Historical Existence of the Prophet Daniel in Scripture

The biblical figure Daniel is presented as a prophet who lived during the Babylonian exile, beginning in the "third year of Jehoiakim" (c. 604 BCE) ^[2]. He is considered one of the four "greater prophets" in the Old Testament ^{[2, 4]}. The Book of Daniel, which bears his name, details his life and prophecies during this period ^[4].

Daniel was of noble or royal descent from Judah and was taken to Babylon to serve in the king's court ^{[2, 4]}. The book describes his divine support in maintaining his religious convictions, such as abstaining from the king's food ^[2]. The first six chapters of the Book of Daniel are primarily historical, recounting events during the Captivity, while the latter six chapters are largely prophetic ^[1]. The book itself is composed partly in Hebrew and partly in Aramaic (Chaldee) ^[3].

Daniel is depicted as a figure who diligently studied prophecies, such as those of Jeremiah, concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem ^{[7, 10, 12]}. His prayers for his people are recorded, leading to angelic visitations and revelations about future events, including the succession of world empires and the coming of the Messiah ^{[8, 9, 10, 14]}.

Beyond the Book of Daniel, the prophet is also mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel 14:14 and 28:3 refer to a "Daniel" alongside Noah and Job as figures known for their righteousness ^{[11, 13]}. However, some scholars note a slight difference in the Hebrew spelling of the name in Ezekiel (Dani’el) compared to the prophet Daniel (Daniyye’l), suggesting a potential distinction or a different tradition ^{[11, 13]}. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, also recounts events concerning Daniel in Babylon in his Antiquities of the Jews ^[6].

It is important to distinguish the prophet Daniel from other biblical figures sharing the same name. One such figure was David's second son, also known as Chileab (1 Chronicles 3:1; 2 Samuel 3:3) ^{[2, 4]}. Another Daniel is mentioned in Ezra 8:2 as a man living during the time of the Exile and Return, likely a priest ^[5].

Sources

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”
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”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Daniel, The Book Of — stands at the head of a series of writings in which the deepest thoughts of the Jewish people found expression after their close of the prophetic era. Daniel is composed partly in the vernacular Aramaic (Chaldee) and partly in the sacred Hebrew. The introduction, Dan. 1-2:4 a, is written in Hebrew. On the occasion of the "Syriac" (i.e. Aramaic) answer of the Chaldeans, the language changes to Aramaic, and this is retained till the close of the seventh chapter (2:4 b-7). The personal introduction of Daniel as the writer of the text, 8:1, is marked”
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”
STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H1841G — Man living at the time of Exile and Return (refs: #A priest living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2; <br>only referred to a)”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 1: . Concerning Daniel And What Befell Him At Babylon.”
Daniel “Daniel 9:2 (LEB) — in the first year of his kingship I, Daniel, observed in the scrolls the number of the years that it was that were to be fulfilled according to the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet for the devastation of Jerusalem—seventy years.”
Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 11 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 11 In this chapter the angel makes good his promise to Daniel, that he would show him what was written in the Scripture of truth, concerning the monarchies of the earth, and what would befall his people the Jews in the latter days; and after he had observed that he had strengthened and confirmed Darius the Mede, who was the first king of the then present flourishing monarchy, Dan 11:1, he foretells the number of the kings of Persia, and particularly describes the fourth, Dan 11:2 predicts the rise of the Grecian monarchy under Ale”
Daniel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Daniel 11 (introduction): The Revelation of the Future - Daniel 11:2-12:3 Proceeding from the present, the angel reveals in great general outlines the career of the Persian world-kingdom, and the establishment and destruction, which immediately followed, of the kingdom which was founded by the valiant king of Javan, which would not descend to his posterity, but would fall to others (Dan 11:2-4). Then there follows a detailed description of the wars of the kings of the south and the north for the supremacy, wherein first the king of the south prevails (Dan 11:5-9); the decis”
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 ”
Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 14:14: 14:14 Noah, Daniel, and Job: Each of these men was famous for standing firm in the midst of a wicked generation. If anyone could merit a stay of judgment from God, they could. However, even if a land contained these three outstanding men of God, their righteousness would not suffice to save even their closest relatives from the coming disaster (14:20). How much less would it save a rebellious country! • Since the Hebrew spelling of the name Daniel (Hebrew Dani’el; also in 28:3) is slightly different from that of the biblical prophet Daniel (Hebrew Daniyye’l), wh”
Daniel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Daniel 9 (introduction): The Seventy Weeks In the first year of Darius the Median, Daniel, by a diligent study of the prophecies of Jeremiah as to the number of years during which Jerusalem must lie desolate (Dan 9:1, Dan 9:2), was led to pour forth a penitential prayer, in which he acknowledges the justice of the divine chastisement which hung over Israel on account of their sins, and entreats the mercy of God in behalf of his people (vv. 3-19). In consequence of this prayer, the angel Gabriel (Dan 9:20-23) must pass over his people and the holy city before the consummatio”
Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 14:14: 14:14 Noah, Daniel, and Job: Each of these men was famous for standing firm in the midst of a wicked generation. If anyone could merit a stay of judgment from God, they could. However, even if a land contained these three outstanding men of God, their righteousness would not suffice to save even their closest relatives from the coming disaster (14:20). How much less would it save a rebellious country! • Since the Hebrew spelling of the name Daniel (Hebrew Dani’el; also in 28:3) is slightly different from that of the biblical prophet Daniel (Hebrew Daniyye’l), who w”
Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 10 (introduction): This and the two following chapters give an account of Daniel's last vision, wherein the succession of the Persian and Grecian monarchies is described, together with the wars that should take place between Syria and Egypt under the latter monarchy. The last part of the vision (from Dan 11:36) seems to relate chiefly to the persecutions of the Church in the times of Antichrist, till it be purified from all its pollutions; after which will follow that glorious kingdom of the saints spoken of in the seventh and eighth chapters. This chapter begins with an ”

Ask Your Own Question