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{{this|the Biblical figure called Daniel}} |
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[[Image:Michelangelo Buonarroti 026.jpg|thumb|The prophet Daniel from [[Michelangelo]]'s [[Sistine Chapel ceiling]].]] |
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'''Daniel''' ({{Hebrew Name|דָּנִיֵּאל|Daniyyel|Dāniyyêl}} ;[[Persian language|Persian]]: '''دانيال''', ''' Dâniyal''' or '''Danial''', also '''Dani''', '''داني '''; [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: '''دانيال''', Danyal) is a figure appearing in the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the central protagonist of the [[Book of Daniel]]. The name "Daniel" means "Judged by [[El (god)]]". "Dan" = judge and "i" = a suffix conjugating the verb such that its action applies to the speaker. |
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==Synopsis from Tanakh/Old Testament== |
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At the [[Babylonian captivity|first deportation of the Jew]]s by [[Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon|Nebuchadnezzar]] (the [[kingdom of Israel]] had come to an end nearly a century before at the hands of the Assyrians), or immediately after his victory over the Egyptians at the second [[battle of Carchemish]], in the fourth year of the reign of [[Jehoiakim]] (BC 606), Daniel and three other noble youths named [[Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah]] were among the Jewish young nobility carried off to [[Babylon]] (probably as hostages to ensure the loyalty of Judah's king and advisors), along with some of the vassals of the temple. Daniel and his three Jewish companions were subsequently evaluated and chosen for their intellect and beauty, to be trained as [[Chaldean]]s, who constituted the ranks of the advisors to the Babylonian court. ({{Bibleref|Daniel|1|}}) |
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There Daniel was obliged to enter into the service of the king of Babylon, and in accordance with the custom of the age, received the [[Chaldea]]n name of ''Belteshazzar'', i.e., ''prince of Bel'', or ''Bel protect the king!'' His residence in Babylon was very probably in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, now identified with a mass of mounds called the [[Kasr]], on the right bank of the river. However, Daniel and his three companions remained fiercely loyal to their Jewish religious and cultural identity, an identity which would sooner or later come into conflict with the paganism of the Babylonian court. |
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Daniel's training ({{Bibleref|Daniel|1:4|JPS}}) was to fit him for service to the empire. Daniel became distinguished during this period for his piety, and for his strict observance of the [[Torah]] ({{Bibleref|Daniel|1:8-16|JPS}}), and gained the confidence and esteem of those who were over him. |
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At the close of his three years of discipline and training in the royal schools, Daniel was distinguished for his knowledge and proficiency in the pagan practices of his day, and was brought out into public life. He soon became known for his skill in the [[Oneiromancy|interpretation of dreams]] ({{Bibleref|Daniel|1:17|JPS}}; {{Bibleref|Daniel|2:14|JPS}}), and rose to the rank of governor of the province of Babylon, and became "chief of the governors" (Chald. Rab-signin) over all the wise men of Babylon, after passing a dangerous test of the astrologers by the king, which could easily have cost Daniel his life. Daniel made known and also interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream; as well as a later dream preceding the king's descent into animal behaviour, and many years afterwards, when he was now an old man, amid the alarm and consternation of the terrible night of [[Belshazzar]]'s impious feast (in which Belshazzar and his concubines drank wine out of the royal Jewish ceremonial goblets of the Temple), Daniel was called in at the suggestion of the queen-mother (perhaps Nitocris, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar) to interpret the mysterious [[handwriting on the wall]]. For successfully reading the cryptic handwriting by an angel of God, Daniel was rewarded by the Babylonians with a purple robe and elevation to the rank of "third ruler" of the kingdom. The place of "second ruler" was held by Belshazzar as associated with his father, Nabonidus, on the throne ({{Bibleref|Daniel|5:16|JPS}}). Daniel interpreted the handwriting, and "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain" by his own sons, who later fled. |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:danielburial3.jpg|thumb|left|Tomb of Daniel, [[Susa]], [[Iran]], is a popular attraction in [[Persian Jews|Iran's Jewish community]].]] --> |
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After the Persian conquest of Babylon, Daniel held the office of the first of the "three presidents" of the empire under the reign of the obscure figure of [[Book of Daniel#Identity of .22Darius the Mede.22|Darius the Mede]], and was thus practically at the head of state affairs, with the ability to influence the prospects of the captive Jews ({{Bibleref|Daniel|9|JPS}}), whom he had at last the happiness of seeing restored to their own land; although he did not return with them, but remained still in Babylon. |
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[[Image:daniellion.jpg|thumb|left|300px|''Daniel's Answer to the King'' by Briton Rivière, R.A. (1840-1920), 1890 (Manchester City Art Gallery).]] |
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Daniel's fidelity to God exposed him to persecution by jealous rivals within the king's administration. The fact that he had just interpreted the emperors' dream had resulted in his promotion and that of his companions. Being favored by the King, Cyrus, he was untouchable. His companions were vulnerable to the accusation that had them thrown into the furnace for refusing to worship the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar as a god; but they were miraculously saved, and Daniel would years later be cast into a den of lions (for continuing to practice his faith in [[HaShem]]), but was miraculously delivered; after which Cyrus issued a decree enjoining reverence for "the God of Daniel" ({{Bibleref|Daniel|6:26|JPS}}). He "prospered in the reign of [[Darius]], and in the reign of [[Cyrus]] the [[Persia]]n," whom he probably greatly influenced in the matter of the decree which put an end to the Jewish Captivity (BC 536). |
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Daniel's ministry as a prophet began late in life. Whereas his early exploits were a matter of common knowledge within his community, these same events, with his pious reputation, serve as the basis for his prophetic ministry. The recognition for his prophetic message is that of other prophets like [[Isaiah]], [[Jeremiah]] and [[Ezekiel]] whose backgrounds are the basis for their revelations. |
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The time and circumstances of Daniel's death have not been recorded. However, Daniel was still alive in the third year of Cyrus according to the [[Tanakh]] ({{Bibleref|Daniel|10:1|JPS}}); and he would have been almost 100 years old at that point, having been brought to Babylon when he was in his teens, more than 80 years previously. He possibly died at [[Susa]] in [[Iran]]. Tradition holds that his tomb is located in Susa at a site known as '''Shush-e Daniyal'''. Other locations have been claimed as the site of his burial, including [[Daniel's Tomb]] in Kirkuk, Iraq, as well as Babylon, Egypt, Tarsus and, notably, [[Samarkand]], which claims a tomb of Daniel (see "The Ruins of Afrasiab" in the [[Samarkand]] article), with some traditions suggesting that his remains were removed, perhaps by [[Tamerlane]], from Susa to Samarkand (see, for instance, [http://isfsp.org/sages/ben5.html Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela], section 153). |
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==Prophet== |
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[[Image:Daniel-prophet.jpg|thumb|300px|An 18th century Russian [[icon]] of the prophet Daniel, holding a [[scroll]] containing his prophesy and pointing to the "uncut mountain" of {{bibleverse||Daniel|2:34-35|HE}} ([[Iconostasis]] of [[Kizhi]] [[monastery]], [[Russia]]).]] |
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Modern Judaism does not count Daniel among the prophets. For this, two reasons are given: |
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# Daniel never spoke directly with God. According to the [[Torah]], [[prophet]]s (nevi'im) speak with God, not to intermediaries like [[angel]]s. Daniel saw angels and never spoke with God. This is the primary reason Daniel is not considered a prophet. |
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# In Judaism a prophet (navi) speaks to his or her generation, not to future generations. The Prophets in the Tanakh (e.g., [[Isaiah]], [[Ezekiel]]) spoke primarily to their generation, but their message was also pertinent to the future. Daniel's visions were for the future, not for his generation. |
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*In Rashi's commentary to the [[Talmud]] (1st Chapter of [[Megillah]])<ref>[http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/12-11.html S.C.J. FAQ: Section 12.11. Jewish Thought: Who were the prophets? How many?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> he shows that to be qualified as a prophet, one needs to spread the message one hears. Daniel's prophecies are relevant for the future, for they cryptically state what will be in days to come. However, Daniel's prophecies were not spread to the population as implied by the text itself. |
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Christians regard Daniel as a prophet, and Jesus is quoted as referring to him as "Daniel the prophet" in {{bibleverse||Matthew|24:15|KJV}}. In the context of the books of the Bible, Christians refer to Daniel as one of the "four great [[prophet]]s";<ref name="eas"/> as the [[Book of Daniel]] appears in most Christian editions of the Bible, after the other three "great prophets" ([[Isaiah]], [[Jeremiah]], and [[Ezekiel]]). Dreams and visions and revelations are sometimes associated with prophecy in the Bible, such as {{bibleverse||Joel|2:28-32|KJV}} expands. |
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==Ezekiel== |
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[[Image:Icon daniel.jpeg|thumb|17th century [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] [[icon]] of Daniel in the lions' den. At the top is depicted the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|pre-incarnate]] [[Logos]] ([[Christ]] [[Emmanuel]]); underneath is [[Habakkuk]], being carried by an angel (side door of [[iconostasis]]. [[Volga Region]]).]] |
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The prophet [[Ezekiel]], with whom Daniel was a contemporary, describes one Daniel as a "pattern of righteousness (14:14, 20) and wisdom" (28:3).<ref name="eas">{{Eastons}}</ref> |
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Some scholars have identified this person with the Daniel of the Book of Daniel, while others look upon him as another figure who has now been forgotten. Some scholars regard the references in Ezekiel as a "[[Danel]]" known from Caananite [[Ugaritic]] literature (such as the [[Anat|Epic of Aqhat and Anat]]), whose reputation for wisdom and righteousness had made him legendary. |
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The Hebrew spelling itself suggests a person other than the prophet Daniel.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Ezekiel%2014-15;%20James%202&version=31; BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Ezekiel 14-15; James 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Possibly the intended reading was rather "Danel". Vowel-points were not added to the consonantal Hebrew text before well into the Common Era, and the scribes then slipped in a vowel-point for "i" as a middle syllable. This may not be what the original writer intended. (In the Book of Daniel, the name is spelt with a middle letter suggesting the ''i'' of that name — but this letter is not included in the spelling in Ezekiel, suggesting that the reference there may be to another person.) |
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==Habakkuk== |
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In the [[Deuterocanonical]] portion of Daniel known as [[Bel and the Dragon]], the prophet [[Habakkuk]] is miraculously transported by an angel to take a meal to Daniel while he is in the lions' den. In response, Daniel prays, "Thou hast remembered me, O God; neither hast thou forsaken them that seek Thee and love Thee".<ref>{{cite book|title="Saying Grace" Historically Considered and Numerous Forms of Grace:Taken from Ancient and Modern Sources; With Appendices|last=Dixon|first=Henry Lancelot|year=1903|publisher=James Parker and Co.|location=Oxford and London|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CVsNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=daniel+prays+%22thou+hast+remembered+me+o+god+neither+hast+thou+forsaken+them+that+seek+thee+and+love+thee%22&source=web&ots=T3wrh81r7r&sig=TQXCGz2G2R9oKgFsmVkWdsTZehQ|language=English|pages=11}}</ref> |
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==Tomb== |
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{{main|Tomb of Daniel}} |
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The Tomb of Daniel is the traditional burial place of the biblical prophet Daniel. There are six different locations all claimed to be the site of the tomb: [[Babylon]], [[Kirkuk]] and [[Muqdadiyah]] in [[Iraq]], [[Susa]] and [[Malamir]] in [[Iran]], and [[Samarkand]] in [[Uzbekistan]] |
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==Liturgical commemorations== |
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On the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|liturgical calendar]], the feast days celebrating St. Daniel the Prophet together with the [[Fiery furnace|Three Young Men]], falls on [[December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|December 17]] (during the [[Nativity Fast]]), on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers<ref>Sergei Bulgakov, ''Manual for Church Servers'', 2nd ed. (Kharkov, 1900) pp. 453-5. [http://www.transfigcathedral.org/faith/Bulgakov/0453.pdf December 11-17: Sunday of the Holy Forefathers] Translation: Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris</ref> (the Sunday which falls between 11 and 17 December), and on the Sunday before Nativity<ref>Bulgakov, ''op. cit.'', pp. 461-2 [http://www.transfigcathedral.org/faith/Bulgakov/0461.pdf December 18-24: Sunday before the Nativity of Christ of the Holy Fathers]</ref>. Daniel's prophesy regarding the stone which smashed the idol ({{bibleverse||Daniel|2:34-35|HE}}) is often used in Orthodox hymns as a metaphor for the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]]: the "stone cut out" being symbolic of the [[Logos]] (Christ), and the fact that it was cut "without hands" being symbolic of the [[virgin birth]]. Thus the hymns will refer to the [[Theotokos]] (Virgin Mary) as the "uncut mountain" |
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In the West, the [[Roman Catholic Church]] commemorates Daniel on [[July 21]].<ref>{{cite book |
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| url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04620a.htm |
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| title=Catholic Encyclopedia on CD-ROM |
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| publisher=New Advent |
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| chapter=Daniel |
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| author=Francis E. Gigot |
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| year=1889 |
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}}</ref> |
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He is commemorated as a prophet in the [[Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)|Calendar of Saints]] of the [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod]] together with the Three Young Men ([[Fiery furnace|Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego]]), on [[December 17]].<ref>[http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih1217.htm Today in History - December 17<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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==Rabbinic literature== |
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{{Main|Daniel in rabbinic literature}} |
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==Book of the Watchers== |
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[[Book of Enoch|Enoch]] mentions Daniel as the name of one of the leaders of the fallen angels of whose Samyaza (Shemyazaz) was the leader.<ref name="eno">http://books.google.com/books?id=Y_5XsUkRI50C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Book+of+Enoch&sig=4i3mKOEaL88sQTIeurtFi8WDX94#PPA34,M1</ref> |
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The complete name list of those leaders are given as "Samyaza (Shemyazaz), their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl.". They were 200 fallen angels in total and originated the creation of the [[Nephilim]] before the great flood.<ref name="eno"/> |
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The name Daniel is also associated with lies and deceit; mentioned in the literature works of writers in the 18th Century. {{Fact|date=November 2008}} |
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== See also == |
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{{portalpar|Saints|Gloriole.svg}} |
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* [[Tanakh]] |
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* [[Prophecy]] |
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* [[Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon]] |
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* [[Book of Daniel]] (book of the Bible) |
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* [[List of names referring to El]] |
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* [[Persian Jews]] |
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==References== |
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* {{cite journal |
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| url=http://www.biblicalhorizons.com/ch/ch7_01.htm |
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| journal=Biblical Chronology |
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| title=Daniel: Historical & Chronological Comments (II) |
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| year=1995 |
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| volume=7 |
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| issue=1 |
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| author=James B. Jordan |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04620a.htm |
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| title=Catholic Encyclopedia on CD-ROM |
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| publisher=New Advent |
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| chapter=Daniel |
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| author=Francis E. Gigot |
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| year=1889 |
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}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=daniel Book of Daniel (Biblical Passage)] |
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* [http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_daniel.html ''Daniel'' by Rob Bradshaw] Detailed dictionary-style article. |
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* [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Bible/Danieltoc.html ''Daniel'' in the TaNaKh] Detailed authorized Jewish translation of the original. |
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{{WikisourceEBD1897|Daniel}} |
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* [http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1576 Who is Ezekiel's Daniel? : The Ugaritic Danel] |
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* [http://www.sermonsfortoday.org/browse_sermons/sermonsInSeries.php?series=12 An exposition of the book of Daniel] |
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* [http://www.livius.org/da-dd/daniel/11_comm.html Daniel 11 in Context] Overview of the allusions to the Syrian Wars in Daniel 11 |
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{{Prophets of the Tanakh|no}}<!-- note: the parameter "no" is used to exclude this article from the category Hebrew Bible prophets --> |
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[[Category:Daniel| ]] |
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[[Category:Hebrew Bible people]] |
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[[Category:Jewish writers]] |
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[[Category:Prophets in Christianity]] |
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[[Category:Year of death missing]] |
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[[ar:دانيال]] |
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[[cs:Daniel (Bible)]] |
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[[cy:Daniel (proffwyd)]] |
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[[da:Profeten Daniel]] |
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[[es:Daniel (profeta)]] |
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[[fa:دانیال]] |
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[[fr:Daniel (prophète)]] |
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[[it:Daniele (profeta)]] |
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[[he:דניאל]] |
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[[ht:Daniel]] |
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[[lt:Pranašas Danielius]] |
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[[nl:Daniël (Hebreeuwse Bijbel)]] |
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[[ja:ダニエル]] |
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[[pl:Daniel (postać biblijna)]] |
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[[pt:Daniel (profeta)]] |
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[[ru:Даниил (пророк)]] |
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[[sq:Danieli (profet)]] |
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[[sh:Danijel]] |
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[[fi:Daniel]] |
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[[sv:Daniel (biblisk person)]] |
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[[tr:Danyal]] |
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[[uk:Даниїл (пророк)]] |
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[[ur:دانیال علیہ السلام]] |
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[[zh:但以理]] |
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Revision as of 18:52, 12 December 2008
Happy b-day daniel