, the prophets, who were after Moses, wrote down what was

done in their times in thirteen books [the Minor Prophets were considered

one book: “The Book of the Twelve”]. The remaining four books contain

hymns to God, and precepts for the conduct of human life. It is true, our

history hath been written since Artaxerxes very particularly, but hath not

been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our forefathers,

because there hath not been an exact succession of prophets since that

time; and how firmly we have given credit to these books of our own nation

is evident by what we do; for during so many ages as have already

passed, no one has been so bold as either to add any thing to them, to

take any thing from them, or to make any change in them; but it is become

natural to all Jews immediately, and from their very birth, to esteem these

books to contain Divine doctrines, and to persist in them, and, if occasion

be willingly to die for them" (Against Apion, I.8).


While the Jews accepted no books as authentic after

the reign of Artaxerxes, they always accepted the Book

of Daniel as canonical.




of Daniel as canonical.◦ Other books were written during the Intertestamental Period

(e.g., 1 & 2 Maccabees).





(e.g., 1 & 2 Maccabees). Josephus says that such books "hath

not been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our

forefathers."





(e.g., 1 & 2 Maccabees). Josephus says that such books "hath

not been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our

forefathers.“

◦ If Daniel were written after the reign of Artaxerxes (as the

liberals claim), why did the Jews accept it as canonical?


The casting of Daniel's three companions & Daniel's

casting into the den of lions is recorded in 1

Maccabees (1 Macc 2:59-60).




Maccabees (1 Macc 2:59-60).◦ “Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their faith, were saved

from the fire. Daniel, for his innocence, was delivered from the

jaws of lions” (1 Macc 2:59-60).




Maccabees (1 Macc 2:59-60).◦ 1 Maccabees was probably written about 100 BC.





◦ In an era prior to the printing press & the Internet, it took

considerable time for books to circulate.







Remember, they had to be copied by hand.







Remember, they had to be copied by hand.

It is highly unlikely that a book could gain widespread readership in

just 60 years.


As previously mentioned, Jesus Christ believed the

book was written by the historical Daniel.


Josephus, writing about AD 94, accepted the book as

historical.



historical.◦ As mentioned last week, Josephus says that the Book of

Daniel was shown to Alexander the Great on his visit to

Jerusalem.



historical.◦ As mentioned last week, Josephus says that the Book of

Daniel was shown to Alexander the Great on his visit to

Jerusalem. While most modern historians deny that Alexander

ever set foot in Jerusalem, his use of that legend shows he

accepted the Book as written before the reign of Antiochus.



historical.◦ Josephus recounts the horrible events surrounding the reign of

Antiochus IV.



historical.◦ Josephus recounts the horrible events surrounding the reign of

Antiochus IV.

"It so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things under

Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel's vision, and what he

wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same

manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and

that our country should be made desolate by them. All these things

did this man leave in writing, as God had showed them to him,

insomuch that such as read his prophecies, and see how they

have been fulfilled, would wonder at the honor wherewith God

honored Daniel" (Antiquities of the Jews, X.11.7).


Daniel also shows a precise knowledge of ancient

culture.



culture.◦ If one were to forge a letter from a historical figure (e.g.,

George Washington), he would need to write in the style of that

figure.





figure.

He would need a good grasp of geography, culture, language,

political environment, economy, etc.





figure.



Today, it wouldn’t be terribly difficult to do so with a good library &

diligent research.





figure.



Today, it wouldn’t be terribly difficult to do so with a good library &

diligent research.

However, such knowledge of 6th century Persia would have been in

short supply in 2nd century Palestine.


Daniel shows an immense knowledge of 6th century

Palestine.



Palestine.◦ Daniel is quite precise in the way he describes the magi (2:4,

27). Archaeological discoveries have confirmed the accuracy

of Daniel's description.






◦ Daniel describes the practice of Belshazzar's wives &

concubines eating with men on festive occasions (5:1-4). This

was the practice in ancient Persia, but it was not the practice in

ancient Palestine.









ancient Palestine.

◦ Daniel refers to the law of the Medes & Persians (5:28; 6:8, 12,

15); in later history, because of the rise of the Persian Empire,

the Persians were mentioned first (cf Est 1:19).









ancient Palestine.

◦ Daniel refers to the law of the Medes & Persians (5:28; 6:8, 12,

15); in later history, because of the rise of the Persian Empire,

the Persians were mentioned first (cf Est 1:19).

◦ Daniel places the city of Shushan in the province of Elam (8:2);

later, however, the city was located in the province of Susiana.


Scrolls of Daniel have been found at Qumran (the

community that gave us the Dead Sea Scrolls).


Scrolls of Daniel have been found at Qumran (the

community that gave us the Dead Sea Scrolls).

Evidence from these scrolls show that the original was

composed several hundred years before the second

century BC. The evidence that has been uncovered at

Qumran is complex & linguistic, but it does

demonstrate that Daniel was written well before the

reign of Antiochus.


By the time of the Greek writer Herodotus, the name

"Belshazzar" (5:1) had disappeared until it was

rediscovered in the late 1800's.


By the time of the Greek writer Herodotus, the name

"Belshazzar" (5:1) had disappeared until it was

rediscovered in the late 1800's.

How could a writer in the second century BC get a

name right when the name had disappeared from

historical records?

when in daniel write daniel?

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