Bible Book Summaries

Major Prophets · Old Testament

Daniel

c. 605–536 BC

Section
Major Prophets · Old Testament
Events span
c. 605–536 BC
Written
c. 530 BC critical view: c. 165 BC (during the Maccabean crisis)
Author
Daniel critical view: An anonymous author, c. 165 BC

Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon, rises to power under pagan kings while staying faithful to God. The first half tells famous stories of faith — the fiery furnace, the lions' den — and the second half unfolds apocalyptic visions of world empires and God's everlasting kingdom.

Chronological placement: Set during the Babylonian exile (c. 605–536 BC), where it is placed. Traditionally written then by Daniel; critical scholars date the book to c. 165 BC (see the dual dating above).

Key themes

  • Faithfulness under pressure
  • God's sovereignty over empires
  • Deliverance
  • Apocalyptic visions
  • God's everlasting kingdom

Key events

Faithful in Babylon (Daniel 1–6)

  • Daniel and his three friends refuse the king's rich food and are found healthier for it Dan 1605 BC
  • Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue representing four kingdoms Dan 2603 BC
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace, joined by a fourth figure Dan 3c. 590 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar is driven mad until he acknowledges God, then is restored Dan 4c. 570 BC
  • Belshazzar sees the writing on the wall, and Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians that night Dan 5539 BC
  • Daniel is thrown to the lions for praying and is delivered unharmed Dan 6538 BC

Apocalyptic Visions (Daniel 7–12)

  • Daniel sees four beasts and the Ancient of Days giving dominion to "one like the Son of man" Dan 7553 BC
  • The vision of the ram and the goat foretells the rise of Greece and a coming tyrant Dan 8551 BC
  • Daniel prays, and the angel Gabriel gives the prophecy of the seventy weeks Dan 9539 BC
  • A final vision of future kingdoms, great tribulation, and the resurrection of the dead Dan 10–12536 BC
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
Daniel 2:44 KJV