The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Daniel

In Short

This academic commentary explores the Book of Daniel not as a product of the Babylonian Exile, but as a piece of literature written during the second century BCE to sustain Jewish faith under the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. By analyzing linguistic inconsistencies, historical inaccuracies, and the unique nature of its apocalyptic prophecies, the author argues that the text serves as a source of courage for a people facing existential threat. It remains a foundational text for understanding how nineteenth-century critical scholarship challenged traditional interpretations of biblical authorship and intent.

The Story

The narrative begins by questioning the traditional view that the Book of Daniel was written by a contemporary of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The analysis highlights that the language—a mix of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Persian loanwords—aligns more closely with the period following Alexander the Great’s conquest of Palestine than with the sixth century BCE. Furthermore, the author points out clear errors regarding Babylonian history, such as the misspelling of the king’s name as "Nebuchadnezzar" rather than the correct "Nebuchadrezzar," and the confusion surrounding court titles and Babylonian deities.

From here, the work moves to the "historic section" of Daniel. The author notes that the miracles and prophecies described in the book represent a departure from the methods of earlier prophets. While traditional orthodoxy often defends the literal historicity of the text, this commentary posits that such insistence undermines the true value of the work. The author contends that the writer of Daniel was not a witness to the Babylonian court, but a later author responding to the blasphemous rule of Antiochus Epiphanes.

The arc of the argument then follows the symbolic imagery of the book. The author explains that the four beasts and the "little horn" described in the visions are not timeless mysteries, but specific political allegories. The four beasts represent successive world empires, while the "puny horn" signifies the rise and fall of Antiochus Epiphanes. The chronological calculations within the text, which appear so precise, are interpreted as markers of the Maccabean period, tracking the suppression of the Temple sacrifices and the subsequent victory of Judas Maccabæus.

The story concludes by framing the book as a piece of "resistance literature." The author suggests that the tales of Daniel in the lions' den or the fiery furnace were designed to provide hope to those who refused to abandon their national religion in the face of forced Hellenization. By placing the book in its historical context, the author shifts the focus from the veracity of the supernatural claims to the spiritual resilience of the Jewish people. The final chapters of the commentary emphasize that even if the book’s historical claims are technically incorrect, its moral power remains intact, as it speaks to universal human experiences of oppression and the eventual, divinely promised triumph of justice over worldly tyranny.

How It Unfolds

Establishing the critical framework The author sets the stage by identifying the linguistic and historical evidence that contradicts a traditional, sixth-century authorship. These inconsistencies, such as the use of Greek terms and Persian official titles, are presented as proof that the text reflects a much later, post-exilic world.

Evaluating the nature of prophecy The analysis distinguishes between the "moral oratory" of the early Hebrew prophets and the "minute chronological predictions" found in Daniel. By comparing the text to the works of Demosthenes and other ancient writers, the author suggests that the true value of prophecy lies in universal truths rather than accurate fortune-telling.

Deconstructing the historical narrative The commentary examines the dramatic stories of Nebuchadnezzar, the plain of Dura, and the writing on the wall. Each incident is treated as a piece of vivid, symbolic storytelling intended to provide comfort to those enduring the religious persecution of the Maccabean era.

Decoding the apocalyptic visions The work methodically links the visions of the four beasts and the little horn to the specific political history of the Seleucid dynasty. The focus shifts to the figure of Antiochus Epiphanes, showing how the writer of Daniel used apocalyptic language to describe the contemporary struggle of the Jewish faith against total erasure.

The People

The central figure of the commentary is, of course, the prophet Daniel. In this study, he is treated as a literary creation—a legendary archetype of Jewish steadfastness whose name is used by a later author to channel messages of courage to a persecuted audience. The author portrays him as the ideal of the faithful Jew who maintains his identity despite the pressure to adopt foreign customs and names.

Nebuchadnezzar is presented as the primary foil, a king whose grandiosity and eventual madness serve as a stand-in for the later, real-world tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. While the text of the Bible treats Nebuchadnezzar as a historical reality, this commentary views him as a dramatic vessel through which the author of Daniel critiques contemporary authoritarianism.

Antiochus Epiphanes acts as the true antagonist of the book’s later chapters. He is the "puny horn" who rises to power, attempts to force the Hellenization of the Jews, and seeks to destroy the sanctity of the Temple. The author describes him as the catalyst for the book’s composition; without the crisis he instigated, the urgency and specific imagery of the visions would not exist.

Finally, the Maccabees and their supporters represent the "saints" of the text. They are the people of the covenant who endure the "birth-throes" of history, waiting for the intervention of the "Ancient of Days." They are the ones for whom the book was written—those who need to be reminded that earthly powers are temporary, while the kingdom of God is eternal.

In Its Own Voice

No one can have studied the Book of Daniel without seeing that, alike in the character of its miracles and the minuteness of its supposed predictions, it makes a more stupendous and a less substantiated claim upon our credence than any other book of the Bible, and a claim wholly different in character.

(This reflection appears early in the book to establish the author's critical perspective on the text's claims.)

We have too deep a belief in the God of the Amen, the God of eternal and essential verity, to offer to Him "the unclean sacrifice of a lie."

(The author uses this strong language to justify why a scholar must address the historical inaccuracies of the Bible directly.)

Had it been the function of prophecy to remove the veil of obscurity which God in His wisdom has hung over the destinies of men and kingdoms, it would never have attained, as it has done, to the love and reverence of mankind.

(This quote summarizes the author's core thesis regarding the true, moral purpose of prophetic literature.)

What It's Really About

At its core, this book examines the intersection of faith and historical reality. It questions whether the spiritual authority of a religious text depends upon its literal, historical accuracy. The author argues that by clinging to traditional, uncritical views of authorship, believers may be offering "the unclean sacrifice of a lie." Instead, he poses that the text’s value lies in its ability to offer guidance to those facing darkness, suggesting that the "truth" of the Book of Daniel is not found in its historical dates, but in its profound, timeless themes of moral endurance and the promise that, despite the overwhelming power of earthly empires, righteousness will ultimately prevail.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the history of ideas and the evolution of biblical criticism will find this work fascinating. It offers a glimpse into a time when theological debate was shifting toward a more rigorous, evidence-based approach, and the author writes with a blend of intellectual courage and genuine, scholarly warmth. Those interested in the relationship between religious texts and their socio-political contexts will find the analysis of the Maccabean revolt particularly illuminating, as it strips away the layers of tradition to reveal the visceral, human desperation that likely birthed these apocalyptic visions.

However, readers should be prepared for the dense, nineteenth-century academic style. The prose is often formal and sometimes burdened by lengthy lists of scholarly references or complex linguistic arguments that may prove tedious to a casual reader. Additionally, the book assumes a high level of familiarity with both the biblical text and the broader historical scholarship of the late 1800s. It is not a light devotional read; it is a serious, argumentative commentary that seeks to challenge the reader's assumptions. If you are looking for an honest, thoughtful exploration of how a classic text can be re-evaluated to find modern relevance without sacrificing integrity, this volume remains a compelling, if demanding, companion.