The book Of The Bible Daniel

The book Of The Bible Daniel

The book of Daniel seems to come from the time of the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167-164 BCE). The writing introduces the apocalyptic genre by its vision of the last days and by its use of otherworldly images and divine figures. The story line is about a legendary youth named Daniel who remains faithful to the God of Israel and, thereby, is able to overcome adversity and torment in the days of the Babylonian exile. Daniel inter prets the king’s dreams and offers counsel to him about the future. The message of the book would have been immediately ev ident to the persecuted Jews of the second century BCE.

Several sections of the book of Daniel that were preserved in the Greek or Septuagint version of the scriptures are considered Apocrypha in Protestant Bibles. These sections include the Prayer of Azariah, the Song of the Three Jews, Susanna. and Bel and the Dragon. These sections provide material for Catholic and Orthodox prayer at the Liturgy of the Flours. Passages from Daniel are read in the liturgy during Monday through Saturday of the thirty-Fourth or Last Week of Year I. Also, the apocalyptic vision from Daniel about one like a son of man coming to rule the world (7.9-10, 13-14) is read on several occasions during the liturgical year: on the Feast of Christ the King; the Feast of the Transfiguration; and the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.