Daniel's Life After Babylonian Captivity

Daniel, whose name means "God is my judge," was a prominent figure among the Jewish exiles in Babylon ^[1]. He was likely born in Jerusalem around 623 BCE and was of noble or royal descent ^{[1, 2]}. Daniel was among the first captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim's reign, around 604 BCE ^{[2, 5, 7]}.

The Book of Daniel, which records his life and prophecies, is divided into two main parts: the first six chapters are historical, detailing events during the Captivity, while the latter six are primarily prophetic ^[3]. Daniel's early life in Babylon involved training for the king's service, where he and his three companions resolved to abstain from the king's rich food, demonstrating their faithfulness ^{[2, 7]}.

Daniel served under several Babylonian and Persian rulers. He prospered in the reign of Darius the Mede, maintaining his position and influence ^[6]. The prophet lived to see the end of the Babylonian Captivity, which was marked by the first year of Cyrus's reign ^[8]. Although the text states he continued "unto the first year of Cyrus" (Daniel 1:21), this does not imply his death at that point, but rather highlights that he witnessed the end of the exile ^[8]. Indeed, Daniel is mentioned as still living in the third year of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1) ^[8].

During his time in Babylon, Daniel was honored for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and visions. For instance, Belshazzar clothed Daniel in scarlet and elevated him to high rank after he interpreted the writing on the wall, restoring him to a status similar to what he held under Nebuchadnezzar ^[9]. Daniel's prophetic ministry continued throughout this period. In the first year of Belshazzar, he had a dream and visions which he recorded ^[4]. Later, in the first year of Darius the Mede, Daniel engaged in fervent prayer, understanding from Jeremiah's prophecies that the seventy years of captivity were concluding ^{[10, 11]}. This led to the significant prophecy of the seventy weeks concerning the Messiah ^[11].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Daniel — 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 c”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Daniel — (judgment of God). + The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. (1 Chronicles 3:1) In (2 Samuel 3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) + The fourth of 'the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, (Daniel 1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. (Daniel 1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king's service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king's meat" for f”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Daniel, Book of — Is ranked by the Jews in that division of their Bible called the Hagiographa (Heb. Khethubim). (See [144]BIBLE.) It consists of two distinct parts. The first part, consisting of the first six chapters, is chiefly historical; and the second part, consisting of the remaining six chapters, is chiefly prophetical. The historical part of the book treats of the period of the Captivity. Daniel is "the historian of the Captivity, the writer who alone furnishes any series of events for that dark and dismal period during which the harp of Israel hung on the t”
Daniel “Daniel 7:1 (BSB) — In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.”
Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 1 (introduction): This chapter gives us a more particular account of the beginning of Daniel's life, his original and education, than we have of any other of the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, began immediately with divine visions; but Daniel began with the study of human learning, and was afterwards honoured with divine visions; such variety of methods has God taken in training up men for the service of his church. We have here, I. Jehoiakim's first captivity (Dan 1:1, Dan 1:2), in which Daniel, with others of the seed-royal, was carried to Babylon. II. The c”
Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 6:27: So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius,.... This Daniel, of whom so much has been said all the preceding chapters, and who had been so lately and so wonderfully delivered from the lions' den, the same flourished throughout the reign of Darius the Mede; continued a favourite with the king; retained his honour and dignity; and kept his posts and places of trust and profit. Darius the Mede reigned two years; though Jarchi says he reigned but one, and was slain in war; for which he refers to Joseph ben Gorion, who has not a word of it. And in the reign of Cyrus”
Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 1:1: 1:1–6:28 The first half of Daniel, in describing the experiences and wisdom of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, demonstrates that God is the ruler of the world and that God’s people need to be faithful and live and act wisely in every situation in which they find themselves. 1:1-21 God fulfilled his prophetic word by sending his rebellious people into exile (see Jer 25:11-12; 29:10). God also extended his grace to a remnant in exile, and he protected and prospered Daniel and three other young Hebrew captives. These young men received the best training of the ti”
Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 1:21: Daniel continued . . . unto . . . first year of Cyrus-- (Ch2 36:22; Ezr 1:1). Not that he did not continue beyond that year, but the expression is designed to mark the fact that he who was one of the first captives taken to Babylon, lived to see the end of the captivity. See my Introduction, "SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY." In Dan 10:1 he is mentioned as living "in the third year of Cyrus." See Margin Note, on the use of "till" (Psa 110:1, Psa 112:8). Next: Daniel Chapter 2”
Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 5:29: Belshazzar . . . clothed Daniel with scarlet--To come from the presence of a prince in a dress presented to the wearer as a distinction is still held a great honor in the East. Daniel was thus restored to a similar rank to what he had held under Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:48). Godly fidelity which might be expected to bring down vengeance, as in this case, is often rewarded even in this life. The king, having promised, was ashamed before his courtiers to break his word. He perhaps also affected to despise the prophecy of his doom, as an idle threat. As to D”
Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 9:1: We left Daniel, in the close of the foregoing chapter, employed in the king's business; but here we have him employed in better business than any king had for him, speaking to God and hearing from him, not for himself only, but for the church, whose mouth he was to God, and for whose use the oracles of God were committed to him, relating to the days of the Messiah. Observe, 1. When it was that Daniel had this communion with God (Dan 9:1), in the first year of Darius the Mede, who was newly made king of the Chaldeans, Babylon being conquered by him and his nephew, o”
Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 9 (introduction): Daniel, understanding from the prophecies of Jeremiah that the seventy years' captivity was now terminating, pours out his soul in fervent prayer to God, and earnestly supplicates pardon and restoration for his captive people, Dan 9:1-12. When thus supplicating God in behalf of Israel, the angel Gabriel is sent to inform him of the seventy prophetic weeks, or four hundred and ninety natural years, which should elapse from the date of the edict to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple to the death of the Messiah, Dan 9:20-27; a prophecy most exactly fulfilled ”

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