Daniel
Prophet in the Court
c. 620-530 BCE
Biography
Daniel and his three companions (Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah — known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were selected as youths for training in the Babylonian court. They refused to defile themselves with the king's food and were given exceptional wisdom by God. Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the four-part statue (ch 2), the fiery furnace scene (ch 3) preserved his three companions, and the dream of the great tree (ch 4) was interpreted as Nebuchadnezzar's humbling. Under Belshazzar, Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall the night Babylon fell to Cyrus (ch 5). Under Darius the Mede, his prayer life led to his being thrown to the lions; the lions did not harm him (ch 6). The apocalyptic visions (ch 7-12) are among the most important in the Hebrew Bible. Chapter 7: the four beasts from the sea; the Ancient of Days; the Son of Man coming on clouds receiving an everlasting dominion. Chapter 8: the ram and the he-goat (Persia and Greece). Chapter 9: the seventy weeks — a prophecy of the coming anointed one cut off. Chapter 10-12: Michael's combat with the prince of Persia; the resurrection of "many who sleep in the dust of the earth" (12:2, the clearest OT resurrection verse). Daniel's "Son of Man" figure (ch 7) becomes Jesus' primary self-designation in the Gospels. The seventy weeks prophecy (ch 9) has generated more eschatological debate than perhaps any other OT passage.
Key Events
605 BCE
603
c. 585
539
c. 538
c. 530
Key Verses
“he changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings”
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not...”
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man”
“many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life”
Spiritual Significance
Daniel models diaspora faithfulness in high office. His apocalyptic visions shape Second Temple eschatology and New Testament apocalyptic. His seventy weeks prophecy is the most structurally important OT messianic timeline.
Typological Connection
The Son of Man (Dan 7:13) is Jesus's primary self-designation. The seventy weeks (Dan 9:24-27) is fulfilled in Messiah's coming and cutting off. The resurrection of Dan 12 is fulfilled in Christ's resurrection and awaited final resurrection.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Faithfulness under pressure; prayer discipline; wisdom in serving pagan kings while refusing to compromise.
Weaknesses
Periods of overwhelming grief at visions received (Dan 10:8 — "no strength was left in me"). Not a character flaw but the cost of revelation.
Lessons
Faithfulness in a foreign court is possible with divine enabling. Prayer discipline is non-negotiable. Apocalyptic hope sustains through empire-level chaos.
Related Characters
Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah
three companions
Nebuchadnezzar
king served and counseled
Darius the Mede
king under whom lions' den occurred
the angel Gabriel
interpreter of visions