Daniel - Authorized King James Version (KJV)

Introduction

Daniel is a narrative book in the Old Testament that recounts key historical events and developments in Israel's history. The book contains important stories, characters, and events that contribute to the broader biblical narrative and redemptive history.

As with other biblical narratives, Daniel combines historical reporting with theological interpretation, showing how God works through historical circumstances and human actions to accomplish His purposes. The narrative demonstrates divine providence, human responsibility, and the consequences of both obedience and disobedience.

Throughout Daniel, readers can observe God's faithfulness to His covenant promises despite human failings and opposition. The book's events establish important precedents and patterns that inform biblical theology and provide context for understanding later Scriptural developments.

Historical Context

Daniel spans the Babylonian and early Persian periods (605-530 BCE), from Nebuchadnezzar's reign through Cyrus's conquest of Babylon. The book addresses Jewish faithfulness under foreign rule and divine sovereignty over international affairs.

Babylonian Court

The Babylonian court maintained international character with officials from various conquered territories. Training programs for foreign youth in Babylonian language and culture provided paths for advancement while testing loyalty to foreign gods and customs.

Persian Transition

Cyrus's conquest of Babylon (539 BCE) marked a significant policy shift toward religious tolerance and cultural restoration. The Persian administration utilized existing governmental structures while allowing conquered peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.

Major Themes

The book develops several significant theological themes:

Divine Providence

God sovereignly works through historical circumstances and human decisions to accomplish His purposes. Even through times of difficulty and apparent setbacks, God remains active in guiding history toward His intended outcomes.

Covenant Fidelity

The book traces God's faithfulness to His covenant promises despite human failings. This covenant relationship forms the framework for understanding Israel's successes, failures, and responsibilities.

Leadership and Authority

Various leaders demonstrate both positive and negative examples of exercising authority. Their successes and failures reveal principles of godly leadership and the consequences of abusing power.

Obedience and Blessing

The narrative demonstrates connections between faithfulness to God's commands and experiencing His blessing. Conversely, disobedience leads to various forms of judgment and discipline.

Key Passages

Read Complete Daniel Commentary

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15