Seminaries and Institutes
The Book of Daniel

“The Book of Daniel,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 175–78

“The Book of Daniel,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 175–78

The Book of Daniel

If you were in a foreign country where your religion was not practiced, how easy would it be to be true to your religion? What if practicing your religion required you to do things that were unpopular or even against the law of that land?

A Courageous Young Man

Daniel faced these situations. Daniel was a teenage boy who, along with other Jews, was taken captive in the first Babylonian conquest of Judah (approximately 605 B.C.). Because Daniel was courageous and true to his faith, the Lord blessed him with the gift of prophecy and with influence among leaders in a foreign land. His example is an inspiration and example to us in a day when we feel pressures like he felt and when we desire to have the positive influence he had.

Key People in the Book of Daniel

DanielAuthored the book. He was a young man when the book began and in his eighties by the end of the book.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-negoThree of Daniel’s fellow Jews who were faithful to their religion.

NebuchadnezzarKing of the Babylonian Empire from approximately 604 B.C. until his death in approximately 561 B.C. He was the king who conquered Judah and carried away many Jews into Babylonian captivity. For more information, see the Bible Dictionary, “Nebuchadnezzar” (pp. 737–38).

BelshazzarNebuchadnezzar’s son who ruled after his father and before the Persians conquered Babylon. For more information, see the Bible Dictionary, “Belshazzar” (p. 620).

Cyrus and DariusRulers of the Medo-Persian Empire that conquered Babylon in approximately 539 B.C. Cyrus ruled first. He was the king who decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland and rebuild their temple.

Key Events in the Book of Daniel

  • Daniel and other Jews refused to eat food that would cause them to break the law of Moses (see Daniel 1).

  • Daniel interpreted the dreams and the signs given to kings (see Daniel 2; 4–5).

  • Three valiant men were put in a fiery furnace (see Daniel 3).

  • Daniel was thrown into a lions’ den (see Daniel 6).

  • Daniel prophesied future events from his time until the end of the world (see Daniel 7–12).