In the third year of King Jehoiakim, God allows Jerusalem to fall into the power of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon. A2 (7:1–28) – A vision of four world kingdoms replaced by a fifthĬontent Chapters of the Book of Daniel.C2 (5:1–31) – Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar.C1 (4:1–37) – Daniel interprets a dream for Nebuchadnezzar.B1 (3:1–30) – Daniel's three friends in the fiery furnace.A1 (2:4b-49) – A dream of four kingdoms replaced by a fifth.The following is taken from Paul Redditt's "Introduction to the Prophets": There is a recognised chiasm (a concentric literary structure in which the main point of a passage is placed in the centre and framed by parallel elements on either side in "ABBA" fashion) in the chapter arrangement of the Aramaic section. 10: The angel's revelation: kings of the north and south (10:1–12:13 – Persian era, mention of Greek era Hebrew)Ĭhiastic structure in the Aramaic section.9: Interpretation of Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy weeks (9:1–27 – Median era Hebrew).8: The ram and the he-goat (8:1–27 – Babylonian era Hebrew).7: The beasts from the sea (7:1–28 – Babylonian era: Aramaic).
Ostensibly "an account of the activities and visions of Daniel, a noble Jew exiled at Babylon", it combines a prophecy of history with an eschatology (a portrayal of end times) both cosmic in scope and political in focus, and its message is that just as the God of Israel saves Daniel from his enemies, so he would save all Israel in their present oppression. The Book of Daniel is a 2nd-century BC biblical apocalypse with a 6th century BC setting.