The Book of Daniel purports to be a memoir of a Judean exile who was given a high post in the empire of Nebuchadnezzar. However, it was in fact written centuries later, in the second century BCE. We know this for several reasons. To begin with, Nebuchadnezzar is a Greek spelling of the Emperor's name, which was not used until much later than the sixth century BCE. (It was Nebuchadrezzar at that time.) It contains passages written in Aramaic, which did not become a common language until the post exilic period, and it uses Persian and Greek words which would not have been known to a Hebrew speaker in the sixth century BCE. It is not listed in the collection of prophetic books, which suggests it must have been written after the canon closed in c. 300 BCE. It contains numerous historical inaccuracies, and it uses the word "Chaldean" to mean a sorcerer or astrologer, but in the sixth century the word simply referred to a nationality.
There are several other reasons we can be sure of this. So, we can only conclude that like the Book of Esther, this is a work of historical fiction, written centuries after the time it purports to describe. There is no reason to believe it has any connection to reality, which is comforting since it consists of numerous impossible events. Unfortunately for the fate of the world at this historical moment, millennia later, it inspired the author of Revelation, a work which is making terrible mischief. Anyway, here goes. Verses 1 and 2 recount events described in Kings and Chronicles, which are probably historically accurate. Then it goes nuts, although I'll buy the argument for vegetarianism.
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
- Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.
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