Bible+Culture 2015: 2. Daniel 1 – 2

DANIEL Day 2: chapters 1 & 2

Monday: bit.ly/BC2015-dan1

bit.ly/BC2015-med1

Prophets information: bit.ly/prophet_info

Structure

A

A’

B

B’

Chiasm

A God vindicates his faithful servants (1) B Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: 4 kingdoms (2) C God rescues his faithful witnesses (3) D Warning for king; redemption (4) E Warning for king; judgment (5)

F God rescues his faithful witness (6) G Daniel’s dream: 4 kingdoms (7) H Details of post-Babylonian kingdoms (8) I Jerusalem restored (9)

J More on post-Babylonian kingdoms (10–12)

2 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: kingdoms

10–12 Writing of truth

1 Daniel refuses to compromise

5 Writing on the wall

9 Jerusalem: discipline/restoration

4 Nebuchadnezzar: discipline/restoration

8 ‘None can deliver out of his hand’

7 Daniel’s dream: kingdoms

6 Daniel refuses to compromise

3 ‘No god can deliver out of his hand’

Daniel 1

Genre

genre = type/style of writing

Hebrew Narrative

• Why do you think there is so much narrative in the Bible?

• How are Hebrew narratives different from contemporary narratives?

originally for listening to

repetition

fast pace

internal connections

Plot

sequence of scenes

scenes usually only have 2 characters

Scene 1: Jerusalem (1:1–2)characters: Nebuchadnezzar and God

Scene 2: Babylon: Daniel & friends (3–17)characters: Daniel/friends and (a) chief official; (b) guard

Scene 3: King’s palace, 3 yrs later (18–21)characters: Daniel/friends and the king

each scene must be read in context of the whole

the big context is God’s promises and intention

plot = crisis and resolution

climax

settingoccasioning

incident

preliminary

incidents

rising tension

beginning of resolution

outcome

conclusionresolution

Characters

characters are not described in detail

look at what they say and do

Dialogue

pay attention to when dialogue starts

pay attention to characters restating things

Structure

look out for changes of scene

pay attention to repetition

c Refusing to be defiled; a test (8–16)

a’ Historical conclusion: triumph of Cyrus (21)

a Historical introduction: triumph of Nebuchadnezzar (1–2)

b’ The young men excel in their training (17–20)

b The young men taken for training (3–7)

Triumph of Nebuchadnezzar

(1–2)

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And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar . . .

Daniel 1:2, ESV

Training for the king’s service (3–7)

?What do you think the Babylonians’ intentions were? What would they have wanted Daniel and his friends to learn? (Daniel 1:1-7)

tablet recording delivery of gold to Babylonian court

© British Museum. Used by permission.

Atraharsis Epic

© British Museum. Used by permission.

Babylonian omens tablet

© British Museum. Used by permission.

model sheep liver© British Museum. Used by permission.

Importance of namesDaniel = God is my judge

Belteshazzar = May Bel protect his life

Hananiah = the Lord shows grace

Shadrach = command of Aku

Mishael = Who is what God is?

Meshach = Who is what Aku is?

Azariah = The Lord helps

Abednego = servant of Nabu

Refusing to be defiled (8–16)

• The king faces a problem he cannot solve

• The king’s sages fail to resolve it

• The hero is called in and succeeds

• The hero is rewarded

Excelling in training (17–20)

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It was a remarkable process and one which challenges all of us. Rather than avoiding or running from their second-choice world they pursued it and gave it their very best. They headed for the centre of the volcano, the heart of the storm, the vortex of all their fears…

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For these men, the way to face Babylon was to become skilled and powerful insiders – not ‘separated’ outsiders. When they chose this way they rejected pouting, self-pity, resentment and self-consumption…

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The fact that Babylon was a place of dislocation, pain and disappointment did not compel them to make a negative response to this pagan world. Being servants of God in Jerusalem or Babylon alike demanded living well before him.

Viv ThomasSecond Choice (Paternoster, 2000) p. 22

v.20: ‘ten times better’ – hyperbole

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird —no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. Even if they rear children,I will bereave them of every one.

Hosea 9:11

Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, ‘A child is born to you – a son!’

Jeremiah 20: 14–15

Triumph of Cyrus (21)

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The sovereign Lord, who guided the faithful Daniel and his friends to positions of power in Babylon, will guide his faithful people even in exile.

Sidney Greidanus Preaching Christ from Daniel

Daniel 2

• Genre • Plot • Scenes • Characters • Dialogue • Structure • Theme/goal

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