Episode 1 of 12 · General introduction to the book of Daniel

  1. Episode 1: General introduction to the book of Daniel
  2. Episode 2: Nebuchadnezzar's “second year” and the chronology of Daniel 2
  3. Episode 3: The Prayer of Nabonidus (4Q242) and Daniel 4
  4. Episode 4: The “seven times” of Daniel 4: seven years or an indefinite period?
  5. Episode 5: The prophet Daniel
  6. Episode 6: Structure and organization of the book of Daniel
  7. Episode 7: Daniel 1 – Faithful in Babylon: living in a foreign world without losing one's identity
  8. Episode 8: Daniel 2 – The God who reveals mysteries and directs history
  9. Episode 9: Daniel 2 – The statue and the kingdoms: when God reveals the meaning of history
  10. Episode 10: Daniel 3 – Faithful even in the furnace
  11. Episode 11: Nebuchadnezzar humbled: the king's pride before the sovereignty of God
  12. Episode 12: The prophet Daniel

The Revelation of Daniel

Further reading
  • ANN096 The 360-day years in the Bible

    The article discusses the idea of 360-day years in the Bible, linked to major prophecies such as those in Daniel and Revelation. These years…

  • ANN067 The explanation of Daniel’s 70 weeks

    The article deciphers Daniel's 70 weeks, contrasting the theories of Anderson and Denney for dating Jesus' crucifixion. Anderson proposes a chronology based…

Biblical prophecies and the ‘end times’

  1. DAN000 General introduction to the book of Daniel

    General introduction to the book of Daniel, a major prophetic text of the Old Testament. This article lays the historical, literary and theological foundations needed to understand this apocalyptic book, addressing its structure, author, main themes and the exegetical debates over its date and reliability.

    Daniel 1.1-6 (King James Version) :
    In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;Notethe wine…: Heb. the wine of his drinkChildren in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Dedicated appendices

  1. ANX020 Nebuchadnezzar's ‘second year’ and the chronology of Daniel 2

    Daniel 2 begins as follows: “In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams. His spirit was troubled, and he could not sleep…

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  2. ANX052 The Prayer of Nabonidus (4Q242) and Daniel 4

    The Prayer of Nabonidus is a fragmentary Aramaic text discovered in Cave 4 at Qumran. It is generally designated by the abbreviation 4Q242, “…

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  3. ANX053 The “seven times” of Daniel 4: seven years or an unspecified period?

    The expression appears several times in the chapter, notably in the announcement concerning Nebuchadnezzar. The Aramaic uses the noun עִדָּן (ʿiddān), plural עִדָּנִין (ʿiddānîn). The meaning…

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Chronology

  1. CHR001 The prophet Daniel

    The article examines the figure of the prophet Daniel in a series of chronological studies on the life of Jesus. It focuses on Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks and discusses its historical and interpretive implications, while also exploring the context of the reign of King Josiah.

    Daniel 9.24-27 (King James Version) :
    Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

The Revelation of Daniel

  1. DAN001 Structure and Organization of the Book of Daniel

    The complex, bilingual book of Daniel presents narratives and prophetic visions illustrating the succession of human kingdoms and God's eternal sovereignty. Faithful in exile, Daniel becomes a prophet, revealing major prophecies culminating in deliverance and resurrection.

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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  2. DAN002 Daniel 1 – Faithful in Babylon: living in a foreign world without losing one's identity

    Daniel 1 shows how Daniel and his friends manage to remain true to their faith in a foreign setting, despite attempts at cultural transformation, through wisdom and faithfulness to God.

    Daniel 1.2 (King James Version) :
    And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  3. DAN003 Daniel 2 – The God who reveals mysteries and directs history

    Daniel 2 reveals God's sovereignty over history. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, receives an inexplicable dream that the wise men cannot interpret. Through God, Daniel describes a statue representing successive kingdoms. God, rather than empires, rules history. This affirms Daniel's faith and divine power.

    Daniel 2.27-28 (King James Version) :
    Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  4. DAN004 Daniel 2 – The statue and the kingdoms: when God reveals the meaning of history

    This article analyses Nebuchadnezzar's dream described in Daniel 2, in which a multicoloured statue projects an image of future empires. The importance of this vision lies in the final emergence of God's eternal Kingdom, surpassing earthly kingdoms.

    Daniel 8.21 (King James Version) :
    And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  5. DAN005 Daniel 3 – Faithful even in the furnace

    Three Judeans refuse to worship a golden statue during Nebuchadnezzar's reign, risking their lives out of faithfulness to God. Thrown into a furnace, they are miraculously protected by an angel. This account illustrates the conflict between human authority and faithfulness to God.

    Daniel 3.22 (King James Version) :
    Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  6. DAN006 Nebuchadnezzar humbled: the king's pride before God's sovereignty

    The article recounts how King Nebuchadnezzar's pride is confronted with divine sovereignty through a dream of an immense tree being cut down. Daniel interprets this dream as a divine warning against the king's arrogance and urges him to repent. After a period symbolized by 'seven times', Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's supremacy, regains his sanity, and restores his kingdom.

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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Additional Information

  1. CHA005 The prophet Daniel

    The article explores Daniel's life and prophetic writings in depth, revealing chronological periods vital to understanding the prophecies. Josiah, king of Judah, is described as a devoted servant of God who dies tragically while defying Egypt. Daniel, then a young man, begins his prophetic destiny in this turbulent setting.

    2 Kings 22.18-20 (King James Version) :
    But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
    Read more

    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate