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Bible Dictionaries
Daniel (2)
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Daniel, book of. The book of Daniel was not placed among the prophetical books in the Hebrew Bible, but in the third division (writings) and after the Psalms. It is written partly in Chaldaic or Aramaic, and partly in the sacred Hebrew. The introduction, Daniel 1:1 to Daniel 2:4 a, is written in Hebrew. At the answer of the Chaldæans, which the A. V. says was made in "Syriac," the language changes to Aramaic, and this is retained till the close of the seventh chapter or Daniel 2:4-7. The personal introduction of Daniel as the writer of the text, 8:1, is marked by a change of the language again back to the Hebrew, which continues to the close of the book. Chs. 8 to 12. The book may be divided into three parts. The first chapter forms an introduction. The next six chapters, 2-7, give a general view of the progressive history of the powers of the world, and of the principles of the divine government as seen in the events of the lire of Daniel. The remainder of the book, chs. 8-12, traces in minuter detail the fortunes of the people of God, as typical of the fortunes of the Church in all ages. In the first seven chapters Daniel is spoken of historically; in the last five he appears personally as the writer. The cause of the difference of person is commonly supposed to lie in the nature of the case. The New Testament incidentally acknowledges each of the characteristic elements of the book, its miracles, Hebrews 11:33-34, its predictions, Matthew 24:15, and its appearance of the angel Gabriel, Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26. Statements in the book itself imply that it was written by Daniel, and this is confirmed by references to it in the New Testament and in first book of Maccabees 1:54; 2:59, 60. Josephus also reports that it was written by Daniel, "one of the greatest of the prophets." Antiq. 10:11. Some historical difficulties in the book have been removed by late discoveries, and as more light is gained respecting the history of this period, the external evidence tends to support the historical claims of the book.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Daniel (2)'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/d/daniel-2.html. 1893.
