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Daniel 

 Text:  God is my judge, or judge of God. 

(1.) David's second son, "born unto him in Hebron, of Abigail the 
Carmelitess" (1 Chr. 3:1). He is called also Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3). 

(2.) One of the four great prophets, although he is not once spoken of 
in the Old Testament as a prophet. His life and prophecies are 
recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was descended from one of the noble 
families of Judah (Dan. 1:3), and was probably born in Jerusalem about 
B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah. 

At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdom of 
Israel had come to an end nearly a century before), or immediately 
after his victory over the Egyptians at the second battle of 
Carchemish, in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim (B.C. 606), 
Daniel and other three noble youths were carried off to Babylon, along 
with part of the vessels of the temple. There he was obliged to enter 
into the service of the king of Babylon, and in accordance with the 
custom of the age received the Chaldean 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 shapeless mounds called 
the Kasr, on the right bank of the river. His training in the schools 
of the wise men in Babylon (Dan. 1:4) was to fit him for service to 
the empire. He was distinguished during this period for his piety and 
his stict observance of the Mosaic law (1:8-16), and gained the 
confidence and esteem of those who were over him. His habit of 
attention gained during his education in Jerusalem enabled him soon to 
master the wisdom and learning of the Chaldeans, and even to excel his 
compeers. At the close of his three years of discipline and training 
in the royal schools, Daniel was distinguished for his proficiency in 
the "wisdom" of his day, and was brought out into public life. 

He soon became known for his skill in the interpretation of dreams 
(1:17; 2:14), 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. He made known and also interpreted 
Nebuchadnezzar's dream; 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, he was called in at the instance of the 
queen-mother (perhaps Nitocris, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar) to 
interpret the mysterious handwriting on the wall. 

He was rewarded with a purple robe and elevation to the rank of "third 
ruler." The place of "second ruler" was held by Belshazzar as 
associated with his father, Nabonidus, on the throne (5:16). Daniel 
interpreted the handwriting, and "in that night was Belshazzar the 
king of the Chaldeans slain." 

After the taking of Babylon, Cyrus, who was now master of all Asia 
from India to the Dardanelles, placed Darius (q.v.), a Median prince, 
on the throne, during the two years of whose reign Daniel held the 
office of first of the "three presidents" of the empire, and was thus 
practically at the head of affairs, no doubt interesting himself in 
the prospects of the captive Jews (Dan. 9), 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. 

His fidelity to God exposed him to persecution, and he was cast into a 
den of lions, but was miraculously delivered; after which Darius 
issued a decree enjoining reverence for "the God of Daniel" (6:26). He 
"prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the 
Persian," whom he probably greatly influenced in the matter of the 
decree which put an end to the Captivity (B.C. 536). 

He had a series of prophetic visions vouchsafed to him which opened up 
the prospect of a glorious future for the people of God, and must have 
imparted peace and gladness to his spirit in his old age as he waited 
on at his post till the "end of the days." The time and circumstances 
of his death are not recorded. He probably died at Susa, about 
eighty-five years of age. Ezekiel, with whom he was contemporary, 
mentions him as a pattern of righteousness (14:14, 20) and wisdom 
(28:3). (See NEBUCHADNEZZAR.)