Exegetical Paper On The Book Of Daniel

The book of Daniel is found between the major and minor prophets. Daniel was written during the sixth century BC/E (ETOT pg. 428). This book is also only one of two books in the Old Testament partially written in Aramaic. The book begins with the basic tension of the first half of the book. David and his friends are very wise and capable. They are recruited to serve in the royal palace of Babylon, however, they are pressured into giving up their Jewish identity. They would have and to violate many Jewish food laws found in the Torah. So, they decline and they choose faithfulness to the Torah and it puts them in danger. God delivers them and they end up being elevated by the king of Babylon. Then next chapter is about the king’s dream. His …show more content…
God’s justice and reign will soon fill the world. The next chapter describes Daniels three friends and how they refused to worship the idol statue. They are thrown into a fire but God delivers them from death. They are exalted by the king who now acknowledges their God as the true God. The next sections describe Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar’s pride. Both kinds are supposed to humble themselves before God’s kingdom. They both refuse. Overtime, Nebuchadnezzar become humble to God and he is restored as king. Belshazzar does not do this and he is assassinated. Daniel, just like his friends, refuse to worship the king as a God so he is sentenced to death. He is thrown into a lion’s den but God delivers him from the animals. David is saved and later has another dream. Daniel is unable to make sense of his dream until someone explains it to him. He sees different beasts that symbolize different kings who exalts themselves above God. In his dream, God destroys the beasts and allows Daniel to sit next to him on is thrown. Daniel has a second vision which describes how God will destroy the evil kings. Daniel then asks God how much longer Israel would be in exile