The secondary literature on Daniel is vast. Therefore, the following book (still) is an invaluable tool for any serious student of the Book of Daniel:
Henry O. Thompson: The Book of Daniel. An Annotated Bibliography. (Books of the Bible 1; Garland Reference Library of Humanities 1310). New York/Loondon: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1993. Pp. xli + 547. ISBN 0-8240-4873-3.
In addition to an impressive annotated bibliography (which also covers literature in other languages than English), Thompson offers a short but fine introduction to the Book of Daniel.
Highly recommended!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Five 'Kingdoms' in the Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel provides apocalyptic prophecies about the rise and fall of four secular kingdoms or empires (cf. Dan 2, 7, 8 and 11), followed by a fifth (and eternal) kingdom.
These 'kingdoms' are:
(1) Neo-Babylonia;
(2) Medo-Persia;
(3) Greece of Alexander the great;
(4) the 'rival diadochoi' Egypt and Syria (with Antiochus IV as the "little horn" mentioned in Dan 7 and Dan 8)
...followed by (5) God's kingdom (of the Most High, cf. Dan 7:27).
After the 'Jewish War' (66-70 CE) and the fall of Jerusalem, the erroneous assumption arose that the four empires should be identified with (1) Neo-Babylonia; (2) Medo-Persia; (3) Greece (together with the 'diadochoi'); and (4) the Roman Empire (cf. 4 Ezra). This interpretation, however, is in conflict with both the internal evidence from the Book of Daniel and the rest of the Bible.
These 'kingdoms' are:
(1) Neo-Babylonia;
(2) Medo-Persia;
(3) Greece of Alexander the great;
(4) the 'rival diadochoi' Egypt and Syria (with Antiochus IV as the "little horn" mentioned in Dan 7 and Dan 8)
...followed by (5) God's kingdom (of the Most High, cf. Dan 7:27).
After the 'Jewish War' (66-70 CE) and the fall of Jerusalem, the erroneous assumption arose that the four empires should be identified with (1) Neo-Babylonia; (2) Medo-Persia; (3) Greece (together with the 'diadochoi'); and (4) the Roman Empire (cf. 4 Ezra). This interpretation, however, is in conflict with both the internal evidence from the Book of Daniel and the rest of the Bible.
Major Commentaries on the Book of Daniel
Among the commentaries on the Book of Daniel, only a few deserve the label excellent. For the serious study of the Book of Daniel they are, of course, mandatory.
Some of these commentaries are (in alphabetic order):
Collins, John. J.: Daniel. A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993.
Goldingay, John E.: Daniel. (Word Biblical Commentary, 30). Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1989.
Koch, Klaus: Daniel. (Biblischer Kommentar. Altes Testament, 22). Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag des Erziehungsvereins, 1986-2005.
Lattey, Cuthbert: The Book of Daniel. (The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scripture; The Old Testament. Dublin: Richview Press, 1948.
Linder, Josef: Commentarius in librum Daniel. (Cursus Scripturae Sacrae II; Commentarii in Vetus Testamentum 23). Paris: Lethielleux, 1939.
Lucas, Ernest C.: Daniel. (Apollos Old Testament Commentary, 20). Leicester: Apollos, 2002.
Rinaldi, Giovanni: Daniele. (La Sacra Bibbia. Anticho Testamento). Torino: Marietti, 1962.
Stuart, Moses: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. Boston: Crocker & Brewston, 1850.
A very good introduction to the (academic) study of the Book of Daniel is found in Klaus Koch's Das Buch Daniel. (Erträge der Forschung, 144). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1980.
Some of these commentaries are (in alphabetic order):
Collins, John. J.: Daniel. A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993.
Goldingay, John E.: Daniel. (Word Biblical Commentary, 30). Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1989.
Koch, Klaus: Daniel. (Biblischer Kommentar. Altes Testament, 22). Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag des Erziehungsvereins, 1986-2005.
Lattey, Cuthbert: The Book of Daniel. (The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scripture; The Old Testament. Dublin: Richview Press, 1948.
Linder, Josef: Commentarius in librum Daniel. (Cursus Scripturae Sacrae II; Commentarii in Vetus Testamentum 23). Paris: Lethielleux, 1939.
Lucas, Ernest C.: Daniel. (Apollos Old Testament Commentary, 20). Leicester: Apollos, 2002.
Rinaldi, Giovanni: Daniele. (La Sacra Bibbia. Anticho Testamento). Torino: Marietti, 1962.
Stuart, Moses: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. Boston: Crocker & Brewston, 1850.
A very good introduction to the (academic) study of the Book of Daniel is found in Klaus Koch's Das Buch Daniel. (Erträge der Forschung, 144). Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1980.
About "Book of Daniel Study Notes"
The Internet is loaded with 'information' about the Book of Daniel. Unfortunatley, about 90 % of this 'information' are just crap.
Fortunately, there are some useful Internet resources for the study of the Book of Daniel, like the following three:
The Book of Daniel - Study Material
The Book of Daniel Study Resources
Book of Daniel Mailing List
The Book of Daniel Study Notes provide insight on the Book of Daniel from the classic Preterist perspective.
Do you want to make comments on the study notes? You are most welcome to do so. If you want to tell me about a topic you think should be commented on, please, send an e-mail to me.
Please, observe the rules of fair use, when you use and cite from this site.
Thanks!
Fortunately, there are some useful Internet resources for the study of the Book of Daniel, like the following three:
The Book of Daniel - Study Material
The Book of Daniel Study Resources
Book of Daniel Mailing List
The Book of Daniel Study Notes provide insight on the Book of Daniel from the classic Preterist perspective.
Do you want to make comments on the study notes? You are most welcome to do so. If you want to tell me about a topic you think should be commented on, please, send an e-mail to me.
Please, observe the rules of fair use, when you use and cite from this site.
Thanks!
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