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The Book of Daniel is a 2nd century BC biblical apocalypse with a 6th century BC setting.[1] Ostensibly "an account of the activities and visions of Daniel, a noble Jew exiled at Babylon",[2] the text features a prophecy rooted in Jewish history, as well as a portrayal of the end times that is both cosmic in scope and political in its focus.[1] The message of the text intended for the original audience, was that just as the God of Israel saves Daniel from his enemies, so he would save the Israelites in their present oppression.[3]
The Hebrew Bible includes Daniel as one of the Ketuvim, while Christian biblical canons group the work with the major prophets.[4] It divides into two parts: a set of six court tales in chapters 1–6, written mostly in Biblical Aramaic, and four apocalyptic visions in chapters 7–12, written mainly in Late Biblical Hebrew;[5] the deuterocanonical books contain three additional sections, the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon.[6]
The book's themes have resonated throughout the ages, including with the community of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the authors of the canonical gospels and the Book of Revelation. From the 2nd century to the modern era, religious movements including the Reformation and later millennialist movements have been deeply influenced by it.[7]
- ^ a b Collins 1984, pp. 34–36.
- ^ Reid 2000, p. 315.
- ^ Brettler 2005, p. 218.
- ^ Bandstra 2008, p. 445.
- ^ Collins 2002, p. 2.
- ^ Cross & Livingstone 2005, p. 452.
- ^ Towner 1984, p. 2-3.