What Is the Book of Daniel?
The book of Daniel is one of the latest texts in the Hebrew Bible. Because of its late composition, it is found in the Writings (Ketuvim) section of Jewish Bibles, not in Prophets (Nevi’im), although some ancient traditions considered Daniel a prophet. (Christian Bibles include Daniel among the prophets.) While most of the book of Daniel is in Hebrew, parts of it (2:4b–7:28) are in Aramaic. The first six chapters are stories set in the periods of Babylonian and (like Esther) Persian rule and are more accurately classified as prose narrative than prophetic literature. Chapters 7–12 contain apocalyptic visions composed, for the most part, during the reign of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BCE), whose persecution of Judaism provoked the Hasmonean revolt of 167–165 BCE. Among their consequential themes are the presence of named angels as guardians of various nations, and the earliest statement of the belief in the resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12:2).
Related Primary Sources
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Court Legends of Daniel
Daniel 1, 5–6
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Apocalyptic Visions
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Daniel’s Prayer upon Learning the Secret of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel 2:19–23
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Michael, the Great Prince
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Resurrection for Many
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Daniel’s Thanksgiving for Enlightenment
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Daniel’s Penitential Prayer for Judean Restoration
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Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of Four Great Empires
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Daniel’s Dream of the Four Beasts and the Son of Man
