The Lives of the Wise in an Anti-God World

Daniel 1–6

Michael Kenneth Wilson

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9781725288140
  9781725288157
• eBook ISBN:
  9781725288164
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: American Government
• Index: Politics & International Relations

A world in which the lives of people are threatened and controlled either by an unpredictable megalomaniac or by a cold, unyielding legal system. A world of political skulduggery. A world in which people experience a personal identity crisis and the rejection of their values and beliefs. A world in which they face intimidation and bullying and an intense pressure to conform. A world of ominous dreams and life-threatening situations. Sound familiar? This book will help you to negotiate your way through such a world because it is the very world which confronted Daniel and his friends.

Daniel 1

Drawing the Line

The Establishment of the Distinctiveness of Daniel and his Friends: God’s Sovereignty Veiled, and the Superior Wisdom of the Jews Explained

Introduction

Scholars generally agree that Daniel 1 not only introduces the stories of Daniel 2–6 —as the time frame from Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus indicates—but also the book as a whole, as indicated by such themes as temple desecration, the contrast between divine and human sovereignty, and wisdom.9

Structure

To describe Daniel 1 as a tale is problematic.10 But the pattern characteristic of tales identified by Coats, while somewhat artificial, roughly fits Daniel 1: Exposition (vv. 1–2); Complication (vv. 3–7); Resolution (vv. 8–16); Denouement (vv. 17–20); Conclusion (v. 21). Coats observes that often “the resolution of the complication will mark the critical insight into the goals of the story, or at least it will provide some signpost toward that end.”11 This indicates that verses 8–16 have special structural significance.

Unlike Coats, Milne, applying Vladimir Propp’s model, does not see verses 1–7 performing the functions of a “tale” but rather describing “the initial situation.”12 Goldingay, structuring the chapter on the basis of content alone, uses the word “resolution” differently.13 He observes that verses 1–14 create “tension” while verses 15–21 involve “resolution.” The chiastic structure shown below represents a modification of Goldingay’s:

Tension: The Implications of Defeat (1–14)

1–2 Nebuchadnezzar defeats Israel

3–7 Nebuchadnezzar requires certain Israelites to undergo training

8 Daniel (representatively) resolves to avoid defilement

9–14 The setting up of a test for Daniel and his friends

Resolution: Triumph (15–21)

15 Daniel (and friends) triumph in the test

16 Daniel and his friends triumph in avoiding defilement

17–20 Daniel and his friends triumph in the training

21 Daniel outlasts Nebuchadnezzar

It is difficult from this analysis to determine whether any particular part of the chapter should be accorded especial significance relative to the rest. Many understand the center of a chiasm to hold this status and if this is so then presumably verses 9–15 perform this function. This substantially overlaps with Coats’ identification of verses 8–16 as holding the key to the chapter.

Also worthy of note is John Sweigart’s proposal of a more detailed chiastic structure for Daniel 1:14

A (1:1)The beginning of Daniel’s career.

B (1:2) Articles taken from the house of God (to demonstrate the inferiority of Israel’s God).

C (1:3) Master of the eunuchs brings young men to Babylon (at the end of the siege).

D (1:4) Young men are shown to be capable of learning Chaldean language and literature.

E (1:5) The king chooses their diet and training.

F (1:6) Daniel and his three friends among the sons of Judah chosen

G (1:7) New names are given to the four.

H (1:8) Daniel fears God and chooses not to be defiled.

X (1:9) God had granted Daniel favor with the master of eunuchs.

H’ (1:10) Chief of eunuchs fears the king.

G’ (1:11–14) New diet of clean food given to the four.

F’ (1:15) Daniel and his three friends compared to their peers—better health.

E’ (1:16) King’s diet discarded.

D’ (1:17) God gives the young men ability in all literature and knowledge.

C’ (1:18,19) Master of eunuchs brought Daniel and friends to the king at the end of days.

B’ (1:20) Daniel and friends shown to be superior to Babylonian worship leaders.

A’ (1:21) The end of Daniel’s career.

This analysis suitably places central focus on the role of God in this situation. But in biblical narrative it is typical for narration to be subordinate to direct speech. Alter comments:

In any given narrative event, and especially, at the beginning of any new story, the point at which dialogue first emerges will be worthy of special attention, and in most instances, the initial words spoken by a personage will be revelatory, perhaps more in manner than in matter, constituting an important moment in the exposition of character.15

If we accept the above then verses 10–13 assume particular significance in the exegesis:

Narrative: vv. 1–9	Prepares for direct speech
Direct ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Foreword
• Preface
• Introducing Daniel
• Daniel 1: Drawing the Line
• Daniel 2: Being in the Know
• Daniel 3: The Unbowed
• Daniel 4: Cut Down to Size
• Daniel 5: The Writing’s On the Wall
• Daniel 6: Two Decrees
• Study Questions
• Bibliography