(ot3) Daniel - Introduction

Daniel: Introduction Dani T. (CE3)

Book of Daniel •

Enigma?  questions about unity, authorship, dating & historicity o

Made up of two different types of material

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Written in two languages

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Divided into narrative and visions

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In Christian Bible numbered with OT prophets, in HB in the writings

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Overarching message clear though  in spite of present circumstances, God is in control

Place in Canon •

In the Prophets

o LXX & English  places Daniel in the prophets o Jesus, DDS & Josephus  “Daniel the prophet’ in Mt 24:15 o •

Like some OT prophets Daniel had visions and predicted future

In the Writings o

Hebrew canon

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Most scholars  Daniel written after Prophets was regarded as completed (c.200BC)

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Daniel’s ministry was no prophetic in OT sense •

Did not deliver God’s message of judgement and/or comfort his own generation

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Possessed a prophetic gift but not occupy office of prophet o

However, distinction between office and gift is a later one

Language •

One of only two biblical books written in 2 languages: Hebrew & Aramaic

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But linguistic interchange does not coincide with the books literary or unitary divisions

o 1.1-2.4a & 8-12  Hebrew o 2.4b – 7:28  Aramaic : beginning of a speech and end of a section •

Presumes that the final compiler (if not actual author) and intended readership were bilingual o

Strongly suggests a post-exilic setting in which Aramaic became perhaps the predominant language of the Judaeans (whose primary historical language was Hebrew)

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Explanations for why the book is in two languages. All high speculative and not particularly compelling 1. Daniel originally written in Hebrew but some parts lost and subsequently replaced by Aramaic translation. 

Doesn’t explain why the breaks come at convenient points, which suggest breaks were deliberate

2. Daniel was written in Aramaic but parts were then translated into Hebrew for inclusion into canon 

Argument that Hebrew is poor quality and best seen as translation

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However, why not translate the whole book? •

Silly suggestion that the inspectors would content themselves with just a cursory examination of the merchandise

3. Daniel is a composite work of two or three different authors •

Strongest evidence for multiple authorship in any document consists in differences of genre, and theology between stories (1-6) and visions (7-12). o

This distinction cuts right across the language division

4. Different languages reflect the social status of two different audiences

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Author wrote 2-7 in aramaic for a general audience

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Added 8-12 in Hebrew for learned readership

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Finally replaced original Aramaic introduction with one in Hebrew o

Bit complicated and leaves unexplained the transition in 2.4

5. The author consciously imitated Ezra •

Ezra Had material in Aramaic and reverted to Hebrew at end. Daniel copied Ezra o

However, the Aramaic in Ezra is in two sections

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Very different to the one long block of Aramaic in Daniel

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Silly explanation that the author forgot to revert back to Hebrew

6. Developmental/Supplementary approach  probably best explanation to date o

Hebrew-Aramaic evolved through a number of stages i. Individual tales of 2-6 circulated independently ii. Initially collection of 3:32-6:29 iii. Aramaic tales collected with introductory Chp 1 in Hellenistic period iv. Daniel 7 composed in early years of Antiochene persuection v. 8-12 in Hebrew added between 167-164 BC and Chapter 1 translated to provide a Hebrew frame for book

Ultimately the lingual structure does not match up well with the theological/narrative structure.