Table of Contents
General Editors' Preface 9
Acknowledgments 11
Abbreviations 13
Bibliography 15
Introduction 19
A. Interest in Daniel 20
B. Special Literary Features 21
C. Authorship 23
D. Date of Writing 24
E. Daniel the Statesman Prophet 27
F. Original Audience 29
G. Structure of the Book 31
H. Greek Versions of Daniel 32
I. Hermeneutical Issues 33
J. Approach of This Commentary 36
K. Theology of the Book 37
1. Absolute Sovereignty of God, Not Dualism 38
2. Responsible Free Will of Humans, Not Fatalism 38
3. Hopeful Optimism for God's People, Not Pessimism 40
Commentary 43
1. Stories from a Foreign Land (1:1-6:28) 43
A. Food Defilement: The First Test of Faithfulness (1:1-21) 44
1. The Setting (1:1-7) 50
2. The Test (1:8-14) 55
3. The Outcome (1:15-21) 58
B. Dream of a Statue: The First Test of Wisdom (2:1-49) 63
1. Scene 1:The King and His Wise Men (2:1-13) 71
2. Scene 2:Daniel, Arioch, and the King (2:14-16) 74
3. Scene 3:Daniel Before God (2:17-23) 75
4. Scene 4:Daniel, Arioch, and the King (2:24-25) 77
5. Scene 5:The King and His Wise Man (2:26-49) 78
C. Fiery Furnace:The Second Test of Faithfulness (3:1-30) 87
1. The Setting (3:1-7) 91
2. The Test (3:8-23) 94
3. The Outcome (3:24-30) 99
D. Dream of a Tree: The Second Test of Wisdom (4:1-37) 105
1. Opening Confession (4:1-3) 111
2. The Disturbing Dream (4:4-18) 112
3. Interpretation of the Dream (4:19-27) 116
4. Fulfillment of the Dream (4:28-33) 119
5. Closing Confession (4:34-37) 120
E. Writing on the Wall:The Third Test of Wisdom(5:1-31) 127
1. The King's Crisis (5:1-9) 132
2. The King's Hope (5:10-16) 134
3. God's Message for the King (5:17-28) 137
4. God's Fulfillment of the Message (5:29-31) 141
F. Lions' Pit:The Third Test of Faithfulness (6:1-28) 146
1. The Conspiracy (6:1-9) 152
2. The Offense (6:10-15) 155
3. The Execution (6:16-18) 157
4. The Deliverance (6:19-23) 158
5. The Conclusion (6:24-28) 160
II. Visions from a Foreign Land (7:1-12:13) 167
A. Vision of Four Beasts (7:1-28) 168
1. Introduction (7:1) 172
2. Report of the Images (7:2-14) 172
3. Interpretation of the Images (7:15-27) 180
4. Conclusion (7:28) 187
B. Vision of Two Beasts (8:1-27) 192
1. Introduction (8:1) 197
2. Report of the Images (8:2-14) 198
3. Interpretation of the Images (8:15-26) 204
4. Conclusion (8:27) 210
C. Vision of Seventy Sevens (9:1-27) 214
1. Insight from Jeremiah (9:1-2) 219
2. Prayer of Confession (9:3-19) 220
3. Arrival of a Heavenly Messenger (9:20-23) 226
4. Message from Heaven (9:24-27) 227
D. Vision of a Great War (10:1-12:13) 240
1. Vision Setting (10:1-11:1) 240
a. Circumstances of Daniel (10:1-4) 243
b. Arrival of a Heavenly Being (10:5-9) 245
c. Dialogue with the Heavenly Being (10:10-11:1) 246
2. Vision Message (11:2-12:4) 252
a. Overview of the Persian Empire (11:2) 259
b. Rise and Fall of a Mighty King (11:3-4) 260
c. Conflicts Between Kings of the South and North (11:5-20) 260
d. Reign of a Contemptible Person (11:21-12:4) 262
3. Final Clarifications (12:5-13) 280
a. First Question (12:5-7) 281
b. Second Question (12:8-10) 283
c. Final Recap (12:11-13) 284
