Daniel

In the third year of Yehoyaqim king of Yehudah, Nebuchadnezzar besieges Yerushalayim and takes noble youths including Daniyyel, Hananyah, Misha'el, and Azaryah captive to Bavel, renaming them Beltsha'tsar, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Abed-Nego. Daniyyel and his companions resolve not to defile themselves with the king's food and wine, requesting vegetables and water; YHWH grants them knowledge, skill, and superior appearance after ten days.[1][5]

Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream of a statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay, which a stone not cut by human hands strikes and becomes a mountain filling the earth. Daniel reveals the dream and interprets it as four successive kingdoms, with the final stone representing the eternal kingdom of the God of heaven (Elohim shamayim).

King Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden statue and commands all people to worship it, threatening death in a fiery furnace for those who refuse.[1][2] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the idol, declaring their trust in Elohim to deliver them, and are cast into the superheated furnace where they are miraculously protected and joined by a fourth figure described as 'like the Son of God,' emerging completely unharmed and prompting Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the power of their God.[1][2]

Nebuchadnezzar recounts a dream of a great tree felled by divine decree, interpreted by Daniel as symbolizing the king's impending humiliation for his pride; a year later, the king boasts of his achievements and is driven mad like an animal until he acknowledges the sovereignty of El Elyon, restoring his kingdom and sanity.

King Belshazzar hosts a feast, using vessels from the Temple of YHWH in Jerusalem, prompting a hand to write on the wall: Mene, Tekel, Peres. Daniel interprets it as YHWH numbering his kingdom's end, finding him wanting, and dividing it to the Medes and Persians; that night Belshazzar is slain and Darius the Mede takes the kingdom.[1][2]

Daniel is thrown into a lions' den after being trapped by jealous officials who manipulate King Darius into issuing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king, but God sends an angel to shut the lions' mouths and Daniel emerges unharmed.[1][4] The king then reverses his decree, proclaims the supremacy of Daniel's God, and Daniel's accusers are thrown into the same den and destroyed, demonstrating God's faithfulness to those who maintain unwavering devotion despite persecution.[1][2]

Daniel sees a vision of four beasts emerging from the sea, symbolizing four kingdoms: a lion, bear, leopard, and a terrifying fourth beast with ten horns and a little horn speaking against the Most High ('Elyon). The Ancient of Days ('Atik Yomin) presides in judgment, the beasts' dominion ends, and the Son of Man ('Bar Enash') receives an everlasting kingdom given to the holy people ('qaddishin').

Daniel visions a ram with two horns representing the kings of Media and Persia, conquered by a goat from Greece whose prominent horn (the first king) breaks, replaced by four horns; from one emerges a little horn that grows toward the south, east, and the beautiful land, opposing the daily burnt offering, casting truth to the ground, and trampling the sanctuary and host.[1][2][3] The angel Gabriel interprets the vision as concerning the time of the end, states it will last 2,300 evenings and mornings until the sanctuary's restoration, identifies the antagonists, and notes the little horn—a cunning king—will rise against the Prince of princes but be broken without human hand; Daniel falls sick and astonished.[1][2][4]

Daniel prays to **YHWH**, confessing Israel's sins, acknowledging divine righteousness, and pleading for mercy and restoration of Jerusalem after the seventy years of Babylonian captivity as prophesied by Jeremiah. While praying, the angel Gabriel interrupts to deliver the prophecy of the **seventy weeks** (shabu'im shiv'im), outlining a timeline to finish transgression, atone for iniquity, and anoint a most holy one, culminating in the Anointed One being cut off and desolations upon the desolator.

Daniel mourns for three weeks by the Tigris River, abstaining from delicacies, then sees a glorious man clothed in linen whose appearance overwhelms him with weakness.[1][2][3] A heavenly messenger explains his delayed arrival due to battle with the prince of Persia, aided by Michael, before revealing future events recorded in the scripture of truth.[1][2][4]

Daniel 11 contains one of the Bible's most specifically fulfilled prophecies, detailing major political and military events involving the kings of the North and South from the Persian period through end-times, including the rise of a figure who will desecrate the sanctuary, set up the abomination of desolation, and ultimately meet his end with none to help him.[1][2] The chapter emphasizes that despite these tumultuous events, those who know their God will be strong and take action, while the wise will give understanding to many.[2]

Michael arises during unprecedented distress, delivering those whose names are in the book; many awaken from the dust to everlasting life or shame and contempt.[1][2] Angels swear by the eternal God that wonders last a time, times, and half a time, plus 1,290 and 1,335 days; Daniel is told to seal the words, go his way, rest, and rise to his inheritance at the end.[1][3]